Getting a cat, which doesn't really trust you, into a carrier

MollyBlue said:

 
Cats really read a lot into what we are feeling as well... maybe you are under a lot of stress worrying about how it will go and that could be making her nervous too.  Not sure if it has been suggested already, but you could try putting her in the carrier and taking her for a short ride so she doesn't always associate the carrier with bad things.  I know a lot of cats don't like car rides so we don't take them very often, but several of my cats have grown to look forward to outings.  Two of them often go to PetCo or PetSmart with us, and one of them likes to just go with me when I put gas in the car... Regardless of whether its something you want to do all the time or not, having a couple practice sessions before the next visit should ease the stress for both of you.  LOL... Puffy Cat is the one who sleeps in her carrier - and the one who will go with me just to do little things like put gas in the car,  but before we started leaving it out for her, whenever we would get it out, she would come running and get in it because she knew it meant she was going somewhere.  Have faith, it can happen!

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That is probable. I was very nervous... nervous about how she'd react (I'd never done this before), nervous if I'd get clawed or worst case scenario bitten. Anxious just for the unpleasantness of it... I could feel my pulse in my entire body, and was sweating after a bit of that, so yeah, she'd probably notice...

I don't have a car, and I don't need one. The vet is a 5 minute walk from here So... but I can try getting her inside the carrier nevertheless.... maybe take her out for a stroll (there are other cats nearby outside)? r just leave her in the carrier for a short amount of time?

My husband had a boss who brought his cat to work every day.  When it was time to go home she'd happily get in the carrier and apparently enjoyed the ride each way.

Chint said:

 
That is probable. I was very nervous... nervous about how she'd react (I'd never done this before), nervous if I'd get clawed or worst case scenario bitten. Anxious just for the unpleasantness of it... I could feel my pulse in my entire body, and was sweating after a bit of that, so yeah, she'd probably notice...

I don't have a car, and I don't need one. The vet is a 5 minute walk from here So... but I can try getting her inside the carrier nevertheless.... maybe take her out for a stroll (there are other cats nearby outside)? r just leave her in the carrier for a short amount of time?

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he he.. funny you should mention going for a stroll.  We actually have a cat stroller, and all 4 cats, LOVE that thing.  We bought a cheap one - which wasn't really cheap, I think 40 or 50 dollars, but cheap compared to the heavy duty ones they have for joggers and off road which can get quite pricey.  The biggest draw back to it is very bulky to get up and down the stairs, and we load the cats up before taking it out and you cannot pick it up by the basket with the cats inside because it will fall apart.  The good thing is that it comes apart and lays flat for storage... which we never do because if I ever got it put up would probably  never get it back out again - I am lazy like that, and because it provides another hiding/sleeping spot for the cats, so it sits in an unused corner.  I like taking my cats outside whether on the leash, or in a stroller and I think its good for both of us, give us both fresh air and them some mental stimulation.  Venturing outdoors in some odd way bolsters my deaf cats confidence and she is always feisty when we come back in doors.  It soothes my wild child Tatiana and she is good for a few days.  Theodore and Buttercup both get scared while outside... Theo because has never really gotten to spend any time outdoors and because he is my touch me not and going outdoors involves him getting touched, all sorts of reasons, and Buttercup was an abandoned kitty and we took her in... but she had to fight her way in and she is not keen on going out that door... even after a years now, she still lacks that trust.  Having the 4 cats now instead of one or 2 really limits the fun stuff we get to do with them individually so Theo and Buttercup also don't get worked with in this manner, but Theo still runs and jumps in the stroller when you start to push it... he likes it because I can just zip it shut and he can move about and sniff and see, and not be exposed at the same time.  Much easier than carrying the cat carrier too.  I also have a backpack carrier.  It has a luggage handle and wheels on it so you can push it or pull it, or you can pick it up and carry it.  I don't like it because it is really small - my 8lb cats fit in it and do not complain, but it is a bumpy ride if I push or pull it, and gets heavy after a while if I carry it... but I found it at a second hand store, and was my first "lets go outside" carrier.  Puffy and Tati would both jump right in...

These are not mine, just photos similar to mine.  The backpack is on amazon right now for 19.99 and the stroller is 39.96.  Not sure if you would get enough use out of them to justify getting either, but just thought I would point them out as options to another carrier.

Thank you very much. MollyBlue, that's definitely something I'll take into consideration! Taking the cat in a limo-stroller got to be a LOT better than in a cramped cage/carrier. And how much fun it'll be going for walks with her in that... even though I'm pretty sure I'll get mocked and get a lot of looks if I do

Yeah, a friend of mine suggested the same with the carrier, turning it and using it like that... I guess it's a little better, but with my carrier is so small anyways, I don't know how much of a difference it'll make.

LOL, you will get looks... my cats seem to enjoy the "looks" and I am at an age beyond where I care if people like it or think I am an odd duck. 

I put some catnip on a towel in the carrier and my cat went right in. Is that a bad thing to do, using catnip to lure him in there? We were going to get his claws trimmed, so I didn't want any negative encounters.
My issue was that carrier is heavy, appropriate for animals flying in cargo hold-it was borrowed. I've since gotten a lightweight canvas/mesh carrier that may be a bit small for a cat Luciano's size. He's thin, but a big cat, I think 14-15 pounds. With the hard carrier it was well over 20 pounds and was on the heavy side for me to walk the 7 blocks to the vet. I wound up walking 2 blocks to the subway & taking it down one stop & I took the bus back.

I've kept the lightweight carrier out so that he plays with it a bit, going in and out and sometimes I zip it up. I want it to be a game for him so he's not afraid and always associates it with going to the vet. I have to remember to reward him with a treat for going in there each time I see him.

I wish I could find the article. There is a woman in my town whose cat had a bad reaction to a surgery and had brain damage. The cat couldn't walk anymore or respond to much but was still alive. The woman started walking the cat around in a pet stroller. Over time the woman lost 85 pounds with the walking and the cat regained some movement and reactions. The woman now walks the local mountain on a regular basis and the cat will yell at her if she is going to slow or stops for too long.

Kieka said:

I wish I could find the article. There is a woman in my town whose cat had a bad reaction to a surgery and had brain damage. The cat couldn't walk anymore or respond to much but was still alive. The woman started walking the cat around in a pet stroller. Over time the woman lost 85 pounds with the walking and the cat regained some movement and reactions. The woman now walks the local mountain on a regular basis and the cat will yell at her if she is going to slow or stops for too long.

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Aww, lovely 

That's a sweet story. I've seen all kind of animals in strollers on the streets of NYC, definitely dogs and cats, but also large turtles, birds, pigs and ferrets. I think the fact that I'm not far from Central Park has something to do with these sightings.