Mine know that it’s vet time the second i get the transport boxes out of storage. I have to be pretty silent while they sleep so they don’t notice that, or else i have to use persistance predation too.
Comment on All downhill from there
Alcoholicorn@mander.xyz 2 months agoHow do they know youre taking them to the vet?
a_wild_mimic_appears@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 months ago
zaperberry@lemmy.ca 2 months ago
Hey I don’t have cats so it might be a bit different, but I’ve had a few dogs over the years and I figure it would be similar. Your cats probably associate the carriers with going to the vet which it sounds like they’re not a fan of. Their thought process is probably carrier = vet = no thank you.
Have you tried to put them into the carrier without actually taking them to the vet? Drop some treats in there, let them explore it at their own pace, close it for a minute or two, and then either reward or praise them after release? Keep progressing to the point that treats are no longer required to lure them and they enter on their own, but still reward them on release. Rinse and repeat (and repeat and repeat and repeat). Over time they may change their attitude towards the carrier their mindset may turn into carrier = treats and praise.
If they’re not food motivated you may have to use alternate bait such as toys or nip.
a_wild_mimic_appears@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 months ago
I often let the carriers stand outside, and they even sleep in them. i must be giving off other vibes when i take them out for the doc visit.
Knock_Knock_Lemmy_In@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Take them nice places in the box.
a_wild_mimic_appears@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 months ago
I’m gonna wine and dine them next time :-)
Alcoholicorn@mander.xyz 2 months ago
No transport box. You just put blanket in your arms and pick the cat up.
a_wild_mimic_appears@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 months ago
we have no car and use public transport. its a short ride, about 10 minutes bus and 10 minutes walk time, or about 40 minutes walking only (while carrying a cat in a box).
I didn’t have a car in my entire life, because public transport in my city (Vienna) has great interval times, are nearly always clean and cheap to ride; long distance i prefer trains.
Alcoholicorn@mander.xyz 2 months ago
You cant take the cat on the bus?
AeonFelis@lemmy.world 2 months ago
The hate being picked up in general, even if there is no threat of vet, so they’ll struggle to get out of my arms and if they succeed - I’ve lost the element of surprise.
Also - I have two cats, and if I need to take both to vet then even if I manage to place one in a carrier he’ll alert the other that something is wrong.