If you have a cat who finds going to the vet a complete nightmare, you are not alone. This is a common problem faced by a lot of cat owners. Since one also needs to show their cat to the vet regularly, there has to be a solution for this,

In this blog, you will see some of the best ways to make your cat’s visit smoother and easier. Once your cat becomes comfortable going to the vet, it will also help the vet to examine your cat better, thereby avoiding potential illnesses. 

Here are those tips,

1) Stay Relaxed

Cats are intelligent creatures who can quickly pick up the vibes of humans and animals around them, and then react in the same manner. This is why you shouldn’t yell or panic while preparing for your cat to go to the vet, as they will get scared. You will see that if you keep yourself relaxed in these kinds of situations, your cat will hold their composure as well. 

Even if your cats start to cry or scratch, just keep a calm demeanour. Try speaking in a soft voice with them or playing gentle music while you are on the way.

2) Keep the Carrier Out at All Times.

One of the best techniques to keep your cats calm during their vet visit is to keep the pet carrier out at all times. This is also important since your cats should not associate the carrier with something scary that is going to happen to them. If you feel it’s difficult to keep out your carrier at all times, due to lack of space and other reasons, try putting it out a few days before going to the vet.

This will give your cat enough time to acclimatise to carrier well before you take them to the vet. 

3) Reward them With Treats

Another great technique you can use is to offer some delicious cat treats to your feline to keep them more comfortable. This will be highly helpful just before you put your cat inside the carrier. You can also reward them with a few treats once you see your cat sitting peacefully in the carrier.. However, remember to not overfeed them when they are in the vehicle on the way to the vet. Some cats can get car sick and can vomit back the stuff they have eaten. So give the treats in moderation.

4) Carry their Favourite Blanket

Just like how a cat loves his cat bed, cat toys, treats etc, they tend to have their favourite sheet or blanket on which they lie. Carrying this with your pet carrier can make your cats feel better. Besides, the blankets make them think of home which is highly likelier to make the cats calm and relaxed. 

If your cats like cuddling with you, you can also bring along one of your old shirts. This will help them relate with you even when they are in the carrier, and feel comfortable.

5) Keep Other Pets in a Different Room

If you have other pets in the house, keep them in a different while you are about to take your cat to the vet. This applies to small children as well.  This is because the chaos created by kids and other pets when you are about to leave the house can make your cats more scared and angry. They may also try to escape and not be willing to come to you at all. This is not conducive to a circumstance like taking your cats to the vet. 

6) Opt For a Smaller Carrier

Although not all cats like to sit in a small carrier, many of them like to sit in a carrier that is a little confined. It offers them a sense of security, reduces anxiety and also is easy to accept. Also, ensure that the carrier you are using is just for taking the cats to the vet and not for any other purpose. Above all, you have to keep the carrier strapped in with a seat belt while your vehicle is in motion. 

In Short,

These are six highly effective ways to reduce anxiety in cats before taking them to the vet. It is also important to give enough praise during this process as it goes a long way in making them calm. Most importantly, do not overfeed them before taking them to the vet as it can trigger vomiting or a digestive upset in the felines, as they will most probably be in a moving vehicle.