19.03.09 - 17:42 -
Surprise your cat to get it to obey you.
Have you noticed that whenever you need it most your pet will refuse to co-operate? It is raining slightly and your dog needs to go for his last walk of the day. One look at the weather and he puts on the brakes. It will take you quite a bit of convincing that he is to go, rain or no rain.
Your cat has to go to the vet. For years I have been trying to find a way to get a cat in a carrier, a cat which is determined it will not do it.
In theory it is easy: take the cat by the scruff of his neck (gently! You don’t want to hurt him), fold your left hand around his hind legs so that he curls up and calmly (I’ve always liked those reassuring instructions) place him inside.
Let me know if it works for you.
The only way I can do it is by surprise. Have the cat carrier brought in by someone else, without the cat seeing it, lift it halfway in the air at an angle of 90 degrees. Grab the cat and head first shove him in. If it doesn’t work first time don’t try again. You will not be able to find him anyway and if you do it will be in a place you can’t get hold of him.
I once was supposed to collect a cat to look after during my friend’s holiday. I found her halfway under a double bed, without shoes and purple in her face with the effort to reach her cat which was sitting in the far corner.
I could have sworn he was grinning at her! In the end we decided to leave him at home and I would feed him there, as it was only for a couple of days. If you don’t succeed have some dry runs. Take your cat as above advised and take him to his food or place him in his basket.
When you have done this a couple of times both you and your cat will a have established a routine and it should be easier to get him in his carrier.
But then again…he may still surprise you by flying into the curtains!
