Your indoor-only cat must occasionally leave its house. It should visit the veterinarian at least once a year. It might also need grooming. You might move to a new house or apartment and need to transport your cat there.
The safest way to take a cat out of its house is in a hard carrier. Why not a soft one? Cats can use their teeth or claws to cut through the mesh in a soft carrier and escape.
Some cats willingly go into their carrier—all you have to do is pick them up, push them inside, and close the carrier door.
But other cats won’t do this. They might fight you. They might hide if they see or hear you pick up a carrier. (The cage door may jingle when you move it.) Our cat, Riley, crawls into furniture — mattresses and sofas — to avoid going in a carrier.
These tips will help you make the experience of getting your cat in a carrier less traumatic for both you and your cat:
- Put your cat in a small bathroom before you take out the carrier. Being in a small space makes it impossible for your cat to run away and hide. Be careful when opening the bathroom door, however. Your cat might try to make a run for it.
- Cats can recognize the sound a carrier makes as soon as it’s moved. Hold the carrier door when you pick it up. It won’t jingle if you do this.
- Put the carrier against a wall before you try to put the cat inside. Otherwise, the carrier will slide. You’ll keep pushing kitty in and the carrier will keep sliding away from you.
- Don’t be afraid to pick up your cat by the scruff of its neck. It won’t hurt the cat, and it might keep you from getting scratched.
- Once your cat is inside the carrier, check to make sure the door is closed and latched. Also, check that the screws holding the carrier together aren’t loose.
Once you’ve done this, you’re ready to go. Good luck!