Getting the cats to the vets?
Discussion
No not a repost of the funny story this time.
However what methods do people use to get cats to the vets?
Ours absolutly hate it, to the extent that one will usually s
t himself on the way there or the way back. The other one just sits and meows pitifully.
Getting the into the carriers is also a massive struggle, that involves chasing roudn the house and ending up bleeding with two terrified cats.
Its about a 5 or 6 mile trip each way aswell.
Anyone tried having the cats loose in the car rather than in a carrier?
Do any of the calming tablets / sprays work for this sort of thing.
Hate having to take them due to the distress it causes them.
Any suggestions?
However what methods do people use to get cats to the vets?
Ours absolutly hate it, to the extent that one will usually s
t himself on the way there or the way back. The other one just sits and meows pitifully. Getting the into the carriers is also a massive struggle, that involves chasing roudn the house and ending up bleeding with two terrified cats.
Its about a 5 or 6 mile trip each way aswell.
Anyone tried having the cats loose in the car rather than in a carrier?
Do any of the calming tablets / sprays work for this sort of thing.
Hate having to take them due to the distress it causes them.
Any suggestions?
Dan_1981 said:
No not a repost of the funny story this time.
However what methods do people use to get cats to the vets?
Ours absolutly hate it, to the extent that one will usually st himself on the way there or the way back. The other one just sits and meows pitifully.
No sHowever what methods do people use to get cats to the vets?
Ours absolutly hate it, to the extent that one will usually s
t himself on the way there or the way back. The other one just sits and meows pitifully. tting yet, thankfully, but plenty of piteous squawking. Fortunately the prime culprit for this is getting more accustomed and goes quiet after a mile or so.Dan_1981 said:
Getting them into the carriers is also a massive struggle, that involves chasing round the house and ending up bleeding with two terrified cats.
Yup. Best to stage the carriers out of site but accessible, give them treats, then shut off as much of the house as possible.One of them is prescient, however, and WILL be under the bed. This is also the squawker. Retrieving her involves use of a stick. Once captured, she will at least go in the carrier quietly, which is why she gets left until last.
The others have to be captured and poured backwards into the carriers so they can't hold on to the edges. While possible to do single handedly, it is also a cause for celebration when achieved.
Dan_1981 said:
Its about a 5 or 6 mile trip each way as well.
3 miles. And not too bad once the aforementioned piteous noises have ceased.Dan_1981 said:
Anyone tried having the cats loose in the car rather than in a carrier?
We've let one out on the way back a couple of times, not bothered recently, as they then hide under a seat, and its a pain to retrieve them.Dan_1981 said:
Do any of the calming tablets / sprays work for this sort of thing.
I prefer to keep the use of all of my limbs.Dan_1981 said:
Hate having to take them due to the distress it causes them.
I hear you; about all you can do is accept that it's for their own good. Mine are usually excited once they get there, too:Vet - where's Miki?
Me - on the cupboard above your head.
Vet - oh.
Etc.
Dan_1981 said:
Any suggestions?
Take them for random rides to see if they get used to it more? I've been tempted, but it's such a struggle, I've never bothered.In our place the plan is pretty simple.
The cat carrier is in the lounge and accessible at all times. This means they are used to it being in the room.
To catch a cat:
Place cat carrier and a blanket in the "hall way". (An area smaller than most bathrooms, which has no furniture in it.)
Grab cat for a cuddle. Maintain a grip while you move into the hallway and shut the door behind you.
-You are now in a small room with a cat that knows what's happening.
Kneel and use the blanket (your knees on top, your hands holding it above the cat), to herd the cat into the corner with the cat carrier. Keep making the space under the blanket smaller and smaller (you may need to push gently on random bits of cat).
Eventually (5 - 10 minutes), the most comfortable place the cat can find is inside the carrier. You have won. Close the carrier use the catches, and zip tie the door shut.
The cat carrier is in the lounge and accessible at all times. This means they are used to it being in the room.
To catch a cat:
Place cat carrier and a blanket in the "hall way". (An area smaller than most bathrooms, which has no furniture in it.)
Grab cat for a cuddle. Maintain a grip while you move into the hallway and shut the door behind you.
-You are now in a small room with a cat that knows what's happening.
Kneel and use the blanket (your knees on top, your hands holding it above the cat), to herd the cat into the corner with the cat carrier. Keep making the space under the blanket smaller and smaller (you may need to push gently on random bits of cat).
Eventually (5 - 10 minutes), the most comfortable place the cat can find is inside the carrier. You have won. Close the carrier use the catches, and zip tie the door shut.
Munter said:
In our place the plan is pretty simple.
The cat carrier is in the lounge and accessible at all times. This means they are used to it being in the room.
This is key, they need to not associate the carrier with the vet. Having it out all the time means it doesn't bother them.The cat carrier is in the lounge and accessible at all times. This means they are used to it being in the room.
Marf said:
This is key, they need to not associate the carrier with the vet. Having it out all the time means it doesn't bother them.
