While it is important to take your cat to see the vets for health check-ups and when they are feeling sick, pet owners will know that it isn’t always easy to get them into their carriers. A vet visit (while essential) can also be distressing for cats particularly if they are having injections or other treatments that might be painful or invasive. This can be distressing for you too, as you don’t want to see your cat getting upset, and it isn’t pleasant being scratched or bitten when you’re trying to get them in and out of the carrier, either! If you have a vet appointment coming up and are worried about how stressed your cat will be, here are some tips to help them feel calmer.
Make the Carrier Comfortable
Cat carriers aren’t exactly the most welcoming of spaces, so it’s understandable why your cat might not be keen to get into one. This is why making the effort to make the cat carrier as comfortable as possible is a good idea, as it will help your cat to feel safer and happier while they are in there. Place a blanket into the carrier with some of their favorite toys that they can play with or cuddle up to while they are in their carrier as a bit of comfort.
Stay Calm Yourself
If you get anxious or distressed during the vet visit, then your pet will start to react to that in the same way. They might not quite understand what is going on around them, but they can understand your body language and will pick up on signs that something is wrong through the way you act. The calmer you are, the more relaxed your cat will be. To help keep yourself feeling more positive when you take your cat to the vet, you will need to make sure you feel comfortable at that clinic and trust the staff. Easyvet.com is a good example of what you should expect from a vet clinic if you are yet to register your cat if they are a new pet.
Take Some Treats with You
Treats will always be well-received by your cat, and they can be useful to have as a distraction during the vet visit for this reason. Just like your doctor might have given you a lollypop or sweets after your vaccinations as a kid to soothe you, consider your cat’s treats to have the same effect on them. If they have behaved well during your vet visit, then they will be even more deserving of a reward.
Make Sure Your Cat is Used to Being Handled
Finally, if you want your cat to feel calmer and more comfortable when they see the vet, you need to make sure that they are comfortable being handled by other people. If you live alone and your cat spends the majority of time being cuddled and petted by you, they might not like it when someone else tries to handle the. This is why it’s a good idea to train your cat to get used to this, so the next time your friends or relatives come to visit you at home, encourage your cat to play with them and let himself/herself be petted by them so that your cat can get used to others handling them.
If you want your cat to feel more relaxed at their next vet appointment, use the tips above and see how they can help make this happen.
