Help: How to Lure a Cat Into a Pet Carrier

"Hilary JRP" wrote in message
om...
I've set up one of those big collapsible cat carriers in my bedroom
for the past month, with one of Mrs. Sweet Cheek's pillows, her
brushes, and some cat nip.

The cat nip was the only thing that got her to go completely in to the
cage, but interestingly, the attraction wore off in a matter of days.
She completely ignores the cat nip now, when I try to use it as a
lure.

I don't want to put tuna fish in my bedroom (I have the cage set up in
my room because she spends most of her time there); the smell would be
too unpleasant.

She hasn't been to a vet in years because she runs and scratches
pretty badly if you try to hold her for more than a few seconds. Is
the only way of luring her to throw a towel over her? Now how relaxed
will THAT be, when she has a four or five hour trip to her new home
ahead of her?

This problem is totally driving me crazy, so any help here or by email
would be greatly appreciated.

Place the carrier close to where you feed them. Keep the door open and put
the food right at the entrance. After a couple of days, put the food just
inside the entrance. Continue to gradually put the food further and further
back in the carrier. I leave my carrier by the food station and they'll
actually hang out in it with no fear whatsoever. Shut the door on the day
you need to take them to the vet.

Or, just be brave and stand the carrier on it's end vertically, grab the cat
by the scruff and stuff in butt first. That's the best method with a
fractious cat. It's the folks responsibility on the other end to remove the
cat and reinsert. We use a nice fishing net at our clinic.

Reinsertion has never been a problem for me. My cats willingly reinsert
themselves because they know they are going home.

--
Barb
Of course I don't look busy,
I did it right the first time.

"Hilary JRP" wrote in message
om...
Make her think you don't want her in there.

Very funny. I'm responding because no one else has answered and I
want to keep the thread going! I have three weeks to get MSC used to
being in this carrier, and she's just not interested, and I'm very
worried about what the trauma will do to her old heart.

One of my cats always hops in the carrier whenever I bring it out. You
might want to try the top-loading style carrier, I find it much easier to
put the cats in that. I'm not sure how far you are moving, but if it's a
really long trip, you may want to look at a pet transportation service.
Although, you will still need to get her in a carrier. I drove 9 hours with
my cantankerous cat Dash when I moved. She was so upset that she started
drooling and was howling like you wouldn't believe. We stopped after about
1 hour of this, and took her out of the carrier. (Note: only do this if you
have someone with you) Dash then curled up on my mother's jacket on the
floor of the car in front of her and slept most of the way.

I recently adopted a semi-feral foster of mine, and I have no idea how I
will ever get him to the vet. I've joked that I will need to borrow a
Hav-a-heart trap.


--
-Kelly
kelly at farringtons dot net
Check out www.snittens.com

"Hilary JRP" wrote in message
om...
Make her think you don't want her in there.

Very funny. I'm responding because no one else has answered and I
want to keep the thread going! I have three weeks to get MSC used to
being in this carrier, and she's just not interested, and I'm very
worried about what the trauma will do to her old heart.

One of my cats always hops in the carrier whenever I bring it out. You
might want to try the top-loading style carrier, I find it much easier to
put the cats in that. I'm not sure how far you are moving, but if it's a
really long trip, you may want to look at a pet transportation service.
Although, you will still need to get her in a carrier. I drove 9 hours with
my cantankerous cat Dash when I moved. She was so upset that she started
drooling and was howling like you wouldn't believe. We stopped after about
1 hour of this, and took her out of the carrier. (Note: only do this if you
have someone with you) Dash then curled up on my mother's jacket on the
floor of the car in front of her and slept most of the way.

I recently adopted a semi-feral foster of mine, and I have no idea how I
will ever get him to the vet. I've joked that I will need to borrow a
Hav-a-heart trap.


--
-Kelly
kelly at farringtons dot net
Check out www.snittens.com

On 23 May 2004 15:21:43 -0700, (Hilary JRP) wrote:

I've set up one of those big collapsible cat carriers in my bedroom
for the past month, with one of Mrs. Sweet Cheek's pillows, her
brushes, and some cat nip.

The cat nip was the only thing that got her to go completely in to the
cage, but interestingly, the attraction wore off in a matter of days.
She completely ignores the cat nip now, when I try to use it as a
lure.

I don't want to put tuna fish in my bedroom (I have the cage set up in
my room because she spends most of her time there); the smell would be
too unpleasant.

She hasn't been to a vet in years because she runs and scratches
pretty badly if you try to hold her for more than a few seconds. Is
the only way of luring her to throw a towel over her? Now how relaxed
will THAT be, when she has a four or five hour trip to her new home
ahead of her?

This problem is totally driving me crazy, so any help here or by email
would be greatly appreciated.


Scaling Mt. Everest with a blindfold would have been easier than
getting Ambra into her carrier. That is before I bought a super
deluxe carrier that not only opens on the front but also from the top.
Now getting her infrom the top is much easier. Before I used to stand
the carrier on it side and attempt to lower her in.

