It’s so important to do cat carrier training. Getting your cat into a carrier shouldn’t feel like a climbing up a steep hill. Yet for many people, vet visits are stressful for everyone involved—cat included. The carrier comes out, the cat disappears, and trust takes a hit.
When your cat links cat carriers and car rides with fear, routine care becomes harder over time. Skipped appointments, rushed handling, and heightened anxiety can follow. The problem isn’t the vet. It’s that the training often starts too late.
Sunday and I worked on the CatSchool Backpack/Carrier BINGO – Vet Edition challenge. We are focusing on skills that make vet visits predictable. Our goal is to make them calm and cooperative. As of now, we are almost finished with her first level BINGO card.
We practiced
- Going in and out of the carrier with food and targets
- Closing the door briefly without latching
- Lifting and carrying the carrier
- Using towels, training mats, and sound desensitization
- Practicing at real “vet-time” hours so nothing feels suspicious
Each square builds confidence. Together, they change the story.
I documented this process step by step in our YouTube playlist. You can see exactly what this looks like in real life. You just need consistent, kind training, and you’ve got this!
Watch Sunday’s cat backpack training here.
Progress comes from tiny, repeatable wins. You might have thought, “My cat would never tolerate that.” Sunday isn’t special because she’s fearless. She’s confident because she’s been taught what to expect.
If I can train my cat, you can train yours too.
Learn about Sunday’s training journey here.
Leave a Reply