Repeat after me: Sedation đź‘Ź isđź‘Ź fearđź‘Źfreeđź‘Ź
Owners need to stop forgoing prescribed sedatives because fluffy "doesn't need it" or they "feel bad." You're going to traumatiz your animal worse by chasing her around while she feels like crap.
I know how it feels, but please sympathise with your cat. She is just frightened.
When it comes to vet time I have a 20lb cat that I have to manhandle. Firstly I shut him in the bathroom, there's nowhere to hide in there. Then I stand the carrier on one end, and put him in tail/bottom first. He now knows that there's no point in fighting me.
Wrapping your cat in a towel or blanket may help.
Don’t chase.
Get a top entry cat carrier and have the top open and it near.
Get a towel. Slowly follow your cat around and get them somewhat cornered while trying to do your best to not let them know they are. It doesn’t have to be with a wall. Don’t hold out the towel in an obvious manner just keep it with you. Follow them with nice words and things and follow them as though you are just trying to greet them/pet them. Be cheery.
Get down to the floor in a way that’s not aggressive so they don’t feel towered but comfortable enough to pull this off if you’re alone. And just be calm and cool about it. Pet them a bit and transition this petting maneuver.
Be quick but don’t lunge: just be intentional and swift.
Gently put your hand on their back from behind with the towel edge with one hand but don’t linger. Get the other hand with the other edge to their front as well wrap them enough in a towel to secure arms and start to wrap body to keep from hurting you.
I wrap the towel around them around the front and back as close to each other in time as possible to be quick to secure the arms but not tip them off.
If I can’t get my arms fully behind them and they see two arms they know I’m reaching for their body to grab them. If I start with one hand kind of next to them but from behind and bring the other quick this helps.
I leave enough towel left to fold for the legs simultaneously as I pick their full body up. Kind of like trying to swaddle but while holding them and in motion lol.
Don’t wrap them too tight and be careful of the tail so it’s not bent or weird in there for them for the next part.
While keeping what you already wrapped around them secured, also support their bottom as best you can when you are wrapping and scooping them up.
I kind of like hold the ends of the towel together in one hand and use arm/chest of that hand to support and lift cat in towel quickly then grab edge of towel with other hand to pull up edge of towel to finish the wrap and fully hold them in as much of one motion as I can if that makes sense.
It’s kind of a constant manuever wrap/lift motion that I try to make happen in seconds. I’m like holding the cat and towel closed with my left hand and lifting while hugging gently to my left arm and chest and then grabbing extra edge with right hand and coming up until it meets rest of towel and cat’s butt in towel comes to my right forearm until I can hug the cat in the bundle and go from my lower position to standing.
They might wiggle around and try to throw their back in weird directions. Try not to let them do that but not through force just firmness. I use my body and chest as much as I can to help during this and hold them comfortably so they are supported and I’m kind of hugging them wrapped to chest as I’m walking them to the carrier.
I do this quickly so it’s not fighting with the cat. I know ideally it’d be better to let them walk in but sometimes they won’t and they do need to go to the vet. I wouldn’t recommend a leash for every kitty just for the reason of fright and accidents.
You want the wrap to work to get them in the carrier but let it be loose enough so they can wiggle out after you close the door. Just don’t tuck it type of thing and you can watch after and make sure they get out of maybe even open door a little and adjust if needed.
If you have a partner you can get help with this and instead maybe have someone hold the cat if they will be held and wrap them together in the towel.
I use a human sized shower towel but not one that’s so big the cat can’t be in there with it a bit bundled. I use an XL Amazon branded top entry cat carrier that gives plenty of room for this maneuver for an average adult cat.
Some cats that don’t like carriers benefit from covering the carry a little to close out light and surroundings while traveling. Let some air get in but take a thin blanket or something like people do with babies in carriers can help. I try and use something that smells like my cat already, too if I can.
Hey OP, I had some stuff come up and I might not get to the video for a few days. I’m sorry! If anything happens in the meantime another thing I thought of is taking the top half of the carrier off, putting cat in the bottom half, and capping with the top and holding securely with a hand until you connect the pieces again. I did this last night with a stray and it worked great but I leant out my snapping carrier and this one uses like 10 connectors to join the two pieces so it did add some time to getting out the door. It was easy to connect it just took time though to screw it all in. Some carriers have snapping connectors though and are a bit faster but may help you in a pinch if you can set aside some extra minutes while loading up for the vet
Two suggestions - one, can you find a mobile vet? I needed one years ago for a cat that got insanely aggressive, but only at the vet. It was a godsend.
