Preparing the Cat Carrier for A Visit to The Vet

When it comes to caring for your pet cat, health is one of the most vital considerations.
For your pet to stay on the top of its health it is important that any possible ailments
must be detected early for effective treatment and complete cure. This is why regular
visits to a vet are of immense importance. However, these visits can be potential
stressors for your cat and can upset your pet or make it experience fear. In this blog we
will share how best you can prepare for the visits to the vet by making the right choice
of the cat carrier, and figuring out the travel considerations. It is also pertinent to add
here that as cat parents who want the best for their pets, it is recommended that you
visit a clinic accredited as a cat friendly clinic for your cat’s veterinary care.
It is very important that you make the visits to the vet a positive experience for your cat.
To ensure this, you will need to start taking the right steps early. When it comes to
making the visits into a positive experience, the cat carrier plays a very significant role.
It is absolutely necessary for your pet cat to associate with the carrier as a positive
experience to make the visits to the vet hassle free. To begin with, choosing the right
carrier is highly imperative, so that your kitty does not get to flee. Moreover, you will
need to make sure that the carrier is not made of soft fabric, as these types of cat
carriers may collapse and are hard to maintain and clean. On the other hand the carriers
that are made in backpack styles are also not a good idea as they create too much
movement for the cat. Again, those devoid of removable tops or top openings are
inconvenient as the vet might find it difficult to examine the cat in such a carrier. The
best option is the sturdy plastic carrier which is easy to clean and the top part is
removable which makes it easy for the vet to examine your four legged friend.
Moreover, you will need to buy a carrier that allows you to feed your cat easily while not
providing enough exposure for your pet to escape.
In an ideal situation your cat should enter the carrier on its own. However, if that’s not
the case you will need to place some of its favorite toys or treats to make it go inside. It
is also recommended not to store the carrier in places like garage or store rooms.
Consider keeping the carrier in a place that your cat spends a lot of time in and loves to
be. Put a soft and cozy blanket in the carrier so that your cat makes it a habit to enter it
often and sleep in it. Doing this is a good idea as it will ensure that the carrier has
familiar smells and is comforting for your cat. This, in turn, will make your job easy
while you will need your pet to enter the carrier for a visit to the vet.
Other things to keep in mind regarding the carriers are –

•         Placing a blanket that your cat have been using for a long time in the carrier is a
  good way of making it feel secure and safe
•         Consider spraying synthetic feline pheromones into the carrier sometime before the
  visit
•         You can also put a towel that your cat is familiar with over the carrier to make it feel
  comfortable
•         Adding your cat’s favorite treat or toy in the carrier is also a great way to make your
  cat feel safe
•         In order to minimize the movement of the carrier make sure not to hold it only by
  the handle. Provide enough support to the carrier by placing your hand underneath
  so that it remains in a properly balanced position.
•         During the travel, place the carrier at the foot well behind the front seats of the car
  to make sure it is positioned in a secured way
•         Consider Using a trolley to lessen the ‘swinging’ motion while you carry the carrier.
•         You can also place it on a plastic sheet to prevent it from getting dirty
•         It is also a good idea to carry extra  blankets and tissues
•         In case your pet urinates or defecates during the journey you will need to talk to
  your vet about it, as it could be a sign of some kind of sickness or extreme fear
•         While traveling make sure that your car is properly ventilated and also that the
  temperature is set at the right level for your buddy’s comfort
•         Most importantly do not ever open the carrier, even if you find your cat meowing a
  lot, as this is extremely unsafe, instead use your quiet, calm voice to settle it down
  While the above mentioned steps work for most cats, some cat breeds may still feel
  extreme fear and anxiety while visiting the vet. This could be due to some previous bad
  experience or because of the inherent nature of the pet. In such cases, you can consider
  administering some medication to make your cat feel less upset and agitated. The drug
  that is commonly used to soothe the anxious cat’s nerves is known as Gabapentin.
  However, you will need to consult your vet before giving the medication to your cat.
  Also while giving it for the first time, make sure to keep the dose low to see if the cat
  shows any side effects to the medicine.
  If you are looking for a sturdy and easy to handle and clean cat carrier at an affordable
  price, log on to https://petsuppliesbyjdubb.com/ from the comfort of your home. While
  exploring the site you can also heck out the store for a host of pet grooming items, pet
  care products, pet travel essentials as well as pet toys.