Effective Tips on How to Get a Scared Cat to the Vet

This pet health content was written by a veterinarian, Dr. Debora Lichtenberg, VMD. This article was originally published in 2015 and is regularly updated. It was reviewed for accuracy by Dr. Pippa Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS, and was last updated on July 15, 2024

If you have questions or concerns, call your vet, who is best equipped to ensure the health and well-being of your pet. This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See additional information.

Understanding Why Your Cat Is Scared of the Vet

It’s no wonder your cat is scared of the vet! The truth is, cats are fearful of new people and new environments. This is built into their survival instincts. A visit to the veterinarian can bring terror to the independent cat who doesn’t venture out of their secure home very often.

Cats have natural survival instincts that make them wary of new people and environments. Vets and their staff should work to make the vet’s office more cat-friendly. The goal is to reduce your cat’s anxiety before and during the visit.

To get the most out of a cat’s visit to the vet, we have to try to lessen their fear or, at best, not make their instinctual fear of strange places and strange hands worse.

• Cats have natural survival instincts that make them wary of new people and environments.
• Vets and their staff should work to make the vet’s office more cat-friendly.
• The goal is to reduce your cat’s anxiety before and during the visit.

Before we even worry about how the vet part of the adventure will go, let’s work on getting your cat to the vet with as little anxiety as possible.

What NOT to Do When Your Cat Is Scared of the Vet

Many common mistakes can make your cat’s vet visit more stressful than it needs to be. To ensure a smoother experience, avoid the following:

• Don’t chase your cat around the house and grab them from under the bed.
• Avoid stuffing them into a frightening carrier at the last minute.
• Don’t use a smelly or uncomfortable carrier that your cat is unfamiliar with.
• Avoid loud and bumpy car rides that can make your cat sick and more anxious.
• Don’t ignore your cat’s fear signs and force them out of the carrier abruptly.

A “cat-friendly” trip to the vet should start differently. Instead of causing stress, focus on how to get a scared cat to the vet with minimal anxiety. Ensure the carrier is comfortable and familiar, and try to create a calm environment during the journey. This approach helps make the vet visit less traumatic for your cat.

How To Get a Scared Cat To The Vet

Acclimate Your Cat to the Carrier at Home

Most cats love to crawl in bags, under beds, and in boxes. You’d think they would love a cat carrier, but not if you try to stuff them into an unfamiliar plastic container 2 seconds before leaving the house. Start acclimating your cat to the carrier 1-2 weeks before the vet visit.

Leave the Carrier Open in a Desirable Place

Leave the carrier open at home in a desirable place until your cat enters it readily. Add catnip, some cat treats, or whatever it takes to entice them to enter the carrier and hang out in it — that’s your goal.

Condition Your Cat to the Car

Once your cat is happy going in and out of the carrier, begin to condition them to your car, too. Place a blanket around the carrier and carefully put the carrier in the back seat of the car. Shut the car door. Don’t go anywhere. Wait 2 minutes, then open the car door, and bring the cat back inside. Do this several days in a row and work up to driving your cat down the driveway and around the block.

Special Hints

• Cats like perches. The floor may not be the best place to leave the carrier. Does your cat often nap in a quiet area away from family antics? Try leaving the carrier in a safe place.
• Line the carrier with a favorite snuggle blanket or that laundry your cat curled up on last week. Cats like warm, soft places.
• Give treats as immediate rewards once they enter the carrier. If your cat loves fishing line toys, this is a good exercise to play in and around the carrier openings.
• Fearful cats may benefit from Feliway cat calming spray used about 30 minutes before you put the carrier down in the desired place.
• Acclimating a cat to a carrier can take several weeks for some cats. Be patient.
• If your cat is still terrified of the carrier after many attempts, try a completely different carrier.

By following these steps, you can help reduce your cat’s anxiety and ensure a smoother experience when getting your scared cat to the vet.

In the video below, cat expert Jackson Galaxy demonstrates how to acclimate a cat to a carrier in advance of a vet visit:

What Kind of Carrier Is Best for a Cat Who’s Scared of the Vet?

Choosing the right carrier can significantly reduce your cat’s stress during vet visits. Here are some tips to consider:

Hard boxes with thousands of fasteners and a front port of entry are not cat-friendly. These are typically sold at most discount and big box stores or borrowed from neighbors. Instead, opt for carriers made of soft material with zippers rather than clunky, loud hardware. Carriers with multiple places for entry and exit are more desirable for cats.

For example, the Soft-Sided Pet Carrier is a great choice. It has everything you need for quick, routine visits to the vet, and it also conforms to the under-seat dimensions of most airlines in case longer travel is needed.

