How To Get Your Cat In A Carrier

Overview

• To get your cat happily walking into their carrier, you’ll need to convince them it’s a safe, comfortable, place to go.
• Start by choosing the right carrier, then follow our training steps below - take it slowly and use lots of rewards.
• We’ve also explained how to get your cat in a carrier in an emergency.

Which cat carrier is best?

The perfect cat carrier should be:

• Big enough for your cat to stand up, turn around, and lie down.
• Made from solid material - cardboard carriers tend to be flimsy and fabric ones don’t make cats feel secure.
• Accessible via a front door, top door, and a lid that clips on and off.
• Well ventilated with openings on at least two sides to prevent overheating.
• Padded with a pillow or blanket, so your cat is warm, comfortable and can steady themselves when they’re being carried.
• Lined with something to absorb any toileting accidents (newspaper/ blankets/towels/puppy training pads).
• In good working condition – all clips and doors working, not tied together with string or cable ties because cats can be very determined to get out of a carrier when they’re scared.

Training your cat to go in their carrier

Instead of using force, it’s best to convince your cat their carrier is a safe, comfortable place to go. To do this, watch our video or follow the steps below:

• Put a blanket and some pheromone spray in your carrier, and leave it somewhere your cat spends a lot of time – ideally all the time, but at least for a few weeks before travel.
• Once your cat is used to seeing their carrier, take the lid off and put treats inside it.
• Once they will happily go inside with the lid off, put the lid back on and encourage them in with more treats.
• Once they’re happy going inside with the lid on, try closing the door for a few seconds while they are inside (give them treats during and afterwards).
• Gradually increase the time they are shut in for, until they are happy to sit inside it for a couple of minutes.
• Once your cat is comfortable being shut in the carrier, start lifting the carrier for a few seconds and give them treats during and afterwards.

Top tips…

• Take each step really slowly and go back a step if they seem stressed at any point.
• Give your cat plenty of treats to keep them happy throughout their training.
• The whole training process is likely to take a number of training sessions, over at least a week or two.

Putting your cat into a carrier in an emergency

In an emergency, the best way to put your cat in a carrier is backwards.

1. Put the carrier somewhere where it won’t move i.e., against a wall and put a blanket/pillow in it.
2. Gently guide your cat in backwards/bum first.
3. If you have a top opening carrier, lower them in bum first.
4. If you are struggling, wrap them in a towel and back them in – you can leave the towel in the carrier with your cat.
5. During transport, cover the carrier with a blanket to help your cat feel secure.

FAQs

Published: December 2022