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Have a grooming, training or veterinary question? Our experts have answers and may have responded to your pet care questions. Check out our expert pet advice below for the answers you need.
Cat Carriers
I am taking my 3-year-old Maine Coon for her first full-service groom. She hates going into her kitty carrier, what can I do to make it easier for both of us? Is there anything I can do to keep her calm?
Your cat needs to learn that bad things won’t happen every single time he has to go in the carrier. The best way to do this is to make the carrier part of your feline’s daily routine.
- Wash the carrier out with hot water and vinegar. Let it air dry for at least 24 hours. This will get rid of any scents that may keep your cat from going into the carrier.
- Set the carrier against a wall. Cats feel more secure there, than in the center of a room.
- Make sure the door is propped open so it won’t close, or take it off completely, if you can.
- Put a nice soft blanket or even a piece of your clothing inside the carrier for your cat to lay on. The clothing will smell like you, which will reassure your cat.
- Try feeding her inside the carrier. Put some favorite canned food in there. Don’t make her go in the carrier. Let her go in on her own. Toss a couple of ping pong balls in there. They make a cool noise that will attract your feline’s attention.
Once your cat is comfortable going inside the carrier, close the door for five minutes, and then let her out. Give her a nice treat. Do this twice a week, gradually increasing the time to ten minutes, but no longer
Keep the carrier covered with the cloth while you’re in the waiting room. This will keep some of the smells and noise out.
- Jeff Schultz, Pet Training Expert
