Dear Tiffani,

My cat seems terrified to visit the veterinarian. Before I even get his carrier out of storage, I have to shut Herman in the bathroom because he’ll hide under the bed if he sees the carrier. Once in the carrier, Herman cries the entire way to the clinic. I want him to keep getting proper vet care, but I also do not want to put him through so much trauma. Is there anything I can do to help ease this frightening experience for him?

Signed, Scaredy Cat’s Mama

Dear Mama,

Herman is exhibiting behaviors very common to cats, so it’s an excellent question. My mother and a number of friends have had the same problem with their cats. Your concern for Herman’s stress level is admirable. I believe I can offer some ways you can alleviate his anxiety.

Cats are not as comfortable being in a carrier or kennel as dogs, who are den animals by nature. You can start making Herman more comfortable with the kennel by getting it out and having it around him without putting him in it. When he eventually starts to approach it, do not go near him; let him just sniff it and get used to being around it. Then, put it away and try it again another time. Next time, put treats inside the crate and a blanket or soft bedding he is comfortable with and hopefully he will venture in on his own. Once he begins to be more comfortable around it, grab some interactive toys and play with him around the crate; make it part of the fun. Herman may begin to view this previously scary place as not so bad after all. You want to teach him to associate his crate with good things happening.

Keep in mind; this may take a few weeks, maybe even months. The longer an animal has had a learned behavior, the longer it takes to overcome it. Cats are sensitive creatures, even moving chair to a new location in the house may disorient them. It’s not unusual for a cat to exhibit irregular behavior after an event has upset them, such as not eating for a day, hiding, or excessive licking.

It may not be the vet Herman is particularly afraid of; perhaps he does not like riding in the car, or being outside of his home. In addition to rewarding Herman when he gets near his crate, reward him whenever traveling in the car, and again when you return from the vet. Rewards can be anything from a favorite snack, to being brushed, petted, or whatever he prefers. He may even begin to enjoy his vet visits if his favorite things are always part of the experience.

Another approach is to take advantage of the many products on the market that help relieve animals’ stress. Consult your veterinarian; they can offer a variety of treatment options as well as good advice on helping keep your pet healthy and calm. They may recommend anything from prescribed medication to homeopathic remedies. Do ask about any side effects and which treatments they have observed to be most helpful. I have seen great results with a pheromone spray that is misted into the kennel before travel and helps appease and relax agitated cats. One note of caution; if you take advice and recommendations from well-meaning friends on methods to calm your cat, do call your veterinarian first to make sure those methods are safe for your pet.

Traveling is not as common for cats as it is for dogs so they may need us to go the extra mile, no pun intended, to make it comfortable for them. Always use a kennel of some sort when traveling with your cat. Holding pets is never advisable since they can easily get scared and escape from your embrace. Never let them loose in the car. It is hazardous for the cat, the driver, and anyone else on the road. Cats can easily get trapped in troublesome places in the car such as under the pedals or under a seat. A cat who is not in a carrier is also difficult to transfer safely from the vehicle to the clinic. It’s best to play it safe and always use a carrier, even if Herman never learns to love it. If you are without a carrier for some reason, we offer them for rent at the Stafford Animal Shelter for a minimal fee.

May you and Herman have many less stressful, happy travels together.

Best of Luck, Tiffani

Tiffani Zimmerman is the Animal Behavior Specialist at the Stafford Animal Shelter. Email questions to her at behavioradvice@imt.net, call 406/222-1312, or read archived columns at www.staffordanimalshelter.org.