Last Updated: 27/11/2025
How to Make Vet Visits Easier with Your Cat
Taking a cat to the vet can be stressful. This guide offers 10 practical tips to minimise anxiety for your feline friend. Learn about carrier selection, using calming pheromones, and smooth car travel to ensure your cat gets the healthcare they need.
Author: Dr Chantelle McGowan BVSc
Reading Time: 9 minutes - short read
It is a familiar scenario for many pet parents: the wrestling match to get a reluctant kitty into a carrier, the mournful meowing during the car ride, and the terrified ball of fur on the examination table. While Australia is home to over 5 million pet cats, studies suggest many miss out on vital annual check-ups simply because the process is too traumatic. However, regular veterinary care is essential for detecting hidden health issues early. The good news is that with a little preparation and understanding of feline behaviour, the trip to the clinic does not have to be a cat-astrophe.
In this article
- Always use a cat carrier in the car
- Choosing the right carrier features
- Make the carrier a familiar space
- Use scent to create calm
- Placing your cat inside gently
- Cover the carrier to reduce fear
- Keep the car ride smooth and quiet
- Navigating the waiting room
- The journey home
- Reintroducing cats in multi-cat households
- FAQs
Always use a cat carrier in the car
No matter how well you think you have your kitty cat restrained on your lap or with a harness and lead, rest assured that your clever cat will always be able to wriggle out of your grip! You might also be surprised how many nooks and crannies your car actually has until you see your kitty cat escape into them. Save yourself the hassle and use a cat carrier!
Choosing the right carrier features
When selecting a carrier, look for a robust design that prioritises function. Ideally, you want a carrier with:
- Top and front openings: This gives you versatile options for getting your cat in and out.
- A removable top: This is a game-changer! It allows your vet to examine an anxious cat while they remain feeling safe in the bottom half.
- Easy-to-clean materials: Essential for scrubbing out the carrier if accidents happen during travel.
For more tips on selecting the best carrier for your cat, read through our Complete Cat Carrier Guide.
Make the carrier a familiar space
To turn the carrier from a 'scary cage' into a safe haven, try not to hide it away between visits. Instead:
- Make it part of the furniture: Leave the carrier out in a familiar spot at home so your cat sees it as an everyday object rather than a threat.
- Start topless: Place just the bottom half of the carrier in a warm, sunny spot or a common area where your cat likes to sleep. Line it with soft, cosy bedding so it feels like a new bed rather than a trap.
- Create positive associations: Make the space rewarding by tossing treats or engaging toys inside the shell. Once they seem relaxed, you can even try feeding them their dinner in there to build a happy connection.
- Raise the roof: Once your cat is happily napping in the bottom half, attach the top but keep the door wide open or removed entirely. Continue placing treats at the back to encourage them to walk in willingly. The goal is for this to be their choice, so keep it stress-free.
- Shut the door (briefly): If your cat is confident walking into the assembled carrier, practice briefly closing the door while they enjoy a treat, then opening it again immediately. Repeating this helps them learn that the door closing isn't a permanent lockdown.
- Ready for lift-off: Once they remain calm with the door shut, you are ready for the journey! Remember to use a towel to cover the carrier and offer plenty of praise.
- Pack a spare: Accidents happen! It is always a good idea to bring extra bedding for the drive home, just in case the carrier is soiled during the journey.
Use scent to create calm
Throughout the training process above, and the journey itself, familiar scents and calming pheromones can be a secret weapon for keeping your cat relaxed and comfortable.
- Add familiar scents: Place an item of your clothing inside, or gently wipe a soft cloth along your cat’s cheek to pick up their own scent before placing the cloth in the carrier.
- Utilise calming pheromones: Spray a synthetic pheromone, such as Feliway, in the carrier regularly during the training process, and at least 15 minutes before travelling to the vet, to create a calming environment.
For more tips, read through our guide to How To Make Travelling Less Stressful for Cats.
Feliway
Feliway Spray is a secret weapon for anxious travellers. It mimics the soothing facial pheromones cats use to mark their territory as safe and secure. Simply spritz 8–10 pumps into the carrier (focusing on the corners and bedding) at least 15 minutes before travel to let the alcohol carrier evaporate. For broader stress relief, the Feliway range also includes a plug-in Diffuser for the home, Feliway Friends to help ease tension in multi-cat households and Happy Snack lickable calming treats, which use a natural milk protein.
Find out more in Your Guide to Using Feliway.
