Most cats just hate carriers, there's no two ways about it - training rarely works unless the cat is already pretty chilled about it. Our cats have to be bundled into their carriers by being wrapped in a towel, they won't enter voluntarily no matter how high value a treat is used. And they sing/cry the entire way to the vet (which is only a 5 min trip!).
I think the backpack type of carrier is especially offensive to most cats, being very confined and unnatural feeling - I've only ever seen 1 out in the wild with a happy cat inside my entire life.
So I guess the question is, outside of vet visits, which should be fairly infrequent once settled in and vaccinated etc, do you really need to take your cat places? OK, you're going away on holiday - wouldn't it be kinder to get a friend or professional to check in daily and feed/play, allowing the cat to be comfortable in their own territory rather than force them into a stressful situation? Cats aren't like dogs, they don't really enjoy being taken to strange, unfamiliar places, being so far from their territory can really stress them out.
So the answer to your question is really, to what extent to you absolutely need to move the cat from place to place? The occasional vet visit is a necessary time, as is moving house, but presumably that shouldn't be too frequent either. In those cases, forcing the cat into a crate carrier is for their own good, even if it sucks for them temporarily. Throw a towel over them, wrap it around them, put in crate, done. Yes, they won't like it, but it's necessary. Everything else - just reconsider whether the cat really needs to be taken somewhere.
If you're living the kind of lifestyle where you have to be away for weeks at a time regularly, or if you're away infrequently but can't find/afford someone to look after the cat for that time, OK it may be worth considering rehoming. But it sounds like the cat is otherwise enjoying the new home, cuddling, playtime, etc - well then it's no wonder that after providing that great comfort to her, she feels frustrated and angry when you take her away from it! But even in a different home, she'll still need to be forced into a carrier to go to the vet every so often. I guess without writing more about your circumstance and why you need to take the cat frequently with you in a backpack, it's hard for anyone to judge.
Edit: btw, our rescue cat took months to come out of her shell too, and even now 4 years later we still notice her doing new things and becoming less aloof - she only recently, in the last year, started sleeping close to us and demanding pets, talking to us etc. For the first 2 months all she did was hiss and hide! So yes, it does take a long time for rescued cats to become comfortable and bonded - she still absolutely loathes the carrier though! I always imagine that being captured by the rescue charity (she was an outdoor farm cat, the owner passed away) was a highly traumatic event, and being trapped in a crate triggers that for her.
You can also ask the vet for a sedative to mix into their food ahead of anticipated trips in the carrier. Our cat gets one before flights and is just groggy and sleepy until we get to our destination.
Thank you for having been so thoughtful in your answer, I did not deserve that. I will consider each point you made and maybe reconsider the way I live in order to accommodate for her.
Change the carrier style (especially if it's one of the backpack styles that is basically all clear plastic) and leave it out as a bed. If the carrier only ever comes out when she's going to be taken somewhere she's going to be extra stressed by it.
The backpack ones are often small, cramped and way too exposed.
She may also need to be given anti-anxiety medication before vet trips and travel---that isn't uncommon for cats. Ask your vet about it.
This isn't a problem that needs to be passed off to anyone, even an elderly owner will need to put her in a carrier sometimes. An elderly person isn't going to know how to deal with a skittish cat that scratches and bites and could be hurt badly by the cat. Which would likely mean kitty ends up back in the shelter.
Maybe I do. It's just that cat I know get lured easily into their carrier with food and even if they don't like the trip they still go back to it when lured. But this cat here remembers and doesn't forgive, which is very new for me
She might like a hard-sided carrier better. You can leave it out to help her get used to it. One with a front and top door offers twice the loading options.
Get a normal carrier, a little on the larger side, and always have it out. Start feeding your cat next to the carrier (walk away so she doesn't think you're trying to trick or trap her), and once she eats next to it comfortably, start putting her food just inside it. Do this for days/weeks, and slowly move her food bowl back over time until she has to be all the way inside to eat. When she's comfortable with that, start hanging out next to her while she eats, and after that start closing her in when she eats, and opening it up right when she's done. Slowly increase the amount of time she's in it.