Yep, I place the carrier in the middle of the lounge some time before I need to leave. The cat comes in, sniffs all round, I ignore it, cat relaxes. Then at the due time it is fairly easy - as I am exuding calm and acting normally - to scoop it up and in before it has had time to realise what's happening.My cat can manage 8-9 miles before something comes out of one end or the other. My first vet was 10 miles away so no good; current vet is fortunately only 2 miles away!
Simpo Two said:
Yep, I place the carrier in the middle of the lounge some time before I need to leave. The cat comes in, sniffs all round, I ignore it, cat relaxes. Then at the due time it is fairly easy - as I am exuding calm and acting normally - to scoop it up and in before it has had time to realise what's happening.
Same here. In fact Ben will generally claim the box as his new hidey hole and happily sit in there of his own accord.Whilst getting them in the box isn't exactly easy - infact it usually results in loss of blood (me) and fur (the cats), its usually the easiest bit of the journey, the level of stress however seems to be the downside, and plonking them in the car makes things even worse.
I'm considering trying a harness?
Then they can be loose in the car and we can carry them into the vets and just keep them from running around crazily on the harness?
That and lots of towels on the car seats.
I'm considering trying a harness?
Then they can be loose in the car and we can carry them into the vets and just keep them from running around crazily on the harness?
That and lots of towels on the car seats.
Dan_1981 said:
Whilst getting them in the box isn't exactly easy - infact it usually results in loss of blood (me) and fur (the cats), its usually the easiest bit of the journey, the level of stress however seems to be the downside, and plonking them in the car makes things even worse.
I'm considering trying a harness?
Then they can be loose in the car and we can carry them into the vets and just keep them from running around crazily on the harness?
That and lots of towels on the car seats.
Not recommended - cats are even more stressed loose and can cause accidents. If your cat hates travelling then it's going to be really freaked out by all those windows and scenery flashing past. Get it round your feet and you're in big trouble.I'm considering trying a harness?
Then they can be loose in the car and we can carry them into the vets and just keep them from running around crazily on the harness?
That and lots of towels on the car seats.
Our old cat Mr. Sax used to have to go to the vet quite often and would regually st himself about two minutes from home every time. Jeez, the stench, we'd both get out gagging. 
Poor little sod.
Had to take Kat to the vet the other week for the first time and she managed to get the front completely off the cat-box, had to pull over and try and get her back in, which was really difficult bending round from the driver's seat and she was determined to claw herself to the rear mats.
I hate taking cats to the vets.
t himself about two minutes from home every time. Jeez, the stench, we'd both get out gagging. Poor little sod.Had to take Kat to the vet the other week for the first time and she managed to get the front completely off the cat-box, had to pull over and try and get her back in, which was really difficult bending round from the driver's seat and she was determined to claw herself to the rear mats.
I hate taking cats to the vets.
For Horror i just pick him up and put him in the carrier, then he mewls in the most traumatised way until he is let out and he forgets the whole traumatic event instantly.
He is a brilliant cat but by god he is stupid.
For FTC it is slightly different, i first have to lure her into the room with the least furniture, then i must catch her, if possible i need to wrap her in a towel or a jumper to aid with carrier insertion, then i must attempt to put a scared, violent semi-feral cat into a small box (this step usually takes a while). Once in the box the noise starts and doesn't end until she is released at the vets, generally in a blur of black and white fur.
To get her back in the carrier the vet nurse puts on a lot of armour, and then has a 10 minute struggle before the noise starts again, i tried to help once and she climbed me and nearly ripped my ear off before leaping onto the top of the vets cupboards.
Luckily neither of mine seem inclined to st in the box.
It takes FTC a good few days before she trusts me again and lets me near her and nearly a week before she will come to sit with me by herself. As such should she get ill or need regular appointments i find myself in the horrible situation of knowing that it would be too traumatic for her to make the journey too often.
He is a brilliant cat but by god he is stupid.
For FTC it is slightly different, i first have to lure her into the room with the least furniture, then i must catch her, if possible i need to wrap her in a towel or a jumper to aid with carrier insertion, then i must attempt to put a scared, violent semi-feral cat into a small box (this step usually takes a while). Once in the box the noise starts and doesn't end until she is released at the vets, generally in a blur of black and white fur.
To get her back in the carrier the vet nurse puts on a lot of armour, and then has a 10 minute struggle before the noise starts again, i tried to help once and she climbed me and nearly ripped my ear off before leaping onto the top of the vets cupboards.
Luckily neither of mine seem inclined to s
t in the box.It takes FTC a good few days before she trusts me again and lets me near her and nearly a week before she will come to sit with me by herself. As such should she get ill or need regular appointments i find myself in the horrible situation of knowing that it would be too traumatic for her to make the journey too often.
Mine are both happy to sleep in their cat basket, together. It lives at the top of the stairs under their radiator bed, and is their 'safe place' to hide in 
It's one of these & has a couple of baby blankets in it.
One of them for treatment.
Pick up, cuddle, carry upstairs, pick up carrier, upturn it, slide in, zip closed
Carry downstairs and into the car. Pepi likes the Radio on in the car, Bast likes to be talked to.
They both go together for routine appointments.