• Easy access from the top: No matter which carrier you choose, ensure it has easy access from the top. This feature allows you to remove or open the top of the carrier easily at the vet.
• Comfortable interior: Put your cat’s favorite treats and toys in the carrier at home well before the vet visit. A vet who is sensitive to cat behavior will also have treats of different types in the exam room, making the experience less stressful for your cat.

By selecting a suitable carrier and making it a comfortable and familiar space, you can help reduce your cat’s anxiety and make the vet visit a more positive experience.

Is a Cat Stroller Right for You?

A cat stroller can be an excellent alternative to a traditional carrier, especially if you walk to the vet instead of taking car rides. Here are some benefits of using a cat stroller:

One reader shared her positive experience with a cat stroller: “My cat loves it. She can sit up and decide whether she wants more privacy in the back covered area or a really good view of the world in the front. I put a comfy pillow and towels in it. It has a rudimentary shock absorber system, so she enjoys a much smoother ride.”

• Comfortable and Adjustable: The stroller allows the cat to choose between more privacy or a better view, making the journey less stressful.
• Smooth Ride: The shock absorber system provides a smoother ride, which helps in reducing anxiety for your cat.
• Ease of Transport: “When we arrive at the clinic, we are both less stressed out, and that makes for a better visit. My vet and her staff appreciate the fact that it’s easy to open from the top and it rolls — making it easy to transport her comfortably from the exam room to the procedure area and to X-ray.”

By considering a cat stroller, you can provide a more comfortable and less stressful vet visit for your cat, ensuring a better experience for both you and your feline friend.

Cat Carrier vs. Exam Table

Getting your cat into a carrier can be a challenging task. At home, it often feels like an impossible mission. You might find yourself out of breath, looking like the victim of a home invasion by the time your cat is secured in the carrier.

• At home: It can be a struggle to get your cat into the carrier, leaving you distressed and exhausted.
• At the vet: Your cat may refuse to come out of the carrier, requiring the vet staff to step in and extract your cat.

Ironically, after the exam, your cat often willingly returns to the carrier without any fuss.

• After the exam: Your cat might prefer the security of the carrier over the exam table, often returning to it with ease.

Understanding this preference can help reduce stress during vet visits, as the carrier provides a familiar and safe space for your cat.

Traveling by Car With Your Fearful Cat

Not many people take their cats for joy rides, unlike dogs who are often seen with their ears flapping in the breeze. Cats peering out of car windows are a rare sight. Most cats in cars feel like those Garfields suction-cupped to the windows, a popular car adornment in the 1980s.

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Your cat deserves to be acclimated to the car gradually. On your appointment day, avoid extraneous stops for coffee, picking up kids from school, or carpooling. Your pet deserves a designated driver and an upgrade to first class.

Quick tips for a less fearful car ride when your cat is scared of the vet:

• Quiet drive directly to the vet: Once it’s go time, a quiet drive directly to the vet without stops is ideal.
• Soothing music or quiet words of reassurance: These may help during the drive.
• Strap the carrier in a seat belt: Alternatively, have someone hold the carrier so it’s stable.
• Medications from your vet: These can help with car sickness or anxiety.
• Over-the-counter supplements: Solliquin and Bach Rescue Remedy may help the anxious cat.

By following these tips, you can help ensure a smoother and less stressful car ride for your cat when traveling to the vet.

Training Your Cat to Tolerate Car Rides

Training your cat to tolerate car rides is crucial when figuring out how to get a scared cat to the vet. Start by placing your cat in the carrier and taking short, calm trips around the block. Gradually increase the duration of these trips as your cat becomes more comfortable. Use soothing music and gentle reassurances to create a calm environment during the ride. This gradual exposure helps reduce your cat’s fear of car travel and makes vet visits less stressful.

Preparing the Carrier for a Stress-Free Experience

To get a scared cat to the vet, start by preparing the carrier well in advance. Leave the carrier open in a familiar and comfortable place in your home, allowing your cat to explore it at their own pace. Use treats, catnip, and familiar blankets to make the carrier inviting. Acclimating your cat to the carrier gradually helps reduce their anxiety and makes it easier to get a scared cat to the vet without a struggle.

Pick a Cat-Friendly Vet

Feline-only vet clinics and hospitals are great — their comfortable and quiet waiting rooms are pretty helpful.

If your vet hospital is small and doesn’t have a separate cat waiting area, ask to be put into an exam room or a quiet space as soon as you come in.

