5 Tips to Keep Your Cat Calm at the Vet

It’s time to take your cat to the vet. Although you know it’s for their own good, the thought leaves you with a nervous twinge in the pit in your stomach. You can already hear them trying to claw their way out of the carrier and vocalizing more than usual, or they may engage in excessive grooming.

Seeing your cat so anxious is bound to make you dread making the trip, even though you know it is beneficial to their health and well-being.

Cats being afraid of going to the vet is more common than you might think. Thankfully, there are steps you can take to keep your cat calm and make the vet visit less stressful.

1. Start by Identifying Anxious Behavior

Before learning how to reduce your cat’s anxiety, it’s important to identify when your cat feels anxious. Each cat has their own specific tells, so you’ll need to monitor them to understand their cues. These are only some behaviors and signs your cat may display when they are feeling anxious:

• Avoiding eye contact
• Eating more or less than usual
• Trembling
• Vocalizing more than usual
• Excessive grooming 
• Crouching and leaning away
• Staring
• Hair standing on end
• Aggressive behavior
• Holding their tail close to their body
• Hiding
• Pacing
• Freezing in place or trying to escape

Your cat may display a combination of these behaviors alongside physical indicators such as dilated pupils, salivation, increased breathing, and holding their ears back or to the side. Pay close attention to your cat’s behavior before and during the vet visit. 

Once they begin displaying any of these behaviors and signs, you’ll know they’re feeling anxious. Now that you’ve identified your cat’s cues, here are some steps you can take to make them feel better.

2. Turn Their Carrier Into a Safe Space

There’s a good chance that the only time your cat sees their carrier is when they’re going to the vet. Since they’re associating it with a stressful event, your cat may start displaying anxious behavior before they even leave the house. 

Adjusting your cat to their carrier before a vet visit gives them a familiar and safe space to retreat to in unfamiliar environments. To do this, leave their carrier out in your home as much as possible. Make the inside comfortable and inviting by adding a favorite blanket or pillow, toys, and even treats to help them associate the carrier with things they like. 

If their scent is already on some of the items, it can help coax them inside. Give your cat as many opportunities as possible to explore their carrier in everyday situations to help them see it as another part of their home.

3. Create a Calm Environment for Your Cat — and Yourself 

No pet owner wants to see their cat uncomfortable. Knowing they’re stressed because you’re trying to help them can leave you feeling stressed and anxious, too. Your cat will notice your anxiety and start to feel even more anxious as a result.

The morning of the appointment, turn on some calming music, ambient sounds, or even white noise to help you relax. Make sure to pack spare bedding for the carrier in case your cat has an accident on the way to or during their vet visit. You want to ensure that your cat has a safe, clean space to retreat to should they need it. 

If your cat begins vocalizing excessively or pawing at their carrier, speak in a soft, soothing voice to help them calm down.

If your cat continues to behave anxiously, it might help to add a spritz or two of a calming spray designed for pets to their carrier the night before.

4. Keep Your Cat in Their Carrier at the Vet

At the vet’s office, your cat will be introduced to unfamiliar scents from various animals and their owners. This can worsen their anxiety and cause them to act out. Keeping them in their carrier surrounds them with familiar scents, provides a safe space for them to hide, and keeps curious animals from invading their space.

5. If All Else Fails, Ask Your Veterinarian for Help

Your veterinarian is an invaluable resource for you and your cat. They are equally as devoted to the health and well-being of your cat as you are. Speak with them about other ways to reduce your cat’s anxiety.

They may recommend calming supplements, essential oils, pheromone sprays, mild sedatives, or even anti-anxiety medication. And they can answer any questions you may have about each option, to help you make an informed decision. 

If your cat has anxiety, taking them to the vet doesn’t have to be stressful. There are ways to help them relax before and during their visit. Your efforts before and throughout the visit, combined with the veterinarian’s knowledge and compassion, can make these trips more enjoyable for everyone involved.

Interested in becoming a vet who can help other pet owners make informed decisions about their cat’s health and well-being? Apply to Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine’s Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program today!

This post was reviewed by Dr. Kerry Rolph, BVM&S CERTVC PHD FANZCVS DIPECVIM-CA FRCVS.