How Do You Help Your Cats Stay Calm During Vet Visits?

[ladymurphy23]

Hi everyone,

I’ve noticed that my cat gets super stressed whenever we have to go to the vet. The moment I take out the carrier, he runs and hides, and the entire trip is filled with meowing and anxiety—for both of us!

I’ve tried lining the carrier with his favorite blanket but it only helps a little. Do you have any tips or tricks that have worked for your cats? I want to make the experience as stress-free as possible for him.

Any advice would be much appreciated!

 

[di and bob]

I give a calming aide 30 minutes before we leave, it does help. I just get them on Amazon. I haev a side open carrier too, it is easier to pull them out!

 

[Draco]

My vet prescribed me gabapentin for my boy which helped a bit. Ask your vet if there’s something they can offer

 

[Kris107]

My vet offers a blanket to cover our carrier that is sprayed with feliway. Perhaps something like that could help?

 

[guarua]

Gabapentin, and let your vet know. My vet has a separate waiting room for cats, and avoiding rambunctious dogs is super helpful. I also second the special carrier. We have a carrier that opens from the top, so they can do part of the exam still in there.

 

[mrsgreenjeens]

Along with all of the above, we find that keeping the carrier out all the time really helps. My boys actually sometimes sleep in their carriers. We just keep one door open (we have two-door carriers, one on the end and one on top) and line them with soft towels. They find them cozy and safe since we keep them in a quiet spot in the house. Whenever I can't find the cats, that's the first place I look, and typically that's where they will be, especially if we have someone visiting.

 

[SueLinda]

Both my furbabies are usually calm at the vet.
Penguin is pretty good about getting into his carrier.
For Rhett, we have to play "Chase the Kitty" for several minutes, then several rounds of "Get Kitty Out From Under the Chair" and then an epic battle getting him in the carrier...
Of course at the vet he goes right in.....

 

[game misconduct]

since graycie trusts and feels safe with me i just talk to her in a calm voice the entire time and go into the exam room when needed. when the vet techs cant manage her

 

[Margot Lane]

That’s always what I did with Zorro as well: just try to remain calm, find the quietest part of the vet office (if that’s possible) and hope it ends soon. I found the calmer I was the calmer Zorro was. Of course after it was all over I sometimes gave myself something!

 

[Tobermory]

All of my cats have always loved to be brushed. I take the brush with me and gently, slowly run the brush over favorite spots. It seems to have a calming effect.

 

[vansX2]

I don't bring my boys to the Veterinarian unless absolutely necessary.

 

[Molly and Abby]

I leave my cat carriers out, so they're used to just seeing them out. They never know when they're going to the vet until they're actually in the carriers.

All of the above plus I sing "you are my sunshine". IDK, maybe my singing helps me calm down.

 

[Molly and Abby]

Along with all of the above, we find that keeping the carrier out all the time really helps. My boys actually sometimes sleep in their carriers. We just keep one door open (we have two-door carriers, one on the end and one on top) and line them with soft towels. They find them cozy and safe since we keep them in a quiet spot in the house. Whenever I can't find the cats, that's the first place I look, and typically that's where they will be, especially if we have someone visiting.

Those are the best cat carriers! I have those kind too and I do the same thing - leave them out with the door open.

 

[catloverfromwayback]

I gave Phoebe Gabarpentin once, when she was booked to get her BP done. It didn't make much difference. They don't get super stressed, just yowl a couple of times in the car (it's a two minute drive) and mostly stop once they're inside the clinic. I just talk to them, though they're probably thinking "TRAITOR! I DON'T BELIEVE YOU!" when I'm telling them nothing terrible is going to happen.

 

[neely]

we find that keeping the carrier out all the time really helps. My boys actually sometimes sleep in their carriers.

Ditto! We have always left the cat carriers out so there's no surprises. Our present new guy had a bad experience before we adopted him and likes to sleep in the carrier because it makes him feel more secure. I prefer the two-door type of carrier also and find it easier to put him in from the top when it's time to go to the vet.

I also find it helps if there are two people in the car, e.g. my husband drives and I sit in the back with our cat. I pet him through the openings in the carrier door.

 

[silent meowlook]

Better living through chemical therapy. Gabapentin 2 hours prior to visit. Make sure getting the cat into the carrier isn’t stressful. Backing them in is better than head first. Cover carrier with a fairly thick dark towel sprayed with feliway. Be mindful of how you handle the covered carrier with your cat. Carry, not by the handle, but hold the entire thing. Keep the car ride low stress with no music and no talking unless you can sound calm.

Once in the parking lot, call the vet and see if they are ready to get you into a room. Don’t go in until they have a room available. Don’t linger with your cat in the waiting room. Answer any questions they have for you while you are on the phone. There is no need for your stressed out cat to sit in a room while strangers ask you questions.

Once in the room, forgo the usual vet tech pre physical exam and ask that you only want your cat handled one time. Every time someone new handles your cat, ore stress is being added to the cat. Don’t let them take him out and weigh, temp etc only to have him put back and taken out again. Request his temp not be taken.

While waiting for the vet, undo the screws of the carrier, so you can remove the top. Don’t allow anyone to drag him out of the carrier. When examined in the bottom half of his carrier, use your towel to cover his head. Make sure everyone talks in a quiet voice.

If your vet won’t comply with what you ask, look for a feline friendly hospital in your area.

 

[FeralHearts]

gabapentin

Gabapentin

Better living through chemical therapy. Gabapentin 2 hours prior to visit.

Drugs. Gabapentin.

I have two with heart issues and have various issues - so it's absolutely necessary that they are calm.

I can use feliway on the one - the other it makes him incredibly anger so I can't sadly.

While waiting for the vet, undo the screws of the carrier, so you can remove the top. Don’t allow anyone to drag him out of the carrier. When examined in the bottom half of his carrier, use your towel to cover his head. Make sure everyone talks in a quiet voice.

This works well for my Charlie who can get a little ornery during a visit - even with the gabapentin. A towel gentle draped over his head - it makes him much calmer.

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[kate_grey]

My cat is always stressed and sometimes we can call a veterinarian at home if necessary

 

[stephanietx]

I use a carrier that has a top and side (end) entry as well as the top half of the carrier comes off. I put a towel and pee pad in the carrier just in case there's an accident and cover the carrier with a towel to make a hiding place for them. Once we get to the vet, and get in the room, they are usually calm. Daisy is allowed out of the carrier because she just walks around and puts her paws under the door trying to get it open. We go to a cat-only vet and they have Feliway running in all the rooms, which helps.

 

[Caspers Human]

In my opinion, just do it.

Fussing and trying to, somehow, coax, lure or fool the cat into going into a carrier really only serves to make the cat (and the human) more stressed. Sometimes, I think it's better to just "pull off the Band-Aid," so to speak.

Wait until the cat is relatively calm, put the carrier in another room and get it ready. Grab (gently pick up) the cat and put him in the carrier. The faster you do it, the less stress all the way around.

Of course, the cat is going to cry and meow inside the carrier. Cats don't like going to the vet any more than a toddler likes to go to the doctor. But your child has to go. So does your cat. Just talk to the cat the same way you'd talk to a kid... "It's okay! I love you! You'll be all right! It'll all be over soon."

Yes, you should be as gentle, loving and supportive as you can but, in times like this, you just have to do what needs to be done.

There's no sense in prolonging the agony.