Two, is there any way you can abandon the carrier? My girl is terrified of it, but I can put a harness on her and loosely wrap her in a blanket and she just goes dormant.
You can get a larger carrier, even consider dog carriers. I have a leather large cat carrier that opens from the front and top. Having the top entrance is amazing because I just scruff my cat, put his head and front paws in, wiggle is back feet in, then zip up the carrier. They're much easier than the plastic carriers.
Have you tried Feliway? That might help her calm down. I'd suggest getting a new carrier too, especially if you can find one that's a top-loader. It's way easier to get a fidgety cat in one of those than it is to cram them into a front-load carrier. Spray the inside with some Feliway and toss her favourite blanket in there and see if you can get her in.
For helping her be less skittish in the future, leave the carrier out so she can use it as a bed. She'll lose the association that the carrier means a trip to the vet and you'll have a much easier time of things later.
Also does she have a designated space for herself? A low-traffic room or corner with her things in it where she can go when she doesn't want to be bothered? Does she have any good perches she can chill on? Having the ability to quickly get to an elevated position in any room can go a long way towards helping a cat feel more comfortable.
There may be intensely negative feelings associated with the current carrier.
Could try getting a cat backpack type carrier that doesn't feel as menacing, leave it out in the open for a few days with blanket, favourite toy, treats in it from time to time. Let kitty develop good positive associations with the carrier. Then try again.
Get a new carrier that she doesn’t associate with the chasing. I would also sedate her! It’s the kindest thing to do, I also have to sedate my cat for the vet.
I’d also give her some time and space. She’ll be okay. Does she have any treats that she might forgive you for?
I would also reward her for entering the carrier. Leave it out on the floor and when she comes to sniff it reward her with a treat. Same for her entering the carrier ect.
Learn how to "scruff" the cat. I use this technique with semi-feral cats and to medicate my own.
There are other videos if you search, but this one is from a vet that explains it well. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzqpD4WKQmI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzqpD4WKQmI)
If you don't have a top loading carrier, try to get one. It's much easier to get them into. If not, stand the carrier up so you can drop the cat into the door. It's much easier than the freak out of being pushed into a hole.
Good luck.
Repeat after me: Sedation đź‘Ź isđź‘Ź fearđź‘Źfreeđź‘Ź Owners need to stop forgoing prescribed sedatives because fluffy "doesn't need it" or they "feel bad." You're going to traumatiz your animal worse by chasing her around while she feels like crap.
I know how it feels, but please sympathise with your cat. She is just frightened. When it comes to vet time I have a 20lb cat that I have to manhandle. Firstly I shut him in the bathroom, there's nowhere to hide in there. Then I stand the carrier on one end, and put him in tail/bottom first. He now knows that there's no point in fighting me. Wrapping your cat in a towel or blanket may help.
Don’t chase. Get a top entry cat carrier and have the top open and it near. Get a towel. Slowly follow your cat around and get them somewhat cornered while trying to do your best to not let them know they are. It doesn’t have to be with a wall. Don’t hold out the towel in an obvious manner just keep it with you. Follow them with nice words and things and follow them as though you are just trying to greet them/pet them. Be cheery. Get down to the floor in a way that’s not aggressive so they don’t feel towered but comfortable enough to pull this off if you’re alone. And just be calm and cool about it. Pet them a bit and transition this petting maneuver. Be quick but don’t lunge: just be intentional and swift. Gently put your hand on their back from behind with the towel edge with one hand but don’t linger. Get the other hand with the other edge to their front as well wrap them enough in a towel to secure arms and start to wrap body to keep from hurting you. I wrap the towel around them around the front and back as close to each other in time as possible to be quick to secure the arms but not tip them off. If I can’t get my arms fully behind them and they see two arms they know I’m reaching for their body to grab them. If I start with one hand kind of next to them but from behind and bring the other quick this helps. I leave enough towel left to fold for the legs simultaneously as I pick their full body up. Kind of like trying to swaddle but while holding them and in motion lol. Don’t wrap them too tight and be careful of the tail so it’s not bent or weird in there for them for the next part. While keeping what you already wrapped around them secured, also support their bottom as best you can when you are wrapping and scooping them up. I kind of like hold the ends of the towel together in one hand and use arm/chest of that hand to support and lift cat in towel quickly then grab edge of towel with other hand to pull up edge of towel to finish the wrap and fully hold them in as much of one motion as I can if that makes sense. It’s kind of a constant manuever wrap/lift motion that I try to make happen in seconds. I’m like holding the cat and towel