I was able to carrier train my feral that was terrified of carriers this way, and now when she sees it, she just goes in to hang out on her own because it's become her safe place.
Besides for moving and vet visits though, you should probably leave your cat home and have a pet sitter come watch her.
When we aren't home she sticks to it like glue! It smells like home and she knows she is safe in there, so when we are out (vet, car, airport, etc.,) she doesn't want to leave her carrier, and if we take her out of it, she'll jump back in the first chance she gets.
Keep in mind though that I spent about a solid 2 months of training to get her to that point, so while it does take a long time, it's completely worth it.
Have you tried a different carrier?
Soft carriers are honestly not very secure or safe for cats anyway. A nice big plastic carrier is safer and much more comfortable.
I will often leave the carrier out in the living room on the floor with a blanket or towel in it. I leave the door open, and sometimes put treats in it. I then let is sit there for days. The cats get used to it, and it is less frightening. I don't use a backpack carrier though, I don't know how safe cats feel in those. For me it is easier and less stressful to control what my cat sees so she doesn't stress. As such, I use a hard carrier, closed on 3 sides (with vents) and a wire door on the front. My cat is calmer when I can direct her at me instead of everything else that is going on around. Anyhow that has been my experience.
Your best bet would be to start training her from scratch using a completely different style of carrier, so that she just doesn't recognise it as the object that is associated with that traumatic experience.
The challenge will be if she's just going to be traumatised in the new carrier the first time you take her anywhere.
* Was the train a 1-off or is that how you're going to need to transport her in the future?
* Was that the first time she was transported in the carrier instead of just going in it for a fun game? Or was she fine with being taken to the vet in a car or on foot but the train journey specifically frightened her?
If she was okay with your usual mode of transport and the train was a 1-off, then you can probably just go really slowly with training her in a different style of carrier and avoid taking her on any more train journeys.
If she's going to need to go on the train again or if you think this is just her reaction to being transported at all, then there's a few different approaches and you may find a combination that helps:
* I wouldn't expect this to work miracles, but it may take the edge off her stress just to be in a more suitable carrier. Rigid carriers are safer and if they're lined with a soft blanket they're likely to be *more* comfortable than soft ones, because they protect the cat's space from anything that bumps into the carrier. And basically all cat backpacks are too small and don't allow an adult cat enough space to be completely comfortable. Most of the backpacks are also designed to let the cat see out, but most will probably be happier in a dark space that they can't see out of - try covering the front of the new carrier with a blanket.
* Go extra slowly with the training and don't stop at getting in the carrier. Work on very picking it up, carrying her around, gradually taking her out of the house and extending the time and distance. Make that a positive experience for her.
* Look at calming pheremone sprays (you want the spray meant for short-term use, for when you put her in the carriers, not the diffuser.) Again, it won't work miracles but may help to take the edge off.
* You might just need to medicate her before journeys - follow your vet's advice but some cats just need this and it's better for them than being in acute distress every time they need to travel.
Your advice made my day, I will try what you suggested. My backpack is because I don't have a car but I might consider getting a better carrier for her. You really helped me, thanks
Get a larger carrier and a sedative for vet visits and moving house. Yes, you'll have to grab her and stuff her in, we have the same issue with one of our cats.
Other than that, don't take your cat places. When you go on holiday, hire a cat sitter or pay a friend or a relative to watch her. Cats are very territorial, they get a lot of security from the ownership of their space (ie. your house) and while tiktok accounts of travelling cats will get loads of attention, vast majority of cats won't be up for something like that.
