Low-Stress Travel to the Vet With Your Cat
Veterinarian visits are an essential aspect of caring for our cat. A lot of cats find travel and carrying carriers to be unpleasant. Many cats don’t have much experience with traveling, or if they have, it’s not positive, which is why it is unsurprising that many cats don’t like traveling. While traveling is stressful for cats, many things can make travel and carrying carriers less stressful and more fun for you and your cat(s)!
It All Starts at Home
A successful visit to the vet begins at home by educating your cat to be comfortable in the carrier. It starts by selecting the appropriate pet carrier. The cat carrier you choose for your cat must be big enough for the cat to stand and rotate around and easily access the exit and entry points. A carrier with front and top openings or an ample round space can aid in getting your cat into and out much more quickly. The cat carrier should be able to be removed because this is how cats are released from pages, rather than taking them out, and this permits the cat to be examined at the lower part of the carriers when they’re afraid. In addition, the pet carrier must be safe and robust.
Making the Carrier Positive and Training Your Cat to Go in It
You’ve found the perfect cat carrier for the cat you love. So the next step is to make sure your cat can connect the page with positive things. So that it doesn’t come across as a scary box that can only be taken in the garage when they visit the vet, here are some ideas to help your cat be a carrier fan.
Place the carrier in an area where your cat would like to hang out, and that is where you’ll spend your time. Integrating the page within your home will become a place to relax instead of a frightful traveling cage. If your cat is scared of the page, put the bottom on the cell and gradually include the top and door.
Put treats, catnip as well as toys in the pet carrier. This will encourage your cat to go inside the airline even if they’re in their home. Having fun with the cat inside their pages is also a good idea to create a positive environment.
Put your bedding so that you are comfortable inside the bag. The smells of your home will be present in the bag, making it feel like a secure location. Also, you can try adding something you like inside.
Give your cat a treat for getting to the pet carrier. Be sure to keep your cat’s favorite treats close by so that you can offer one to your cat when they are in the airline independently.
Be patient. Don’t try to push or chase the pet to the carrier. Let your cat decide to enter the page independently, and reward them for their behavior.
It is best to work towards creating positive associations with your carrier. When your cat is required to be in the airline for medical reasons, it is possible to use toys and food to entice the cat to the page so that it can decide to go in if you must put your pets on the page instead of forcing them to go through the doorway, which usually doesn’t work for the cat, dismantle the carrier and gently put the cat inside it.
Prepare the Car so it Promotes a Calming Environment
Each of us has our ways of preparing for stressful situations. We may be meditative or listen to classical music, whereas others might walk along the street or listen to heavy metal. Our pets aren’t different. However, they rely on us to keep their surroundings peaceful. Here are a few tips that you could do to help make your cat’s trip more relaxing.
You can play classical music specifically made for cats or purr sounds. Through a Cat’s Ear and purr games, are excellent alternatives.
Spray Feliway, an energizing Pheromone, inside your Car or in the cat carrier 10 to 15 minutes prior cat’s entrance.
Be calm and keep in mind for felines that “shhh!” is similar to hissing. So be careful not to silence them if they’re vocalizing.
Warm or cool the Car until it is comfortable before putting your cat in.
Practice Proper Cat Carrier Etiquette
Appropriate conduct must be observed when putting your cat into its carrier! When transporting your cat, hold the Car from below with one end resting on your chest and the other anchored by the handle. Your cat doesn’t want to take an adventure! Carrying the carrier in this manner makes your cat feel more secure and stable. The bottom of the page makes it safer and keeps the page from separating and the cat from becoming loose.
Properly Secure the Carrier in the Car
Many pet owners might be inclined to put the pet carrier on the driver’s seat and then use the seatbelt to keep it in place. Although we might think that our pet feels more secure with us, it’s not the best option for safety. We should instead set pet carriers on the floors of our Car behind the front or rear seat. This is the most secure place with the smallest amount of movement. 1
Before leaving, lay a feline-infused towel on the carrier with one side exposed. This will allow the cat to get away if they choose to and reduces the amount of visual stimuli. It is also recommended to place a non-slip area inside and underneath your crate. Also, to avoid car sickness, slow down from a stop while driving. Allow extra space between cars to prevent sudden stopping, and turn slowly.
Notify the Veterinary Hospital Team When You Arrive
Instead of bringing your cat directly to the veterinary clinic when you arrive, call the main desk. Inform them that you’re at the entrance of their parking area. So they can contact or text you once the room is ready. This can help reduce the stressors in a waiting room (dogs barking and dogs walking around looking at the carrier, etc.).
Cats require five to 10 minutes to adjust to their new environment and feel at ease. If you cannot keep yourself from waiting in the lobby, set the cat’s cage on an elevated surface. Then protect the sides and front with a pheromone-infused, breathable towel.
It is also possible to talk with your vet about scheduling appointments for your cat in quieter daytime times. With fewer people in the building, there’ll be fewer terrifying sounds, smells, and images that your feline can be scared of.
