CAUTIONARY TIPS & TRICKS FOR FIESTY/INVENTIVE  KITTIES WHO ATTEMPT TO OUTSMART THEIR HUMANS!

• Low-Stress Ways to Get Your Very Feisty Cat into the carrier: The most common reason clients  reschedule appointments is trouble rounding up Kitty.  Here are some tips to avoid having to reschedule or being tardy (which throws off our timetable/agenda).

• Don't let your cat out the night before/morning of your scheduled appointment.  Yes, this sounds like a no brainer, however, we've had plenty of clients who want to give Kitty a last taste of the great outdoors before boarding.  Cats, however, don't care about your travel schedule & will mosey back when they're good & ready.  Tell family members to be extra careful entering/exiting the home if your cat is the type to dart outside.

• Kitty has hidden! Cats find great hiding spots.  I had one that sliced through a box spring & crawled up inside.  You'll want to calmly start closing off all doors (including cat doors to the basement if that's where your litter box is).  Start this a few hours prior to your appointment.  If you've had trouble in the past, be sure you give yourself enough time.  The more stressed you get the more your cat will freak out (pheromones!).  

• Don't feed AM meal/pick up food:  If you've had trouble in the past, keep Kitty hungry.  If he hears the treat bag or a can lid pop, he'll be more inclined to come out of hiding.

• Acclimate Your Cat to a Carrier: If you're in the habit of storing your cat carrier out of sight until it's needed, Kitty is likely to be tipped off that something is afoot the moment you bring it out of storage. She's likely to become anxious at the mere sight of the carrier if she associates it with the vet. Instead, try this: Two weeks prior to the trip, wash and dry the carrier, making sure it doesn't have any musty or chemical smells that your cat might associate with the vet.  Place the carrier in plain sight keeping the door open. Place a blanket, towel, or bed —  one that bears your cat's scent — inside the carrier to make it more inviting. Place favorite toys or treats inside the carrier. These steps build a positive association with the carrier that should help make it easier when needed.  If the carrier is already part of the scenery, your furry friend's anxiety won't be triggered by a sudden appearance on the day of her appointment.



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