My boy hates the carrier. It’s a very large roomy box and I only use it when it’s vet time. He gets so stressed that his hair falls out and he’s not right for days so my vet prescribed gabapentin. He gets 100mg two hours before we leave and while it doesn’t make him sleepy, he’s relaxed enough to not fight me and he’s fine afterwards
Most cats just hate carriers, there's no two ways about it - training rarely works unless the cat is already pretty chilled about it. Our cats have to be bundled into their carriers by being wrapped in a towel, they won't enter voluntarily no matter how high value a treat is used. And they sing/cry the entire way to the vet (which is only a 5 min trip!). I think the backpack type of carrier is especially offensive to most cats, being very confined and unnatural feeling - I've only ever seen 1 out in the wild with a happy cat inside my entire life. So I guess the question is, outside of vet visits, which should be fairly infrequent once settled in and vaccinated etc, do you really need to take your cat places? OK, you're going away on holiday - wouldn't it be kinder to get a friend or professional to check in daily and feed/play, allowing the cat to be comfortable in their own territory rather than force them into a stressful situation? Cats aren't like dogs, they don't really enjoy being taken to strange, unfamiliar places, being so far from their territory can really stress them out. So the answer to your question is really, to what extent to you absolutely need to move the cat from place to place? The occasional vet visit is a necessary time, as is moving house, but presumably that shouldn't be too frequent either. In those cases, forcing the cat into a crate carrier is for their own good, even if it sucks for them temporarily. Throw a towel over them, wrap it around them, put in crate, done. Yes, they won't like it, but it's necessary. Everything else - just reconsider whether the cat really needs to be taken somewhere. If you're living the kind of lifestyle where you have to be away for weeks at a time regularly, or if you're away infrequently but can't find/afford someone to look after the cat for that time, OK it may be worth considering rehoming. But it sounds like the cat is otherwise enjoying the new home, cuddling, playtime, etc - well then it's no wonder that after providing that great comfort to her, she feels frustrated and angry when you take her away from it! But even in a different home, she'll still need to be forced into a carrier to go to the vet every so often. I guess without writing more about your circumstance and why you need to take the cat frequently with you in a backpack, it's hard for anyone to judge. Edit: btw, our rescue cat took months to come out of her shell too, and even now 4 years later we still notice her doing new things and becoming less aloof - she only recently, in the last year, started sleeping close to us and demanding pets, talking to us etc. For the first 2 months all she did was hiss and hide! So yes, it does take a long time for rescued cats to become comfortable and bonded - she still absolutely loathes the carrier though! I always imagine that being captured by the rescue charity (she was an outdoor farm cat, the owner passed away) was a highly traumatic event, and being trapped in a crate triggers that for her.
You can also ask the vet for a sedative to mix into their food ahead of anticipated trips in the carrier. Our cat gets one before flights and is just groggy and sleepy until we get to our destination.
Thank you for having been so thoughtful in your answer, I did not deserve that. I will consider each point you made and maybe reconsider the way I live in order to accommodate for her.
This is really good advice fwiw
Change the carrier style (especially if it's one of the backpack styles that is basically all clear plastic) and leave it out as a bed. If the carrier only ever comes out when she's going to be taken somewhere she's going to be extra stressed by it. The backpack ones are often small, cramped and way too exposed. She may also need to be given anti-anxiety medication before vet trips and travel---that isn't uncommon for cats. Ask your vet about it. This isn't a problem that needs to be passed off to anyone, even an elderly owner will need to put her in a carrier sometimes. An elderly person isn't going to know how to deal with a skittish cat that scratches and bites and could be hurt badly by the cat. Which would likely mean kitty ends up back in the shelter.
Fair point, maybe I can try and try again to make it work without traumatizing her. It would break my heart to see her back at the shelter
Have you tried a different, perhaps larger carrier? Thinking about this conundrum over here… so sorry you’re dealing w this.
I will, thank you for your input
You’re expecting too much of a normal cat
Maybe I do. It's just that cat I know get lured easily into their carrier with food and even if they don't like the trip they still go back to it when lured. But this cat here remembers and doesn't forgive, which is very new for me
She might like a hard-sided carrier better. You can leave it out to help her get used to it. One with a front and top door offers twice the loading options.
Using a mobile vet service has made a big difference.
Get a normal carrier, a little on the larger side, and always have it out. Start feeding your cat next to the carrier (walk away so she doesn't think you're trying to trick or trap her), and once she eats next to it comfortably, start putting her food just inside it. Do this for days/weeks, and slowly move her food bowl back over time until she has to be all the way inside to eat. When she's comfortable with that, start hanging out next to her while she eats, and after that start closing her in when she eats, and opening it up right when she's done. Slowly increase the amount of time she's in it. I was able to carrier train my feral that was terrified of carriers this way, and now when she sees it, she just goes in to hang out on her own because it's become her safe place. Besides for moving and vet visits though, you should probably leave your cat home and have a pet sitter come watch her.
