Choosing and using a cat carrier

Choose a sturdy carrier with a top opening and a removable lid, big enough for the cat to stand, turn and lie down. Leave it out in the home all year, with a soft bed inside, so it is a familiar place and not a sign of the vet. A cat that likes its cat carrier travels with far less stress, and so does the owner.

What to look for

Cats feel safe in small, enclosed spaces, but they need to be secure and well supported. A good carrier is:

• Strong. Hard plastic is common and easy to clean. Good metal and heavy-duty fabric designs also exist. A frightened cat can push through weak sides.
• Secure. The door and clips should latch firmly and not open if knocked. Check the hinges and the catches.
• Well ventilated. Look for holes or mesh on several sides.
• The right size. The cat should be able to stand up, turn around and lie down. Too large and the cat slides about in the car. Too small and it is cramped.
• Easy to open. A top opening lets you lower the cat in, instead of pushing it through a front door. A lid that comes off in halves lets the vet examine the cat in the base, so the cat can stay in a place that smells of home.
• Easy to clean. Smooth surfaces, no hard-to-reach corners and a floor that is leakproof or can take a washable pad.
• Stable. The carrier should have a handle that locks into place and balance well. A carrier that tilts as you walk frightens a cat.
• A way to attach it in a car. Look for slots for a seatbelt or a design that fits securely on a seat or floor.

Think twice about:

• Cardboard boxes. They are only for emergencies. A determined cat can claw through one, and they soften when wet.
• Soft bags and backpack types. Some cats do well in them, but many are unstable, and some can collapse. Check that the carrier holds its shape and has a firm base.
• Wire crates. A cat is exposed on all sides, which can be stressful. A cover can help.
• Strollers and slings. A frightened cat can escape. Use only with a cat that is calm and trained.

Buy a carrier before you need one. Bring the carrier to the shop's cat section if you can and ask your vet which kind they find easiest.

Training your cat to accept the carrier

Most cats dislike the carrier because it appears only when something unpleasant happens. Change that association.

1. Leave it out. Put the carrier in a room your cat uses, with the door open or removed. Leave it there for weeks.
2. Make it comfortable. Place a soft blanket or a piece of clothing that smells like you inside.
3. Add treats. Leave treats or toys near the door, then just inside, then at the back. Let the cat go in and out when it likes.
4. Feed meals inside. Once the cat enters willingly, serve some meals in or beside the carrier.
5. Close the door for a moment. When the cat is relaxed inside, close the door for a few seconds and open it again. Give a treat. Build the time slowly.
6. Lift the carrier. With the cat inside, lift it a little, then set it down. Walk a few steps. Reward calm behavior.
7. Practice short trips. Carry the cat to the car, sit for a moment, then take it home. Next, drive around the block. Some trips should end in a treat and not at the vet.
8. Use scents if helpful. Some owners use a pheromone diffuser or spray in the area. Evidence is mixed, so treat them as an extra.
9. Use rewards. For a cat who likes it, clicker training can speed the steps.

Go at the cat's pace. If the cat refuses, go back a step.

Getting a cat into the carrier

• Stay calm. Cats pick up on tension.
• Prepare ahead. Set up the carrier before you find the cat. Put a towel or blanket inside.
• Use the top opening. Lift the cat gently, support its chest and hind end, and lower it in. If your carrier opens only at the front, stand it on its end with the door up and lower the cat in feet first. Or take the lid off, let the cat step into the base, and replace the lid.
• Do not push a cat in backward or force it. You may be scratched and it can teach the cat to fear the carrier.
• Cover the carrier. A light towel can calm a cat by reducing what it sees.
• Stop and try later. If the cat is panicking, stop. If you cannot do so for a vet trip, call the clinic for advice.

In the car and at the vet

• Secure the carrier. Put it on the floor behind a seat, or on a seat with a seatbelt through the handle. Never leave it loose, and never put it in a hot or cold trunk.
• Keep the temperature safe. Never leave a cat in a parked car.
• Cover it. Use a light cover, but keep air moving.
• Drive smoothly. Take corners gently.
• At the clinic. Keep the carrier off the floor, on a chair or on your lap, and cover it. Dogs and other cats can frighten a cat in the waiting room. Ask if there is a quiet area for cats.
• Let the cat choose. When you are called in, let the cat come out on its own, or ask to have the top removed.
• Take it home. Bring the carrier inside and leave the door open.

Other uses

Keep a carrier handy for fire, storm and evacuation plans. A cat that knows its carrier is easier to move in an emergency. Label the carrier with your name and phone number, and keep a microchip registration up to date. A cat harness gives an extra layer of safety for cats that are being moved between places, but only if the cat has practiced.

Common mistakes

• Pulling the carrier out only for vet visits.
• Buying a carrier that is too small.
• Grabbing the cat and shoving it in.
• Placing the carrier on a high shelf where the cat cannot see or reach it.
• Leaving the carrier in a car with a cat in hot or cold weather.
• Carrying a carrier by the base without the handle locked.
• Failing to clean the carrier after an accident. Scent from a past fright can linger. Use an unscented cleaner.
• Ignoring body language, such as crouching low, panting or yowling. These show stress.

When to call a vet or get help

Call your vet if a cat will not go near the carrier and you must travel for care. Ask about other options, such as a home visit. Do not give a cat any calming product or medicine unless your vet advises it. Call a vet at once if a cat in a carrier is breathing with its mouth open, drooling heavily, vomiting or limp. Overheating in a car or carrier is an emergency.

Summary

• Choose a strong, ventilated carrier with a top opening and a removable lid.
• Leave it out and make it a comfortable place.
• Train in small steps with treats.
• Secure it in the car, keep it cool and covered.
• Ask your vet about help for cats that find travel very hard.