Cheers!

On 23 May 2004 15:21:43 -0700, (Hilary JRP) wrote:

I've set up one of those big collapsible cat carriers in my bedroom
for the past month, with one of Mrs. Sweet Cheek's pillows, her
brushes, and some cat nip.

The cat nip was the only thing that got her to go completely in to the
cage, but interestingly, the attraction wore off in a matter of days.
She completely ignores the cat nip now, when I try to use it as a
lure.

I don't want to put tuna fish in my bedroom (I have the cage set up in
my room because she spends most of her time there); the smell would be
too unpleasant.

She hasn't been to a vet in years because she runs and scratches
pretty badly if you try to hold her for more than a few seconds. Is
the only way of luring her to throw a towel over her? Now how relaxed
will THAT be, when she has a four or five hour trip to her new home
ahead of her?

This problem is totally driving me crazy, so any help here or by email
would be greatly appreciated.


Scaling Mt. Everest with a blindfold would have been easier than
getting Ambra into her carrier. That is before I bought a super
deluxe carrier that not only opens on the front but also from the top.
Now getting her infrom the top is much easier. Before I used to stand
the carrier on it side and attempt to lower her in.

Cheers!

"Hilary JRP" wrote in message
om...
Make her think you don't want her in there.

Very funny. I'm responding because no one else has answered and I
want to keep the thread going! I have three weeks to get MSC used to
being in this carrier, and she's just not interested, and I'm very
worried about what the trauma will do to her old heart.

Start feeding her in there. I am not kidding.


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.688 / Virus Database: 449 - Release Date: 5/18/2004

"Hilary JRP" wrote in message
om...
Make her think you don't want her in there.

Very funny. I'm responding because no one else has answered and I
want to keep the thread going! I have three weeks to get MSC used to
being in this carrier, and she's just not interested, and I'm very
worried about what the trauma will do to her old heart.

Start feeding her in there. I am not kidding.


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.688 / Virus Database: 449 - Release Date: 5/18/2004

Well, good luck with getting the cat in the carrier. My cat sometimes
sleeps in the carrier plays in it etc but at the same she hates being
locked in there. Despite all the food and conditioning she usually is
nowhere to be found when she is suppossed to go into the carrier ( The
cat ain't stupid... ). Getting her is always a tough fight and she
screams like I am gonna slaughter her. Your best option is to NOT make
any preparations i.e get the carrier ready (so the cat won't smell the
rat) and grap kitty when it's sound asleep and dump it into the
carrier before it realizes what is happening. If I miss that brief 30
second time period things will get rough......

Well, good luck with getting the cat in the carrier. My cat sometimes
sleeps in the carrier plays in it etc but at the same she hates being
locked in there. Despite all the food and conditioning she usually is
nowhere to be found when she is suppossed to go into the carrier ( The
cat ain't stupid... ). Getting her is always a tough fight and she
screams like I am gonna slaughter her. Your best option is to NOT make
any preparations i.e get the carrier ready (so the cat won't smell the
rat) and grap kitty when it's sound asleep and dump it into the
carrier before it realizes what is happening. If I miss that brief 30
second time period things will get rough......

"Barb" wrote in message ...
"Hilary JRP" wrote in message
om...
I've set up one of those big collapsible cat carriers in my bedroom
for the past month, with one of Mrs. Sweet Cheek's pillows, her
brushes, and some cat nip.

The cat nip was the only thing that got her to go completely in to the
cage, but interestingly, the attraction wore off in a matter of days.
She completely ignores the cat nip now, when I try to use it as a
lure.

I don't want to put tuna fish in my bedroom (I have the cage set up in
my room because she spends most of her time there); the smell would be
too unpleasant.

She hasn't been to a vet in years because she runs and scratches
pretty badly if you try to hold her for more than a few seconds. Is
the only way of luring her to throw a towel over her? Now how relaxed
will THAT be, when she has a four or five hour trip to her new home
ahead of her?

This problem is totally driving me crazy, so any help here or by email
would be greatly appreciated.

Place the carrier close to where you feed them. Keep the door open and put
the food right at the entrance. After a couple of days, put the food just
inside the entrance. Continue to gradually put the food further and further
back in the carrier. I leave my carrier by the food station and they'll
actually hang out in it with no fear whatsoever. Shut the door on the day
you need to take them to the vet.

Or, just be brave and stand the carrier on it's end vertically, grab the cat
by the scruff and stuff in butt first. That's the best method with a
fractious cat. It's the folks responsibility on the other end to remove the
cat and reinsert. We use a nice fishing net at our clinic.

Reinsertion has never been a problem for me. My cats willingly reinsert
themselves because they know they are going home.

Smack the cat in the head with hammer, toss it in the carrier, it
shouldn't bleed very much, and will sleep for the whole trip.