• If you must wait for your appointment, your cat may be happier with you in the car. Ask the staff to fetch you when they are ready for your visit.
• A cat-sensitive vet will not place your cat on a scary steel surface. If the vet isn’t so understanding, ask for a soft blanket or towel.
• Another tactic is to leave a cat who’s scared of the vet in the carrier. I have done entire exams with the cat remaining in the carrier as long as it has a top opening.

Is a Multiple-Cat Visit to the Vet a Good Idea?

Many people have more than one cat, and a multiple-cat visit may be easier for the person bringing the cats in. Often, this is great for easygoing cats as well.

However, for the cat who is scared of the vet or doesn’t get along with their cat-buddy, even at home, the multiple-cat visit can be stressful. They may hear their housemate screaming in the other carrier, adding to the stress.

• Easygoing cats: A multiple-cat visit may work well for easygoing cats who are comfortable with each other.
• Scared or anxious cats: For cats who are scared of the vet or don’t get along with their cat-buddy, a multiple-cat visit can increase stress levels.

A multiple-cat visit also takes longer, which can prolong the anxiety. In some cases, it’s better to do separate visits to ensure each cat receives the attention and care they need without added stress.

Creating a Calm Environment in the Waiting Room

Creating a calm environment in the waiting room is essential when bringing a scared cat to the vet. Choose a quiet spot away from dogs and other loud noises. Keep the carrier covered with a light blanket to reduce visual stimuli and help your cat feel more secure. If possible, wait in the car with your cat until the vet is ready to see you. These steps can significantly lower your cat’s stress levels, making the vet visit more manageable.

Speak Up If You’re Unhappy

There are all kinds of vets, vet techs, and cats. If you don’t like how your cat is being handled or if your cat is more upset than normal, speak up — a good practice will be sensitive to your needs.

• Unusual triggers: Sometimes, your cat might be fine at the vet, but external factors such as a howling dog, thundering during the ride, or a new smell can set them off.
• Personal preferences: Your cat might simply not like the technician or the vet.

In any of these situations, you have the right to mention that your cat is acting stranger than usual. Good vets will listen and adjust their approach accordingly.

• Prepare at home: Try to work with your cat at home before any vet visit to help them become more comfortable with the process. This preparation can significantly reduce stress for both you and your cat.

By advocating for your cat’s comfort and being proactive in their care, you can help ensure a more positive experience during vet visits.

Final Thoughts on a Cat Who’s Scared of the Vet

Even cats who seem more carefree and easy-going can sense stress and fear more than we realize. All cats deserve some special attention when they are being asked to do something unfamiliar, such as visiting the vet.

• Special attention: Ensure that all cats, regardless of their usual temperament, receive the care and attention they need to feel comfortable and secure during vet visits.
• Understanding and patience: Recognize that even the most relaxed cats can become anxious in unfamiliar situations.

Remember, cats rule, and we are simply their humble servants. By taking the time to understand their needs and preparing for vet visits accordingly, we can make these experiences less stressful for our feline friends.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

References

• “Getting Your Cat to the Veterinarian.” American Association of Feline Practitioners and International Society of Feline Medicine. https://catvets.com/public/PDFs/ClientBrochures/Cat-to-VetHandout.pdf.
• Khuly, Patty. “Cat Freak Out at Specter of Vet Visit? Here’s What to Try.” Miami Herald. Aug. 3, 2017. https://www.miamiherald.com/living/pets/article165229957.html.
• Hunter, Tammy, DVM, and Cheryl Yuill, DVM. “Reducing the Stress of Veterinary Visits for Cats.” VCA Hospitals. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/reducing-the-stress-of-veterinary-visits-for-cats.
• “Scaredy Cat, No More! Getting Your Cat to the Vet.” Pleasant Paws Veterinary Care. Feb. 26, 2015. http://www.pleasantpawsvetcare.com/blog/2015/2/26/scaredy-cat-no-more-getting-your-cat-to-the-vet.
• “How to Help Your Cat’s Fear of Vets.” Happy Cats Haven. https://happycatshaven.org/knowledgebase/how-to-help-your-cats-fear-of-vets/.
• “How to Get a Scared Cat to the Vet.” Longwood Veterinary Center. https://longwoodvetcenter.com/how-to-get-a-scared-cat-to-the-vet/
• “Low-Stress Ways to Get Your Very Feisty, Claws-Out Cat to the Vet.” Vetstreet. https://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/low-stress-ways-to-get-your-very-feisty-claws-out-cat-to-the-vet
• “Reducing the Stress of Veterinary Visits for Cats.” VCA Hospitals. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/reducing-the-stress-of-veterinary-visits-for-cats