5 Tips To Convince Your Cat Not To Hate Car Rides (And Carriers)
For far too long, the majority of our indoor cats have reacted with hisses and desperate hopes of becoming feline Houdinis when confronted by what they view as the Three Horrible Cs: the car, the carrier and the veterinary clinic. But I’m living proof that we can acclimate our feline friends, from kittens to seniors, to at least tolerate car rides, whether they are short jaunts to the clinic or cross-country treks. Yes, I have survived the feline serenades inside my SUV from San Diego, California, to San Antonio, Texas—and back—with Zeki, my former certified therapy cat. I have endured the seemingly instant car sickness from my senior cat, Murphy, each time she is put in the carrier to travel to the veterinary clinic (a mere 15 minutes away) for her annual examination. And, now, I am patiently conditioning my new kitten, Casey, that car rides are cool… even for cats. The secret to success when it comes to training cats to accept being tucked inside a cat carrier and placed inside moving vehicles begins with you. And, your catitude. Remember, our cats are masters at reading our emotions. That explains why many seem to disappear moments before you fetch the carrier to make the veterinary appointment on time. They can smell our apprehension and anxiety and know that it is in their best interest to— poof! —disappear, or strategically position themselves under the king-sized bed in the middle, just out of arm’s reach. So, let me share some cat-car harmonizing secrets:










