Carrier Training Cats
Carrier Training Your Cat
A guide to teach your cat their carrier is safe
Cats can be trained that their carrier is a safe place and can even learn to enjoy car rides and strollers! For the purpose of this guide, we will be focusing solely on conditioning them to the carrier. The goal is to eliminate the fear and anxiety surrounding the carrier and to create a positive association with it.
Myths:
Cats hate carriers and will always react poorly to being placed in one.
My cat doesn’t need a carrier.
Facts:
Cats can be conditioned to being in a carrier and to utilize it as a dog would a crate.
Carriers make traveling safe and secure.
Step One: Environment
Purchase a carrier that is the correct size for your pet. It should be tall enough for them to stand in and wide enough for them to turn around completely. Here’s a great option.
Open the carrier by removing the bolts and undoing the latches. Sandwich the top and bottom portions and keep the door safely nearby.
Place thick blankets and an article of clothing that belongs to their favorite person in the disassembled carrier (it should look like a bed).
Step Two: Training
Start praising your cat for investigating or walking near their new safe place.
Place their favorite treats, toys, and catnip leading a trail to the carrier.
Make it as positive as a possible for them so that when we move to stage 2, they won’t be shocked.
Step Three: Reassembling
Once your cat readily goes and and around the disassembled carrier, put the top on with a blanket covering the carrier itself. Make sure they can easily go into the carrier and nothing is blocking the entrance-leave the cage door off.
Repeat Step Two
Step Four: Closing the Door
You’ve gotten to the final step! Your cat now knows the carrier is safe and you’ve caught them sleeping and playing in it.
Encourage them to go in, and close-but don’t latch the door. Repeat until they understand they can have the choice to stay in or not.
Final Tips:
The goal is to normalize the carrier in your environment. If the cat is only seeing the carrier when you are rushing or heading to the vet-they will be stressed.
Carrier training is the first step to having a cooperative vet visit.
Hard carriers are safer and less stressful for cats-they may feel claustrophobic in a small, soft carrier.
Check out this guide