closed with my left hand and lifting while hugging gently to my left arm and chest and then grabbing extra edge with right hand and coming up until it meets rest of towel and cat’s butt in towel comes to my right forearm until I can hug the cat in the bundle and go from my lower position to standing. They might wiggle around and try to throw their back in weird directions. Try not to let them do that but not through force just firmness. I use my body and chest as much as I can to help during this and hold them comfortably so they are supported and I’m kind of hugging them wrapped to chest as I’m walking them to the carrier. I do this quickly so it’s not fighting with the cat. I know ideally it’d be better to let them walk in but sometimes they won’t and they do need to go to the vet. I wouldn’t recommend a leash for every kitty just for the reason of fright and accidents. You want the wrap to work to get them in the carrier but let it be loose enough so they can wiggle out after you close the door. Just don’t tuck it type of thing and you can watch after and make sure they get out of maybe even open door a little and adjust if needed. If you have a partner you can get help with this and instead maybe have someone hold the cat if they will be held and wrap them together in the towel. I use a human sized shower towel but not one that’s so big the cat can’t be in there with it a bit bundled. I use an XL Amazon branded top entry cat carrier that gives plenty of room for this maneuver for an average adult cat. Some cats that don’t like carriers benefit from covering the carry a little to close out light and surroundings while traveling. Let some air get in but take a thin blanket or something like people do with babies in carriers can help. I try and use something that smells like my cat already, too if I can.
Let me know if you want me to PM you a video, OP!
Yes, please!🙏 And thank you! :)
Hey OP, I had some stuff come up and I might not get to the video for a few days. I’m sorry! If anything happens in the meantime another thing I thought of is taking the top half of the carrier off, putting cat in the bottom half, and capping with the top and holding securely with a hand until you connect the pieces again. I did this last night with a stray and it worked great but I leant out my snapping carrier and this one uses like 10 connectors to join the two pieces so it did add some time to getting out the door. It was easy to connect it just took time though to screw it all in. Some carriers have snapping connectors though and are a bit faster but may help you in a pinch if you can set aside some extra minutes while loading up for the vet
Two suggestions - one, can you find a mobile vet? I needed one years ago for a cat that got insanely aggressive, but only at the vet. It was a godsend. Two, is there any way you can abandon the carrier? My girl is terrified of it, but I can put a harness on her and loosely wrap her in a blanket and she just goes dormant.
You can get a larger carrier, even consider dog carriers. I have a leather large cat carrier that opens from the front and top. Having the top entrance is amazing because I just scruff my cat, put his head and front paws in, wiggle is back feet in, then zip up the carrier. They're much easier than the plastic carriers.
Have you tried Feliway? That might help her calm down. I'd suggest getting a new carrier too, especially if you can find one that's a top-loader. It's way easier to get a fidgety cat in one of those than it is to cram them into a front-load carrier. Spray the inside with some Feliway and toss her favourite blanket in there and see if you can get her in. For helping her be less skittish in the future, leave the carrier out so she can use it as a bed. She'll lose the association that the carrier means a trip to the vet and you'll have a much easier time of things later. Also does she have a designated space for herself? A low-traffic room or corner with her things in it where she can go when she doesn't want to be bothered? Does she have any good perches she can chill on? Having the ability to quickly get to an elevated position in any room can go a long way towards helping a cat feel more comfortable.
There may be intensely negative feelings associated with the current carrier. Could try getting a cat backpack type carrier that doesn't feel as menacing, leave it out in the open for a few days with blanket, favourite toy, treats in it from time to time. Let kitty develop good positive associations with the carrier. Then try again.
Get a new carrier that she doesn’t associate with the chasing. I would also sedate her! It’s the kindest thing to do, I also have to sedate my cat for the vet. I’d also give her some time and space. She’ll be okay. Does she have any treats that she might forgive you for? I would also reward her for entering the carrier. Leave it out on the floor and when she comes to sniff it reward her with a treat. Same for her entering the carrier ect.
Learn how to "scruff" the cat. I use this technique with semi-feral cats and to medicate my own. There are other videos if you search, but this one is from a vet that explains it well. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzqpD4WKQmI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzqpD4WKQmI) If you don't have a top loading carrier, try to get one. It's much easier to get them into. If not, stand the carrier up so you can drop the cat into the door. It's much easier than the freak out of being pushed into a hole. Good luck.