How can I get my cat into the airline box without a brutal struggle?
I understand the reason, so I abandoned those small and incompatible online celebrity cat bags.
Compared with the more uncomfortable, unventilated, accident-prone cat bag, I turned to a large enough, strong, comfortable airline case or cat bag as a carrier, ready to take the cat out.
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However, after several times, I found that it was becoming increasingly difficult to “invite” it in smoothly.
Every time I stuffed the cat in, I had to go through a “brutal” struggle, and sometimes I could even toss the airline box apart, right?
Even later, every time I took out the airline box or cat bag, the cat ran away before I started to put it in.
Swear! Die! No! Go in! And even if they are put in, cats are always panicked and can meow all the way. A restless journey.
They always struggle to get out with their little claws.
So is there any way to make cats not so afraid and hate the first step of going out – entering the carrier?
Why do cats hate airline boxes?
In fact, cats are not afraid of cat bags or airline boxes. They are mainly afraid of the place you are going to put them in and take them to – usually the pet hospital or pet store.Knowing that they will come here every time. Once cats associate “entering the pet box with going to receive a critical hit”, it is difficult to overcome the fear.
If you have heard of Pavlov and his dog’s classic conditioning experiment, you can understand this better. Here is a simple summary:
“Dr. Pavlov fed the dog a juicy steak, and the dog instinctively secreted saliva. Then, he rang a bell and gave the dog the same food, and the dog drooled again. After several repetitions, he just rang the bell and the dog drooled, even if there was no steak to eat. That’s because the dog has formed a conditioned reflex that the bell rings equals meat to eat.”
Similarly, if the cat is frightened just by seeing the airline box, it is because it knows from past experience that what it will encounter after entering is not pleasant.
If this situation continues, not only will you have to toss a lot before going out every time, making both of you exhausted and embarrassed. It will also aggravate the cat’s panic and anxiety, and even cause a greater stress response.
So what should we do?
Let the cat know: entering the pet box is not a bad thing
What you need to do is to re-establish the connection between the cat and the airline box, so that it knows that entering and staying inside does not mean going to a “terrible place” – even if that is actually your ultimate goal (no way).
The first step is to turn the airline box into a “cat bed”:
What you need to do is to re-establish the connection between the cat and the airline box, so that it knows that entering and staying inside does not mean going to a “terrible place” – even if that is actually your ultimate goal (no way).
The first step is to turn the airline box into a “cat bed”
First, you should open or remove the door of the airline box and pad it with a soft mat. It can be old clothes stained with your smell, or it can be a soft cat bed that the cat is used to sleeping in.
Then put small toys such as mice in it or hang them at the door.
Simply arrange it into a small nest.
Finally, you can even cover the airline box with a piece of soft cloth – in short, make it look like a comfortable and safe ordinary cat bed instead of a means of transportation.
The second step: put it in the cat’s living area:
Then put this disguised “cat bed” in its usual living area. For example, near your bed or sofa, or near a window sill and cat climbing frame filled with sunshine, so that the cat has the opportunity to become interested in it.
In front of the window is a good place.
Step 3: Use snacks to form a reward mechanism:
At the beginning, you can put some snacks around this disguised “cat bed” to entice the cat to eat, and then place the food closer and closer to the airline box.
The place where the food is placed is getting closer and closer to the airline box. Image from: pet-happy
When the cat is finally willing to go in and eat the food, or even stay in it for a while, you should give it an extra reward, such as another piece of dried fish, or a cat teaser game with it at the door of the airline box.
Don’t force the cat if it is unwilling at first, take it slowly. Image from: pinterest
Over time, the cat may get used to this “cat bed”, not only using it as a game and eating area, but even when it feels dangerous, such as when a stranger comes to the house, it will immediately go in and become its “safe castle”.
It’s good to stay in there, I won’t go out!
Step 4: Install the door again, and try to close it occasionally:
At this time, you can install the door of the airline box. If the cat goes in, you can try to lock the door. Just a few seconds at first, and then gradually extend the time to a few minutes.
It may also become a cat toy.
As long as the cat can stay inside obediently, give it some small rewards after opening the door, so that it knows that the “click” sound of locking the door is not scary.
Step 5: Try to take it for a walk:
Finally, you can start carrying the airline box and take it for a walk, but nine times out of ten, please don’t take it to the hospital or take a ride.
You can just carry it in the corridor for a walk, or go downstairs for a walk, and then go home immediately, open the cage and feed it reward food.
If your cat is not too timid, you can also take the cat to the home of other friends that it likes, let it get a loving hug and a delicious meal before taking it home.
As long as not every ride is scary, the cat will not be so resistant.
What are the benefits of letting cats use airline boxes as “cat beds”?:
When you find that cats will immediately get into this airline box or cat bed disguised as a cat bag to seek peace of mind when they encounter danger and panic, please be happy. Because once an accident happens at home, such as fire and earthquake (of course, I hope that will never happen), you don’t need to search for the cat in boxes and cabinets, just lock the door of the airline box and immediately take the cat away and run away.
Q: Okay, I have learned to train step by step. But before I know when I can succeed, how can I put it into the airline box smoothly without being scratched into potato shreds every time I take it out?
A: This is completely a matter of technique.
As long as the method is correct, you don’t have to struggle to put it into the airline box…
How to put the cat into the airline box smoothly?
Correct placement
First, place the airline box upright, and then open the door.
Pay attention to the technique of holding a cat
Hold up the cat, control its front legs with one hand, and lock its hind legs with the other hand. This can prevent the cat from escaping, and it is applicable in many cases.
It is only applicable for a short time. Picture from: pet-happy
Pay attention to the posture of placing the cat
Then, put the cat into the airline box with its feet facing down. If space allows, hold its hind legs as deep as possible before letting go.
The action is gentle but done in one go. Picture from: pet-happy
Pay attention to the timing of closing the door
Finally, after its head goes in, slowly start to close the door with the other hand. Make sure the cat is completely in, and before it has time to come to its senses and run out, close the door.
The timing of closing the door is very important. Picture from: pet-happy
Slowly put the airline box in the right position, and you can take the cat out and experience a trip that is not very good, but actually for its good.
Come on! You can do it!
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