How To Trick A Cat Into A Carrier
Introduction
I’m going to be honest here. That title is a bit misleading. You can’t actually trick a cat into doing anything they don’t want to do. And if there’s one thing that cats don’t want to do, it’s get stuffed in a small box and lugged around the city. But it doesn’t have to be this way! After years of experience as a vet tech, I’ve learned that putting your cat in their carrier can be simple, painless, and maybe even fun (for you). The key is starting early! Get your kitten used to the sight, smell, and feel of their carrier so they’re more likely to spring inside at the first whiff of adventure—or even just the vet’s office. Think about it like this: if you had a pet human child who was scared of getting into cars for trips or medical procedures, wouldn’t you try your best to make them look forward to climbing inside? Here are some tried-and-true suggestions for turning your cat’s carrier from terrifying trap into purr-fectly cozy space:
prepare the carrier in advance
Before you get started, you’ll need to prepare the carrier in advance. First, make sure the carrier is clean and dry. You don’t want any lingering smells that might upset your cat. Second, ensure that it’s large enough for your cat to move around in comfortably. And thirdly, place it in a quiet place where your cat feels comfortable (such as his favorite resting spot).
have a good association with the carrier
The carrier should be something that your cat likes to spend time in. A good way to do this is by taking your cat on lots of walks and adventures in the carrier, so they get used to being there. If you have an older cat, you can also try giving them treats when they are inside their carrier (this will help make them associate good feelings with going into it).
Another great trick is getting another person who has a positive relationship with your cat (like a family member) to put the carrier next to their bed or favorite chair so that when they wake up from a nap, they see it and want to go into it!
The last step is making sure there are no unpleasant smells coming from the carrier—spend some time washing it out with baking soda and warm water if necessary! You can also spritz some essential oils onto a cotton ball and place them inside for added comfortability.
make it smell like you
- Put a blanket or towel in the carrier.
- Spread some of your scent on the carrier by rubbing it with a cloth you’ve worn for several days.
- Put some of your hair in the carrier. Cats have an excellent sense of smell and will readily pick up on any new scents, so making yourself familiar to them can help reduce anxiety when traveling.
- Place a little bit of your scent on a toy or treat that they’re excited about and carry it with you when going out together, so they get used to seeing their favorite items around while still getting their attention away from being closed up inside their carrier.
make it feel like home
To make your cat feel like home, consider placing a towel or blanket inside the carrier. You can also place a cat bed inside to make it more comfortable. If your kitty likes to have privacy when going potty, you can put in a litter box and food bowl as well. This would mean he has everything he needs right where he wants it!
To add some fun to his new digs, consider putting in a scratching post so that he can sharpen his claws while being transported from one place to another (in this case, from your house). Or if you want him to feel like there’s more space for him out there than just inside the carrier itself…you could even get him his own tree!
leave it open and let your cat enter at his own pace
To make your cat comfortable, leave the carrier open and let your cat enter at his own pace. Try not to force him in or go looking for him if he doesn’t want to come out immediately—it’s best to give him space until he decides it’s time to join you.
After playing around with the carrier for a while, take out some treats and put them on the floor inside so that he can investigate them without getting trapped inside. If this is successful, try leaving some treats inside so that your cat is rewarded for entering the carrier on his own terms!
place a favorite toy inside the carrier
Place a favorite toy inside the carrier. The toy should be safe for your cat to play with, but not so big that it can fit its head through a door or window opening. It also must not be too small for your cat’s mouth (like a ping pong ball). Finally, make sure your cat has some weight to them so they don’t swallow their favorite toy whole!
It is important that you choose something that will appeal to your cat’s preferences because if they don’t enjoy playing with it then they won’t want to enter the carrier.
lure your cat into the carrier with food
One of the easiest ways to get a cat into a carrier is by using food as a lure. If you have an extra favorite treat, such as tuna or chicken and cheese, use this to encourage your cat into the carrier. However, make sure that you only use these treats as lures; do not give them out when they are closed in the carrier or they might associate being shut up in their cage with getting fed and come running whenever they see or hear one opening! You should never bribe your cat into doing something they don’t want to do (such as eat) by promising them extra food afterwards—this will just teach them that bad behavior gets rewards.
play with your cat inside the crate
The next step is to get your cat used to being inside the crate with the door closed. This will take some time and patience, but it’s really important that you make this a good association for your cat.
Make sure you have one or two cat toys that are safe for your pet to play with in the crate. You can also use a little bit of catnip if you want, but just make sure it’s not too much because too much can actually be toxic for cats!
If possible, try to get your cat running after the toy (that way they’ll be distracted from what’s going on) and then let them catch it inside of their carrier. After they’re done playing with their toy for a few minutes, close up their carrier so that they don’t leave during playtime!
You can trick a cat into going into a carrier!
You can trick a cat into going into a carrier with food, toys and affection.
A common myth about cats is that they hate being in carriers. This isn’t true at all! In fact, cats love to be carried around and held close to their owners’ chests. They just don’t want to go into the kitty prison otherwise known as the pet carrier. There are several ways you can lure your cat into its portable prison, though:
- Use treats or food as bait – This method is simple but effective; when you’re ready to transport your kitty, place some yummy morsels near the open door of its carrier before closing it up so that when they come out (or get hungry), they’ll see these tasty tidbits and follow them back inside — no problem! Be sure not too overdo it with treats here; this only works if there aren’t any other sources of food around (like actual meals) so don’t make them dependent on human handouts for survival!
Conclusion
Now you know how to trick a cat into a carrier. It’s not easy, but it can be done! With patience and preparation, you can get your cat accustomed to the travel container so that he or she will feel safe in there while also making sure they have plenty of room to move around. Hopefully these tips helped make this task seem less daunting for the next time you need to take an excursion or visit the vet with your furry friend.