Allow your cat to become familiar with their cat carrier within the home. Allowing free access to the carrier with a comfy bed, toys and treats will create a safe space in the home and reduce the fear of the carrier when they need to be transported.

Carriers that are easily opened to lift the top half off the bottom half are best. For optimum experience for your cat, look for clips that are quiet when opening and closing them.  Those that have the halves bolted together are not ideal as this limits easy access to your pet. 

The material the carrier is made of is also important. Impermeable, hard materials are best. These are easy to clean should your cat have an accident during transit, plus it will not hold the fear pheromone smells released by your cat. If these linger, your cat will be more anxious of entering the carrier the next time you need to use it. Additionally, sturdy carriers allow your cat to feel safe and supported when being transported.

Providing a soft bed is important for comfort and to stop your cat from sliding all over the place when being transported. This is particularly important for the older cat as they are likely to suffer from debilitating conditions like osteoarthritis. Soft furnishings will also absorb any liquids away from your cat to keep them more comfortable and cleaner. Cage liners can be placed over the top of the bedding to protect the bedding from accidents whilst still allowing your cat to be comfortable. Bringing a spare is also recommended!

Carriers should be held to avoid your cat swinging around, a trip to the vets should not mimic a trip to Alton Towers! Canvas and over the shoulder carriers should be avoided for the reasons mentioned above.

If your cat enjoys their privacy, consider using a towel to cover the carrier during transport to and from home and around the practice.

Spraying the pheromone Feliway in the carrier and on a separate towel 15 minutes before you expect to be using them will allow the alcohol fraction to wear off and the calming pheromones to do their job. This will help to reduce your cat’s anxiety whilst they are driven to and are waiting to see the vet. Towels already sprayed are available upon request when you arrive at the practice.

When you and your cat arrive in the consult room, the vet or nurse will give your cat the chance to exit the carrier by themselves should they so desire. Allow your cat time to do this if they wish – they like to be in control of their own destiny and prefer to be invited to do tasks rather than forced to do them! 

Give consideration to those cats that prefer to hide in their carriers; pulling them by the legs or tipping the carrier up is unacceptable and distressing to your cat. Particularly if they are feeling unwell or are in physical pain already.

Your vet or nurse may remove the top of the carrier to gain access to your cat and on occasion they will cover your cat with a towel to allow the cat to feel safe and hidden whilst remaining in their safe space. Often the examination will take place whilst your cat is still in the bottom half of their basket as they often feel less anxious and more relaxed in their safe space.

We provide a cat-only area in the waiting room for cats to get away from the glare of other visitors. If you require a Feliway-sprayed towel to cover your basket so that they cannot see other cats, please ask at reception. As cats like height, their baskets can be placed on the seating next to you.

If the reception and waiting areas are particularly busy or noisy, there are spaces behind reception where cat baskets can be placed at a height, still visible to their owners from the waiting area. 

If coming into the practice is too stressful for your cat, please call reception on 01530 836654 from your car, and the vet or nurse will come to your car when they are ready for your appointment. Equally, cats can be placed back in the car whilst your prescriptions and invoice are being prepared.

If your cat is still distressed by the journey to the vets and being examined, please ask your vet for advice regarding prescription motion sickness and anxiety medications that we have available so that the next visit is less traumatic to your cat and yourself.