Yesterday I went to put Stinkpot in his carrier to take him to the groomer to have his claws trimmed, and he went absolutely berserk. I ended up only taking the other 3, because I never could get him into the carrier, and he was so upset I thought he was going to have a heart attack on me.
As a 6 month old, he and his brother shared a large carrier when they first came to us and went in for their check-up and shots, and as I recall, they were in there a total of 4 times with no issues at all. Then about 6 weeks ago was his first time in his own carrier (he's now 16 months old) when I decided I was tired of arguing with him about trimming his nails and decided I would let the groomer handle it! He went in ok, but was panting and crying (not meowing) but a very scared, almost yelping cry the entire way there, even though I tried to calm him down for the entire trip just by talking to him. (he's very much a momma's boy). So...this time I figured I would strap the carrier in the front seat so he could see me and maybe that would calm him down (the air bag would be OFF, so no worries there). Well, I never got that far.
Since yesterday afternoon I have left a different carrier on the main level of our house with the door open (it's usually in the garage) and all the other cats have wandered in and out of it, some of them staying for quite some time, but Stinkpot wouldn't even come downstairs until late last night, and even then, he kept a leery eye on "that thing". I've seen him looking at it a little bit, and inch closer to it, especially if another cat is in it, but I"m still worried that if I try to put him in it again, or if he does get in it and I close the door, he will completely flip out. I need to get him over this "affliction", because if nothing else, he has to go to the Vet for annual check-ups, and there could be other occasions where he might have to leave the house for one reason or another (think emergency situations). This carrier does open in both the front and top, so I know we could pick him up by the scruff and drop him in, but I really don't want to traumatize him (but I would, if the house were on fire and we absolutely had to get him in it!)
Does anyone have any ideas on how to help him get over his fear or this horrible contraption? I've no idea why he has it. I've never had a cat who acted this way about a carrier before and don't know how to handle it. He's so goofy, in some ways, he's such a brave little thing, always getting into mischief, yet in other ways, he's such a scaredy cat!
As a 6 month old, he and his brother shared a large carrier when they first came to us and went in for their check-up and shots, and as I recall, they were in there a total of 4 times with no issues at all. Then about 6 weeks ago was his first time in his own carrier (he's now 16 months old) when I decided I was tired of arguing with him about trimming his nails and decided I would let the groomer handle it! He went in ok, but was panting and crying (not meowing) but a very scared, almost yelping cry the entire way there, even though I tried to calm him down for the entire trip just by talking to him. (he's very much a momma's boy). So...this time I figured I would strap the carrier in the front seat so he could see me and maybe that would calm him down (the air bag would be OFF, so no worries there). Well, I never got that far.
Since yesterday afternoon I have left a different carrier on the main level of our house with the door open (it's usually in the garage) and all the other cats have wandered in and out of it, some of them staying for quite some time, but Stinkpot wouldn't even come downstairs until late last night, and even then, he kept a leery eye on "that thing". I've seen him looking at it a little bit, and inch closer to it, especially if another cat is in it, but I"m still worried that if I try to put him in it again, or if he does get in it and I close the door, he will completely flip out. I need to get him over this "affliction", because if nothing else, he has to go to the Vet for annual check-ups, and there could be other occasions where he might have to leave the house for one reason or another (think emergency situations). This carrier does open in both the front and top, so I know we could pick him up by the scruff and drop him in, but I really don't want to traumatize him (but I would, if the house were on fire and we absolutely had to get him in it!)
Does anyone have any ideas on how to help him get over his fear or this horrible contraption? I've no idea why he has it. I've never had a cat who acted this way about a carrier before and don't know how to handle it. He's so goofy, in some ways, he's such a brave little thing, always getting into mischief, yet in other ways, he's such a scaredy cat!
Cleo is just a spaz, but Elliott is a former feral and I just can't let them hurt themselves to the point they bleed trying to get out, so if I have to take them out I will wrap them in a towel and just hold them which has worked for us so far. Elliott usually just sticks his head in my arm pit and tries to hide. 
