How do I get my cat to the vet without losing a finger?

By: Dr. Katie Vance
Published June 4, 2024

Most pet owners struggle to get their cats to the veterinarian safely and stress free. This negative connotation of traveling with cats causes pet owners to be less likely to maintain appropriate preventative care, and causes pet parents to prolong visits to the vet hospital when their cats are sick.

All cats should be seen by their veterinarian annually or biannually (for senior pets >8 years old). The benefit of having your cat seen by the veterinarian for preventative care is to allow us to monitor changes in their physical exam and diagnose disease earlier. Even indoor only cats that “seem” healthy can develop physical exam changes or labwork changes that allow us to diagnose and treat disease earlier, therefore giving your cat a better long term prognosis. Cats are very good at hiding illness and may only exhibit subtle symptoms or changes in behavior such as hiding, drinking more water, urinating more frequently/larger volumes, weight loss, changes in appetite, vocalization or activity level (more or less), etc.

We want to help reduce stress for you and your cat by providing tips and tricks to get them to the vet more easily. In order to prepare our cats for vet visits, we want to acclimate them to a good quality cat carrier.​

What to Look for in a Cat Carrier

A good quality carrier is a hard plastic carrier with a top that is easily removable, which most of the time, allows the veterinarian to perform the exam while the cat remains in the carrier. The carrier should also have 2 openings, with an opening on the top and another in front. If there are multiple cats coming in, each cat should have their own carrier, even if they get along well at home. The stress of traveling could cause them to become reactive towards each other.​

Acclimating Your Cat with Their Carrier

Abrupt changes are stressful for cats so we want to try and acclimate our cats to the cat carrier they will be transported in. Ideally you should leave the carrier in a space in the house the cat likes to spend time. If you typically store the carrier where is it not visible, we recommend placing the carrier out in the home at least 2 days before your visit to allow the cat to get acclimated. In order to create a positive relationship with the carrier, place a comfortable blanket with the scent of home in the bottom of the carrier with their favorite treats and toys.

Try Calming Pheromones

You can spray the blankets or towels with calming cat pheromones (ex: Feliway) 15 minutes prior to putting them in the carrier. You can place one of these pheromone sprayed towels or blankets over the cat carrier as well when you get into the car to reduce noise and visual stimuli.

The Biggest Tip Before Getting in the Car & Heading to the Vet

We recommend fasting your cat before the visit. This not only reduces nausea if they develop motion sickness, but also makes sure they are hungry for their visit and more likely to take treats. When picking up the carrier, hold it from the bottom instead of the handle on top to prevent excessive motion. Place the cat carrier in a secure area in the car with good ventilation. You can play cat specific music to help reduce stress during the drive.

And if Your Cat is Still Stressed...

Even if you utilize all of the recommendations listed above, some cats will still be overly stressed with car rides and vet visits. In those cases, your cat may benefit from anti anxiety medication prior to travel. Ask your veterinarian for more information regarding specific medications.