Our Guide to Reducing Cat Stress at the Vets
Published date: 04 April 2025
It’s the dreaded vet appointment day.
You creep about the house trying to act casual, so you don’t arouse suspicion from your cat. You carefully take their carrier from its hiding place and encourage your cat to come to you using a cheerful, non-threatening voice. Your cat strolls into the room, spots the carrier and legs it...
What follows is a cartoon-like chase that leaves you both stressed. You eventually get to the veterinary clinic, where your furry friend becomes even more anxious.
If the above sounds hauntingly familiar, then this article is for you. These are the best tips for reducing stress before and during vet visits.
Choose a Sturdy Carrier
Cats need a sturdy carrier to ensure they can’t escape and feel safe.
A cheap, flimsy carrier will make the trip harder and likely not help your cat’s confidence.
Desensitise Your Cat to the Carrier
If the sight of the carrier causes your cat to flee in the opposite direction, then some work needs to be done.
Your feline friend associates the carrier with scary vet visits, as the only time they see it is when they are due for their 6-month appointment. Instead of packing the carrier away after each trip, keep it out with the door propped open.
At first, your cat will be extremely suspicious and likely give it a wide berth for a while. After a while, it will become like any other normal household item.
By placing a cosy blanket or bed inside, you can slowly start to encourage your cat to see the carrier as a safe sleeping space. To speed the process along, try popping in their dinner or a few tasty natural cat treats.
By taking away the instinctual fear of the carrier, you are making the vet visit process just that little bit easier.
Cover the Carrier
The phrase scaredy cat certainly exists for a reason, and the outside world can be a terrifying place to our feline friends. Cats often feel unsafe and overexposed in their carriers during trips to the vet.
By covering their carrier in a thin blanket, you can help relieve some of their anxiety. Pheromone calming sprays like Cat Comfort can also help take the edge off and create a space that feels safer.
Confused about calming treatments? Watch our Calming Guide.
Talk to Your Vet Before the Appointment
Being in an unfamiliar environment and being examined by a stranger is understandably very worrying for a lot of cats.
If you let your vet know beforehand that your cat is very nervous, they can help make the experience a lot less stressful. It could be that they schedule a bit more time for the appointment to allow your cat to settle before they examine them.
They may allow your cat to come out of the carrier on their own or examine them by taking off the top half to make it less invasive for your kitty.
Some vets are part of the Cat-Friendly Clinic scheme. This means they have days where they schedule just cat appointments, or they have a separate waiting room for cat owners. So, ask ahead of time if they have adopted this scheme.
Even if they don’t, every vet clinic will happily make the environment as calm and stress-free as possible.
I hope this advice makes your next vet visit just a little bit easier.
If you need more cat content, check out our other feline-themed blogs.