I gradually get the cats into a space in the house where all the doors are closed; this can be trickier than it seems For this reason, routine appointments are planned carefully for the start of the day so doors can be closed as we head downstairs for their breakfast 
If Pepi gets wind of doors being closed before he is being fed, it's armageddon! He can open doors and get into the smallest, most in accessible places. Including UP one of the 3 the blocked off chimney breasts!
Upturn basket, so that the hole is at the top
Pick Pepi up & drop him in it
Pick Bast up, pluck her claws out of my shoulders, then out of my arms, then out of my shoulders AGAIN & drop her on top of Pepi amid much hissing and spitting.
Zip basket closed
Listen to screams of indignation from Bast for the first 2 minutes of the 5 minute journey, the rest she is hiding under Pepi.
Get into Consulting room, open basket at the top, fight to get cats out of the basket, how they manage to tangle themselves up under each other I have no idea! Once out, stop them climbing me for fuss, the Vet for fuss, or back into the basket so the Vet can actually give them their injection/weigh them/check teeth etc.
Get home, they have a bowl of Tuna, I throw my t-shirt away & treat my wounds with antiseptic
Funnily, it is much easier to get them in by myself than with help, that just gives them 2 sets of arms & shoulders to climb!
Never had an accident (fingers crossed) in the car. Pepi has wet himself going into the box, but then he had got a urinary problem and his bladder was full so it could be tested
When injured/ill, both go into the basket very quietly. They actually like (most) of the Vets at the practise.
It's one of these & has a couple of baby blankets in it.
One of them for treatment.
Pick up, cuddle, carry upstairs, pick up carrier, upturn it, slide in, zip closed
Carry downstairs and into the car. Pepi likes the Radio on in the car, Bast likes to be talked to.They both go together for routine appointments.
I gradually get the cats into a space in the house where all the doors are closed; this can be trickier than it seems
For this reason, routine appointments are planned carefully for the start of the day so doors can be closed as we head downstairs for their breakfast If Pepi gets wind of doors being closed before he is being fed, it's armageddon! He can open doors and get into the smallest, most in accessible places. Including UP one of the 3 the blocked off chimney breasts!Upturn basket, so that the hole is at the top
Pick Pepi up & drop him in it
Pick Bast up, pluck her claws out of my shoulders, then out of my arms, then out of my shoulders AGAIN & drop her on top of Pepi amid much hissing and spitting.
Zip basket closed
Listen to screams of indignation from Bast for the first 2 minutes of the 5 minute journey, the rest she is hiding under Pepi.
Get into Consulting room, open basket at the top, fight to get cats out of the basket, how they manage to tangle themselves up under each other I have no idea! Once out, stop them climbing me for fuss, the Vet for fuss, or back into the basket so the Vet can actually give them their injection/weigh them/check teeth etc.
Get home, they have a bowl of Tuna, I throw my t-shirt away & treat my wounds with antiseptic
Funnily, it is much easier to get them in by myself than with help, that just gives them 2 sets of arms & shoulders to climb!
Never had an accident (fingers crossed) in the car. Pepi has wet himself going into the box, but then he had got a urinary problem and his bladder was full so it could be tested
When injured/ill, both go into the basket very quietly. They actually like (most) of the Vets at the practise.
Edited by ali_kat on Thursday 2nd August 13:56
Every couple of weeks I let the cats roam around and play in the car. Helps them get used to it. Also I think they like being able to see out so carrier on lap with view out window can help.
One of mine used to freak out so I let him out and he happily sits on the rear parcel shelf or stands with paws up on a side window.
One of mine used to freak out so I let him out and he happily sits on the rear parcel shelf or stands with paws up on a side window.
I always book early appointments for the yearly vaccinations so the cat's half asleep when I bring out the carrier (I have to take it out the loft and have it hidden but close to hand a few days in advance) so she's too dozy to leg it. She howls till she's hoarse all the way there (about 3 miles) and all the way back, fine at the vets and fine back home.
When I had my Range Rover I used to let her out of the carrier on the way home and she'd sit happily on the parcel shelf looking out (it was also one of her favourite sunning spots when the weather was nice). Trickier in a smaller car so I haven't tried it in anything else.
Not sure who gets more stressed me or her.
When I had my Range Rover I used to let her out of the carrier on the way home and she'd sit happily on the parcel shelf looking out (it was also one of her favourite sunning spots when the weather was nice). Trickier in a smaller car so I haven't tried it in anything else.
Not sure who gets more stressed me or her.
Worth thinking about getting a home visit? Our cats all get distressed by the car - same kind of distance as you - but as I have 6 I get a house call for annual jags. This costs about £22 plus the jags - worth every penny! And they do do other work too - my 16.5 year old lady needed bloods and they came out for her too.
Marf said:
Munter said:
In our place the plan is pretty simple.
The cat carrier is in the lounge and accessible at all times. This means they are used to it being in the room.
This is key, they need to not associate the carrier with the vet. Having it out all the time means it doesn't bother them.The cat carrier is in the lounge and accessible at all times. This means they are used to it being in the room.
definitely
if it;s out it;s hideyspace, it;s somewhere to sit on and also if you go places withj the cats other than the vets it;s not associated with the vet
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