De-Emphasing The Cat Carrier

While I've done a lot of things wrong in regards to Jack, one of the right things I've done is try to de-emphasize the cat carrier.

For many cats, being put into a carrier is a traumatic experience. They fear the very sight of the cat carrier. Most likely because they're only put inside it when they're being taken to the vet. Going to the vet is a traumatic experience all in itself when they have to be examined by some stranger and possibly given a shot.

The first time I put Jack in a pet carrier to take him to the vet he was terrified. I think part of his terror came from the fact he was in a carrier that only had air holes around it and he couldn't see out to where he was being taken. One thing I noticed early about Jack is he's a very visual kitty. If he can't see something he starts meowing in a very bad tempered tone.

Anyway, when I bought Jack a carrier, I got him one that he could see out on all side, except for the door. When it came I told him this was for Jack. It came with sticker letters so you could even put your pets name on it. I left it on the living room floor with the door open and a nice towel folded up inside so he wouldn't just associate it with going to the vet in. A few times he's even gone in it and gone to sleep in it.

Of course, when I tried to use the carrier as a place to give him a time out, that strategy backfired on me. Jack likes to bite me, and I've tried to break him of it. One of my strategies was to give him a time-out in his carrier. He was upset about it the first time I did it. But the next day he went inside it and went to sleep in it, basically giving me the message, "Go ahead, and lock me in here. I like it in here. It doesn't bother me a bit."

After that I had to come up with new strategies to deal with his biting. I've locked Jack in his carrier when I have to put out the garbage and I don't want him running out the door and he's very relaxed inside it. It's only when I take it out to the car and start driving to the vet's he has a problem. Otherwise, the pet carrier is his friend, and one of the places he likes to take a nap in.