You might be thinking of a service like mine that offers home euthansia for cats when it comes to the end of thier lives, because they have experienced so much fear and anxiety on the journey to the vets.
after nearly 20years in General Practice, these are some of my top tips to help reduce your cats anxiety around travel before you need to call me
How to help your cat feel calm in their box
Home is where your pet feels safest. There are no loud waiting rooms, no car journeys, and no unfamiliar smells or bright lights. Instead, your pet can remain in their favourite place—on the sofa, in the garden, or in your arms—experiencing comfort and calm.
Getting them into a cat box however can produce a lot of additional fear and anxiety
Calming Sprays
There are a number of calming sprays on the market that are either a mixture of calming herbs (these make me feel calm too!) or use a synthetic copy of the pheromones produced by a mother cat nursing her kittens to promote feelings of calm in cats. It can be really helpful to choose some comfy bedding to line your cats carrier and spray it with one of these sprays.
My cat likes the smell so much that he rolls on any bedding that has been treated with this spray
(NB most cats are frightened of the sound of a spray bottle because it mimics the hiss an angry cat would make, so be sure to do this away from your cat )
Carrier Choice
I have found that the advent of soft fabric based carriers and backpacks have incresed fear in cats when they come to the veterinary practice. Although these carriers look lovely and snuggly, from your cats point of view it must make them feel like they are not only trapped, but that the walls are starting to cave in on them. The lack of rigidity also means its very difficult to remove cats from them when they get to the Vet, without dragging them out or unzipping the whole thing which adds to more movement of the walls from the inside
Whats the best kind of carrier?
It doesn’t look very nice but this kind of carrier is super easy to get your cat in and out of
Your Vet and your cat will thank you if you invest in a rigid carrier that has a top opening and a front opening. It is so much easier to place your cat inside them and also lift them out carefully when they are at the vets. Do check the latches though before purchasing as some cat boxes are incredibly hard to open and close!
Whats wrong with front opening cat boxes?
Nothing if you have an incredibly bold, gregarious cat that marches in and out of their box without hesitation, but if you’ve got this far, that is probably not your cat I’m describing!
Most cats huddle at the back of their box and refuse to come out when they get to the vets. If there is no other opening your Vet will have to drag them out by their shoulders, which is never a good way for anyone to make friends!
What else can I do?
Bring a bath towel with you, hopefully pre-sprayed with a calming spray and cover over the box while you are travelling and in the waiting room. This helps remove the sight of things that are frightening to your cat like big dogs. It also helps them to feel like they are hidden and safe.
When you get to the vets, try to place the box somewhere high. Either on your lap or on another chair. Being on the floor adds to feelings of fear especially if dogs are allowed to snuffle around their box
Look for a Veterinary Practice that is an accredited Cat Friendly clinic to ensure you find a Vet that prides themselves on cat friendly handling and care. Never permit anyone to move or restrain your cat by the scruff of their neck, this is super frightening for them.
Try to associate the box with things other than visits to the Vet. For example you could leave a favourite treat in there and the door open so they learn to go in and out without always being shut in
I hope you find this article helpful if you are having problems travelling your cat to the Vet. If your cat is very elderly and has always found this process frightening, please consider a home euthanasia for them when their time comes
You're Not Alone
If you're facing the prospect of saying goodbye, please know that this service is designed to support both your pet and you. My role is to guide you with empathy, experience, and time, so that when the moment comes, you feel confident that you did the right thing for your beloved companion.
📞 If you’d like to speak about whether this is the right time for your pet, you’re welcome to book a free phone consultation. Find out more here
