How To Get An Aggressive Cat Into A Carrier? A Complete Step By Step Guide

If you fail to get your cat into a carrier, this article will help you figure it out. Some cats are aggressive initially, and many experienced cat owners fail to get their aggressive cat into a carrier. This article is a step-by-step guide from my personal experience, and it helped a lot of people & I am sure it will help you as well.


Cat owners struggle a lot while putting an angry cat into a carrier. Next to impossible, it is impossible to put an angry cat into the carrier without having a tiring fight and several cuts on the forearm.

Imagine having your meal and relaxing on a couch, and suddenly someone is putting you in a dark cage. The cat must feel threatened when one is forcing it into a cat carrier, and we can not blame the cats if they become hostile in this scenario.

Veterinary clinics have reported that there are fewer visits to cats than dogs. The reluctance of cats to go into a cat carrier is probably one of the most annoying aspects of owning a cat.

We will discuss all one needs to know to mitigate this problem and make the process as swift as possible.

We will cover the things one needs to check before trying a cat carrier, the methods of putting the cat into the carrier, and answer a few questions.

Things you need to check before trying a carrier:

The whole procedure of getting the cat into a carrier can be tedious if one does not make sure that the cat is comfortable with the carrier.

There are quite a few things that one needs to check before putting the cat into the carrier. Failing to do so can result in quite a few cuts and a long and arduous fight with the cat. One needs to check the following things:

How aggressive is your cat?

Aggression is a natural trait in most house cats. It is one of the prime reasons why many cat owners return their cats to animal shelters.

It is extremely arduous to get rid of aggression as we cannot assign a particular reason to it. Some can easily understand the aggressive behavior of the cat by looking at the physical traits.

Dilated pupils, ears flattened backward, and tails held erect with hairs raised are signs of aggression in cats.

If one sees these visual cues, it should be evident that the cat is angry at the human, and one should not approach it.

Having a cat that becomes aggressive quickly can make the task of getting it into a cat carrier is next to impossible.

If the cat is not aggressive towards one or the cat carrier, one can put that into the cat carrier with a few treats. So, one should always check for the cat’s hostile behavior before getting into the cat carrier.

How comfortable is your carrier?

The size and airy nature of cat carriers have a significant role in this case. A cat will always be receptive to a comfortable cat carrier.

Often cat carriers are small, dark, and smelly. We can’t ignore the fact that cat owners keep the cat carriers in the storage rooms for a prolonged time as they are not required often.

Cat carriers develop a very damp and dusty smell because of this. Always purchase a cat carrier that is almost one and a half times larger than the cats’ size and has a sufficient number of holes through which the cat can peek.

Cats can comfortably move in that space and see where they are going. One should always keep in mind that making the cat comfortable will reduce how they will fight back.

You should also consider buying a top entry cat carrier. In that case, one can put the cat into the cat carrier without much pushback. Pushing the cat into a side-open cat carrier can make them angry quickly.

Also read: Things you can use instead of a cat carrier

Is it familiar with a cat carrier?

Cats are a creature of habit. If the cat is comfortable doing something, it will not create a problem if it forces them to do it.

Likewise, making the cat comfortable with the cat carrier can be the easiest way of getting the cat into the carrier without any bruises on your body.

One can keep the cat carrier in an airy place where the cat goes frequently. The cat can go to the cat carrier and explore it at its own pace.

It can even choose to sleep or spend time inside it if it is comfortable enough. Making the cat familiar with the carrier can reduce the struggle one faces while getting the cat into the cat carrier.

Also Read: Our top recommended cat travel carrier with litter box

Is it a nervous cat?

This problem can get worse if the cat gets nervous. If one pushes the cat into a dark and enclosed space, it makes the cat nervous.

Some visual cues are enough to understand the mental state of the cat. If the cat is nervous, cat owners should give it some space and wait to calm down.

One can even identify the causes of a cat’s nervousness to avoid putting them in the same situation again.

Using pheromone spray can reduce anxiety in cats. Setting the cat into the carrier backward can also help in keeping the cat from being nervous.

Also read: Best carrier for a Maine coon cat

How to Get An Aggressive Cat Into a Carrier?

First, one needs to make sure that the cat is comfortable with the carrier. If one makes the cat comfortable with the cat carrier, the struggle will be less.

However, cat owners often find it challenging to get the time one needs to make the cat comfortable. In that case, one can use the following methods to get the cat into the cat carrier.

1. Towel or Blanket Method:

The towel or blanket method is one of the best methods for capturing the cat. The cat owner has to wrap the cat into a blanket like a burrito and put it inside the carrier.

This method is popularly called the burrito method for the same reason. One needs to put the cat on the blanket and wrap it such that one keeps the legs of the cat inside.

In this way, the cat cannot react even if they are angry or nervous. But one should always make sure that the cat is comfortable after wrapping.

2. Treat Method:

This simple method can work like a charm if one does it correctly. Cats never say no to eating a few extra kibbles when someone offers it.

One needs to feed the cat with some treats and keep a few treats inside the cat carrier. Even the angriest of cats will go inside the cat carrier to retrieve the kibble. Do close the door of the cat carrier after the cat goes into it.

3. Pillowcase Method:

In this method, one needs to catch the cat when it is not prepared and put a pillowcase on its head. Tie the pillowcase around its neck without making it uncomfortable and put the cat into the carrier.

This method calms the cat down as they cannot see what is happening to them. However, some cat owners have deemed this method to be cruel.

4. Using a Laser Pointer:

This simple but effective method involves luring the cat into the cat carrier using a laser pointer. Almost all cats like to chase laser spots if one attracts their attention using it.

One needs to show the laser in front of the cat to attract its attention. First, play with the cat using the laser pointer to make it comfortable.

When the cat is playing around, point the laser into the cat carrier, the cat will follow it. Once the cat is inside, close the door of the cat carrier.

5. Using cat toys:

Cats love to play with their toys. It is a good idea to lure the cat using a cat toy. In this method, one needs to throw the cat toy inside the cat carrier from a safe distance. Close the door when the cat goes into the cat carrier.

Are you forcing the cat too much?

One needs to understand this question very thoroughly to make the process easy next time.

If one pushes the cat into the cat carrier without consent and forces it to stay there for a long time, the cat can develop significant mental issues.

Cats like to be free, forcing them into an enclosed cat carrier that can cause anxiety issues and other behavioral problems.

Cats can even develop extreme disgust for the cat owner if one does it frequently. So, make the cat comfortable with the cat carrier first before trying to get them into it.

Conclusion

Cooperating with an angry cat can be a struggle for most cat owners. It can result in behavioral problems in cats.

However, making the cat comfortable with the cat carrier and using the methods stated above can reduce the workload.

It is the cat owners’ job to make the cats feel loved, and it will be beneficial for both the cat and the cat owner.