How to Train Your Cat to Go to the Vet

Out in the pet world, it seems getting your cat to the vet is presented as being difficult , & yet, I believe can be easily accomplished. I say don't just devise a strategy for the headache--just eliminate it alltogether! The best advice I can give on this subject is to get your cat used to his carrier & travel early on in his life, thereby eliminating the trial & error of the pre-vet-visit chase & showdown!

This should begin at a young age, of course, as does most training. The way it happened with my cat (who is an indoor male), is that the carrier was in the house, where he could see & get used to it. And as he did, I slowly began to collar/harness & leash train him. Then I would pull him gently, or perhaps with a small treat, into it, & let him get used to the feel of the thing.
He did slowly but surely, & soon wouldn't mind the carrier being picked up with him inside it.

If you get your cat used to being in the carrier, I would suggest walking with it, adding distance, & variables (i.e, stairs, doors opening & closing), getting the animal accustomed to being in the carrier whilest it is in motion.

If during this training, at any time, you cat becomes overly agitated--snarling, standing & turning, panting heavily--generally "freaking out", stop, open the door, & let him free. It is NEVER a good idea to continue stressing an animal out. This can cause serious health problems, & will make your continued training impossible.

Next, your pet needs to become used to travel & all that comes with it--sound of the car, car motion, etc. This may not prove an easy task, especially if your cat is older, & has been indoors most of his life. But if it is a kitten, again, it can be done--merely be patient with him, & don't stress him out.
Sometimes, depending on distance, there may be times when the cat gets car-sickness. You can ask your vet about giving him something to calm this problem, & his stomach--they usually have several good suggestions.

Berzerker, who is my pet, is very used to his carrier, & car travel. He still gets spooked a bit sometimes, when the car first starts. If your cat does this as well, my suggestion is to put the cat in the car before you start it! This lessens the noise, & he'll feel more secure.

I made the mistake once, early on in his travel-training, of placing him in his carrier, next to the door, then starting the car! It took a long time to calm him down. So just be careful.

The main thing is, when dealing with any animal, is that you want to make it as easy a transition as possible into something new, so that he doesn't stress or injure himself, or become afraid & unable to be trained. But also, make sure to keep him interested, & well-praised during all this training!

Perhaps this has veered off topic, but my cat has no problems traveling, or getting into his carrier, & so there-for has no problems getting to the vet's office