Does your cat hate being inside a pet carrier? It will be their favorite spot from today onwards as you follow these steps!
Whether you want to travel or just get done with your daily chores and don’t want your cat to get harmed in the process or even come in the way, cat carriers are the best option. For you and your convenience, trust us when we say that cats DESPISE them.
You want your cat to get familiar and comfortable with the cat carrier for all the right reasons, and we are going to walk you through the process by giving you some simple tips.
What Are Cat Carriers?
Cat carriers are mainly used during transportation, and pets are placed within to travel from one place to another. They generally also have a handle so that carrying it is easier.
Why Does Your Cat Hate the Cat Carrier?
Cats are generally susceptible regarding their space change, and the fact that carriers are used for transport scares them. Transport means occasionally going to the vet and knowing that they get frightening stuff like shots and checkups there; in an unknown environment, it makes them uneasy.
In addition, cats are also afraid of confined spaces, especially the stray ones that grow up as predators; therefore, the carrier lacks visibility and reduces the amount of movement that a cat can make. Hence, it negates the experience, primarily because a cat can’t fight back.
This overall explains the scratching and thrashing during those moments of tension when you’re trying to lock them into a cage.
How To Make Your Cat Like a Carrier?
Starting at a young age
It is not hard for kittens to adjust to a specific environment when they are young; if they are used to getting into a cat carrier from an early age, it is likely they will not give you a hard time in the future.
Keep the carrier in front of them
If your carrier is getting webbed somewhere inside the storeroom, now is a good time to take it out. Place your carrier somewhere easily accessible or someplace where your cat hangs out the most so that they could get familiarized with the carrier as an ordinary object for the cat.
Attract your cat to the carrier
Put some cozy bedding and little blankets into the carrier; maybe add in your cat’s favorite sweets, sprinkle some catnip, and don’t forget to throw some of your shirts or a scent that smells like you so that they feel easy and comfortable in there.
Feed your cat inside the carrier
If your cat still doesn’t hang out in the carrier or occasionally visit, you can hypothetically force it in by feeding it inside. Put your cat’s food inside the carrier and let it eat there until it is comfortable staying in for extended periods.
Practice moving with it at home
When your cats gain maturity regarding the environment of a carrier, start upgrading the odds of them staying in. While giving them treats, teach them to go inside to get those treats and once they do, praise them for it. This will increase their confidence and familiarity with the carrier.
When they seem okay behind carrier bars, try picking it up and holding the carrier in your hands. But remember, go very slow and gradually raise the bars once they get easy at each stage.
You would be able to tell at the instance where they are completely relaxed when you pick the carrier; in this case, practice walking with it frequently, and you’ll see how they get used to it very soon.
Similarly, the next step would be going outside and getting a hold of their behavior in an external environment. If you do it regularly, go for walks with your cat in the carrier or drive with them, they will eventually adapt to staying in closed conditions, which is precisely our goal.
Choosing a Suitable Carrier for Your Cat
Keep your cat’s nature and personality in mind before opting for something that you feel is pretty or nice looking. Different types of carriers are appropriate for different cats.
If your cat is a nasty and naughty one, go for a rigid walled carrier, something that dries quickly and sustains the scratches, but most importantly, is hard to escape. These carriers often come with one sliding door for the entrance and exit with ventilation spots on the top of the box.
On the other hand, if you have a calm and chill cat, then a soft one would be ideal, considering they won’t make strenuous efforts to escape. These carriers are very durable, light-weight, and are generally used during traveling. Not to mention, your cat will love the soft surroundings of the area.
Now, once you get the idea of what kind of personality your cat holds, you can move over to the next step.
The Size
Sizes are a vital factor that you need to look for while buying a carrier. Ideally, the carrier should be about one and a half times your cat’s size so that they can easily stand up, sit and sleep inside.
A larger carrier would be uncomfortable for you and the cat because it would be hard to balance it while holding, and your cat might slide from side to side, and who wants that? Therefore, go for a regular-sized carrier that would fit your cat best in terms of comfort because you will be adding a bunch of soft bedding and blankets.
The Style
There are numerous styles you need to choose from in order to get the perfect little carrier for your kitty. There are cardboards, rolling suit-case styled, and hard/soft holders, and you need to choose closely from these options and go for the most convenient in your opinion.
The Features
Features are also critical when we talk about carriers. For some cats, features of the area are essential to decide whether they want to stay in or not, like single/multiple doors, screws, plastic pegs, side snaps, etc. Be mindful in this case, and don’t hold back in investing the right amount because a carrier will stay in your possession for a lifetime.
Wrapping Up
You can always go one step ahead and make additional efforts, but there can still be a possibility that your cats don’t enjoy being inside the carrier, and there is no problem with that per se. However, your cats should grasp the idea that the carrier is a safe spot and they are there for a temporary period.
A cat carrier should be veterinary friendly, easy to clean and use.