Placing your cat inside gently
If your cat still says "no thanks" to walking in on their own, try these gentle techniques:
- The top drop: If your carrier has a top opening, simply pick your cat up and calmly lower them in feet-first. This is often much easier (and less stressful) than trying to push them through the front door.
- The stealth assembly: Remove the top half of the carrier entirely. Once your cat voluntarily settles in the bottom half, gently place the lid back on and secure the clips.
- The towel wrap: For the true escape artists, wrap them snugly in a thick towel (ideally one that smells of home or Feliway) to create a 'purr-ito'. You can then lower the whole bundle - cat and towel - into the carrier. This keeps them secure and protects you from stray claws.
Cover the carrier to reduce fear
Don't forget to pack a large light towel or blanket to drape over the carrier. We like to call this the 'invisibility cloak.' It acts as a visual barrier between your cat and the scary outside world.
By blocking the view of passing traffic, strange dogs, and unfamiliar people, you allow your cat to feel hidden and secure. Most cats feel significantly safer when they think they are invisible, so keep the carrier covered from the moment you leave the house until you are safely inside the private consult room.
Keep the car ride smooth and quiet
Steady does it... Once you are on the move, treat the carrier like precious cargo. To keep the journey as smooth as possible:
- Secure the spot: The safest place is usually the footwell behind the front seat. If placing it on a seat, ensure it is strapped in tightly with a seatbelt so it doesn't wobble.
- Watch the airflow: Check that the air conditioning vents aren't blasting directly into the carrier. Most cats dislike strong drafts, especially when they feel trapped and can't move away.
- Minimise the shake: When walking to the car, try to carry the box level with both hands rather than swinging it by the handle. When driving, avoid sudden braking or sharp turns.
- Set the mood: Turn off loud radio or aggressive music. Instead, speak in low, soothing tones or stream a 'cat calming' playlist. Remember, your cat takes their emotional cues from you - if you stay chill, they are more likely to relax too.
Navigating the waiting room
The reception area can be a sensory overload for a nervous kitty. Once you check in, ask the reception team if there is a designated 'cat-only' seating area or a high shelf where you can place the carrier. Cats naturally feel safer when elevated; the floor is often the domain of sniffing dogs and curious toddlers!
If you need to sit, keep the carrier securely on your lap. Crucially, rotate the carrier so the front opening faces you, rather than out towards the room. This prevents your cat from accidentally locking eyes with a staring dog (which they interpret as a threat) and allows them to focus on your reassuring presence instead. And remember - keep that 'invisibility cloak' towel draped over the carrier the entire time!
The journey home
You might be breathing a sigh of relief that the consult is over, but it is vital not to rush the return leg. Your cat is likely still processing the adrenaline of the examination, and they have excellent memories! If the drive home is loud or bumpy, they will associate the carrier with that stress next time.
Treat the journey home with the exact same care as the arrival: keep the music soft, the driving smooth, and the carrier covered. Think of this as the "cool down" phase; keeping the vibe calm now ensures your cat recovers quickly once back in their own territory.
Reintroducing cats in multi-cat households
If you have more than one feline family member, coming home requires a tactical approach. To your stay-at-home cats, the returning adventurer now smells like 'the vet' (antiseptic and strangers) rather than their friend. To avoid conflicts:
- The sniff test: Leave the returning cat inside their secure carrier on the floor for a few minutes. Watch how the other cats react.
- Green light: If there is curious sniffing and calm body language, you can open the door and let them mingle.
- Red light: If you see hissing, growling, or puffed-up tails, it is because the returning cat bears strange clinical odours that confuse your other pets.
- The reset: If there is tension, do not force it. Place the returning cat in a separate room with their own litter tray, food, and water. Keep them apart for at least 24 hours to allow them to groom themselves and regain their familiar 'home scent' before trying again.
FAQs
Reducing the anxiety associated with vet visits ensures felines receive necessary medical attention without unnecessary trauma.
By preparing the carrier in advance, utilising calming aids like Feliway, and managing the environment during travel, the experience becomes significantly more manageable.
Ultimately, a calm arrival leads to a better examination and contributes to a longer, healthier life for every beloved cat.
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History
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
Thu 27 Nov 2025
Edited by Dr Gillian Hill BVSc (Hons)Dr Chantelle McGowan BVSc
Contributing Author, BVSc
Dr Chantelle McGowan (ISFM member & cat-vocate) graduated from University of Melbourne in 2011 & is owned by two mischievous kitties, Louis & Mittens. She has a passion for promoting the well-being for all cats in clinic and at home, which lead Chantelle to a dream position of Behaviour Vet & Cat-friendly Renovation Design Consultant for a multi-national corporate veterinary group.
