In some cases, acclimating your cat to a cat carrier may seem impossible at first as cats relate carriers to unpleasant experiences such as going to the vet.
It may take some time but it is possible to help your cat to associate it with something positive. Do not forcefully put your cat inside it at any time during the process!
Desensitization is a method to greatly reduce or extinguish a negative response (fear, panic, etc.) to a particular stimulus.
Desensitization is a psychological process by which a response is repeatedly elicited in situations where the action tendency that arises out of the emotion proves to be irrelevant.
Step 1:
Leave the carrier “out in the open” to allow your cat to explore it on their own terms.
Step 2:
Place treats/comfortable fabric/cloth with your scent inside it to make it more attractive to your cat
Step 3:
Place the carrier near your cat’s common sleeping area / an area where your cat passes by regularly, eventually they will be curious enough to explore it.
Step 4:
Once you have noticed that your cat seems more comfortable with the carrier, you may place their food inside it near the back, making sure to not close the door.
Step 5:
Once step 4 is successful, for a few times, you may start periodically confining your cat inside the carrier (not while they’re eating their meal). Start with a few minutes, then slowly increase the duration to a maximum of 15 minutes. Be sure to stay in the area while your cat is confined to it (do not isolate your cat while they are in it).