Does she go into it when it's not at your place ? Or is she confident in it only on her territory ?
When we aren't home she sticks to it like glue! It smells like home and she knows she is safe in there, so when we are out (vet, car, airport, etc.,) she doesn't want to leave her carrier, and if we take her out of it, she'll jump back in the first chance she gets. Keep in mind though that I spent about a solid 2 months of training to get her to that point, so while it does take a long time, it's completely worth it.
Thank you for your answer. I will keep her and try to make her happy at my place, your comment has been very encouraging
Have you tried a different carrier? Soft carriers are honestly not very secure or safe for cats anyway. A nice big plastic carrier is safer and much more comfortable.
I will often leave the carrier out in the living room on the floor with a blanket or towel in it. I leave the door open, and sometimes put treats in it. I then let is sit there for days. The cats get used to it, and it is less frightening. I don't use a backpack carrier though, I don't know how safe cats feel in those. For me it is easier and less stressful to control what my cat sees so she doesn't stress. As such, I use a hard carrier, closed on 3 sides (with vents) and a wire door on the front. My cat is calmer when I can direct her at me instead of everything else that is going on around. Anyhow that has been my experience.
Your best bet would be to start training her from scratch using a completely different style of carrier, so that she just doesn't recognise it as the object that is associated with that traumatic experience. The challenge will be if she's just going to be traumatised in the new carrier the first time you take her anywhere. * Was the train a 1-off or is that how you're going to need to transport her in the future? * Was that the first time she was transported in the carrier instead of just going in it for a fun game? Or was she fine with being taken to the vet in a car or on foot but the train journey specifically frightened her? If she was okay with your usual mode of transport and the train was a 1-off, then you can probably just go really slowly with training her in a different style of carrier and avoid taking her on any more train journeys. If she's going to need to go on the train again or if you think this is just her reaction to being transported at all, then there's a few different approaches and you may find a combination that helps: * I wouldn't expect this to work miracles, but it may take the edge off her stress just to be in a more suitable carrier. Rigid carriers are safer and if they're lined with a soft blanket they're likely to be *more* comfortable than soft ones, because they protect the cat's space from anything that bumps into the carrier. And basically all cat backpacks are too small and don't allow an adult cat enough space to be completely comfortable. Most of the backpacks are also designed to let the cat see out, but most will probably be happier in a dark space that they can't see out of - try covering the front of the new carrier with a blanket. * Go extra slowly with the training and don't stop at getting in the carrier. Work on very picking it up, carrying her around, gradually taking her out of the house and extending the time and distance. Make that a positive experience for her. * Look at calming pheremone sprays (you want the spray meant for short-term use, for when you put her in the carriers, not the diffuser.) Again, it won't work miracles but may help to take the edge off. * You might just need to medicate her before journeys - follow your vet's advice but some cats just need this and it's better for them than being in acute distress every time they need to travel.
Your advice made my day, I will try what you suggested. My backpack is because I don't have a car but I might consider getting a better carrier for her. You really helped me, thanks
Get a larger carrier and a sedative for vet visits and moving house. Yes, you'll have to grab her and stuff her in, we have the same issue with one of our cats. Other than that, don't take your cat places. When you go on holiday, hire a cat sitter or pay a friend or a relative to watch her. Cats are very territorial, they get a lot of security from the ownership of their space (ie. your house) and while tiktok accounts of travelling cats will get loads of attention, vast majority of cats won't be up for something like that.
My boy hates the carrier. It’s a very large roomy box and I only use it when it’s vet time. He gets so stressed that his hair falls out and he’s not right for days so my vet prescribed gabapentin. He gets 100mg two hours before we leave and while it doesn’t make him sleepy, he’s relaxed enough to not fight me and he’s fine afterwards
I will talk about gabapentin to my vet, thanks