Getting cats into boxes/carriers help.
Discussion
Our previous three cats were all very easy to get into boxes.
Two of them you could pick up and put in a box. The third one, due to going to the vets for blood tests every month, would see the box on the floor and just get in it.
The current two appear to be a different matter. They're a mother and son pair that have been at a rescue centre since he was born in September 2012. Subsequently they've had very little human interaction, and certainly not a lot of either being picked up or put in boxes/carriers. We've had them at home for about six weeks.
As we are due to go away for a few days in April my wife wanted to do a trial run of getting them in their boxes that will be used to take them to the cattery. The idea being to get them in the boxes facing each other, give them a few treats to reassure them and then let them out again so that they realise it's not a terrible thing that's going to happen to them. Given that they used to run and hide in their boxes when they got scared what could possibly go wrong?
It took me about half an hour to stop the blood pouring from my finger and I now have two pissed off cats sitting on the top of the wardrobe and a wife who's upset about 1. how the cats reacted and 2. the fact that she feels a failure for not being able to do such a simple thing.
So, what's the easiest way to get two feisty cats into their boxes when it's time for a vet visit or to go on holiday?
Two of them you could pick up and put in a box. The third one, due to going to the vets for blood tests every month, would see the box on the floor and just get in it.
The current two appear to be a different matter. They're a mother and son pair that have been at a rescue centre since he was born in September 2012. Subsequently they've had very little human interaction, and certainly not a lot of either being picked up or put in boxes/carriers. We've had them at home for about six weeks.
As we are due to go away for a few days in April my wife wanted to do a trial run of getting them in their boxes that will be used to take them to the cattery. The idea being to get them in the boxes facing each other, give them a few treats to reassure them and then let them out again so that they realise it's not a terrible thing that's going to happen to them. Given that they used to run and hide in their boxes when they got scared what could possibly go wrong?
It took me about half an hour to stop the blood pouring from my finger and I now have two pissed off cats sitting on the top of the wardrobe and a wife who's upset about 1. how the cats reacted and 2. the fact that she feels a failure for not being able to do such a simple thing.
So, what's the easiest way to get two feisty cats into their boxes when it's time for a vet visit or to go on holiday?
Thanks for the replies so far.
To answer a few questions.
We use proper cat carriers, not cardboard boxes. I wouldn't trust them in a cardboard box, the little buggers would dig their way out.
The carriers are the ones that are front opening.
We'd tried to get Lester into a box whilst he was in the dining room, but could see he was starting to get a bit stressed so opened the door and let him out.
We then went upstairs to the small back bedroom where Lacey spends most of her time on top of the wardrobe. I think this is where we made a mistake as by that time Lester had gone upstairs and had probably frightened her a bit as he was still agitated.
She cam down from the wardrobe to try and do a runner but the door was shut so she couldn't get out. She got herself onto the window sill and started to hiss and growl a bit. I thought I'd grab her by the scruff of the neck to then put in her the box.
It was at that point that she physically turned on me. As I went to get her with my right hand she attacked my left hand sinking her teeth into my left forefinger as she jumped down. It was that reaction that has upset the wife. She expected them to be a bit of a struggle, but not to physically attack.
So, the lessons learnt are:
Don't try to get them in a box in the dining room as there's too much furniture to get in the way.
If unsuccessful trying to get one cat in the box don't let them spook the other one.
Lacey has got very sharp teeth.
I had already suggested to the wife about leaving the boxes open in the back bedroom and putting treats/biscuits in them to encourage them to go into them.
I'll suggest putting blankets over them as well to make them darker to make them feel more secure for the cats.
Any other ideas/suggestions gratefully accepted.
To answer a few questions.
We use proper cat carriers, not cardboard boxes. I wouldn't trust them in a cardboard box, the little buggers would dig their way out.
The carriers are the ones that are front opening.
We'd tried to get Lester into a box whilst he was in the dining room, but could see he was starting to get a bit stressed so opened the door and let him out.
We then went upstairs to the small back bedroom where Lacey spends most of her time on top of the wardrobe. I think this is where we made a mistake as by that time Lester had gone upstairs and had probably frightened her a bit as he was still agitated.
She cam down from the wardrobe to try and do a runner but the door was shut so she couldn't get out. She got herself onto the window sill and started to hiss and growl a bit. I thought I'd grab her by the scruff of the neck to then put in her the box.
It was at that point that she physically turned on me. As I went to get her with my right hand she attacked my left hand sinking her teeth into my left forefinger as she jumped down. It was that reaction that has upset the wife. She expected them to be a bit of a struggle, but not to physically attack.
So, the lessons learnt are:
Don't try to get them in a box in the dining room as there's too much furniture to get in the way.
If unsuccessful trying to get one cat in the box don't let them spook the other one.
Lacey has got very sharp teeth.
I had already suggested to the wife about leaving the boxes open in the back bedroom and putting treats/biscuits in them to encourage them to go into them.
I'll suggest putting blankets over them as well to make them darker to make them feel more secure for the cats.
Any other ideas/suggestions gratefully accepted.
telecat said:
Any Chance you could get a sitter rather than a Cattery? Given the length of time you have had them they might get a bit unsettled at a cattery.
We had thought of that. We're going away again in July for two weeks so this was sort of trial run for them at the cattery so that they know they will be collected and brought home again.Update after their first visit to the cattery.
My wife bought a couple of new carriers that look like this.
One was left on top of the wardrobe next to their bed to let them get used to it. No surprise that they love sleeping in it.
Come the day and they're both in it so my wife managed to get it shut. Obviously not being big enough for both of them she opened it slightly allowing Lester to get out which left Lacey safely inside.
He was caught by placing a box under the stairs and backing him into it using a towel. All in, less than a few minutes.
When we collected them we were told that they'd been very quiet and had hardly ventured from their beds. Nothing new there. The wife did an expert job of getting each one firmly by the scruff and putting them into a carrier. We had also arranged a quick visit to the vets on the way home.
When we got them home we expected them to behave similarly to when we first brought them home, given what they'd been through over the last couple of days.
Not a chance of it. They're like new cats. Strolling around as if they own the place. More happy to be where we are than they were before. We've had workmen at the house today making one hell of a racket. As soon as they'd gone the cats were back downstairs.
It's as if putting them in a cattery for a few days and then bringing them home again has made them realise that this is their home.
Chuffed to bits with their new found confidence. We're getting there.
My wife bought a couple of new carriers that look like this.
One was left on top of the wardrobe next to their bed to let them get used to it. No surprise that they love sleeping in it.
Come the day and they're both in it so my wife managed to get it shut. Obviously not being big enough for both of them she opened it slightly allowing Lester to get out which left Lacey safely inside.
He was caught by placing a box under the stairs and backing him into it using a towel. All in, less than a few minutes.
When we collected them we were told that they'd been very quiet and had hardly ventured from their beds. Nothing new there. The wife did an expert job of getting each one firmly by the scruff and putting them into a carrier. We had also arranged a quick visit to the vets on the way home.
When we got them home we expected them to behave similarly to when we first brought them home, given what they'd been through over the last couple of days.
Not a chance of it. They're like new cats. Strolling around as if they own the place. More happy to be where we are than they were before. We've had workmen at the house today making one hell of a racket. As soon as they'd gone the cats were back downstairs.
It's as if putting them in a cattery for a few days and then bringing them home again has made them realise that this is their home.
Chuffed to bits with their new found confidence. We're getting there.
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