Cat in a pillowcase?

So, ever since my cat was spayed, she suffers from very serious anxiety when traveling. Anytime I put her in the carrier she fights me tooth and nail (claw?), and once I get her in she'll usually pee on herself. So I want to take her in to get microchipped just in case she ever gets outside, but I don't want to create even more anxiety associated with the pet carrier because I use it to travel with her.





I read on a pet health site (pet911.com, I think) that you can use a pillowcase as an alternative to a pet carrier if your cat suffers from vet anxiety. Since my cat loves to crawl under my blankets and burrow into laundry piles, I think it might work, but I was wondering if anyone else has personally tried this?





I don't need people just telling me that it's a stupid idea; that's an uninformed opinion. I want to hear experiences (good or bad) from people who have actually used this method.

Cat in a pillowcase?
I've used the pillowcase route many times and it works very well for a cat who freaks at the idea of a carrier. Some cats just can't handle a carrier. Basically you are blindfolding the cat as if you would a panicked horse.


Be sure to secure the top with a knot or tie so she can't get out while you are driving. See if someone can go with you to either drive or keep an eye on her in case she struggles a bit. Don't want her to panic and knock herself around. You could use a open cardboard box to set the pillowcase in to limit her rolling around.


The pillowcase won't suffocate her, use an old one that is not threadbare, but not superheavy threadcount. I have some 150 and 200 thread count cases that work fine.





To ease her fear of the carrier:


Take the carrier and put it out in your living space. Even take the door off of it. Lay a towel inside or some sort of fabric she likes to lay on. Sprinkle some catnip inside if she goes for catnip., or some treats if she's an only cat. Just leave it for her to discover and explore on her own.


Don't force her to go in, don't try to 'help' her go in, praise her from where you are sitting/standing when she gets close to it. She needs to know she won't be trapped, that nice things like treats happen when she eventually goes in on her own. Time is the only cure for it. Maybe toss a couple of her favorite small toys inside. It won't be an instant fix, but she should be less freaked after a time. You can set a few tidbits close to the opening and over time put them more and more inside the carrier. She should come around. When she accepts the carrier again, you may want to cover it before taking her outside, much like you cover a parakeet cage to keep the bird calm. Once she can be in the carrier, take her on a few short rides that end up stopping for a treat so she associates the carrier with good things instead of only vet calls.
Reply:well you can get a larger carrier and fill it with like 6-7 blankets and try the same thing.





Pillowcase might be too constrictive.








(Added - Had a thought - Have 3 cats myself.)





GIANT CARDBOARD BOX (No Sound) WITH BLANKETS !!!!





BRILLIANT!
Reply:Never have tried it. I would be hesitant. I had a basket case cat once that would get so spooked at just about anything. He would end up hurting himself a lot!! Pretty sure that wouldn't have worked for him. If she gets really freaked out, maybe you could request something from the vet to calm her before the trip. In my case, I had to for the safety of my cat. I guess you have to make the decision based on just how much she could harm herself or be treated by the vet once you got there.





(ADDED)





I wonder if you use a little reverse psychology on her if it would work. Just find calm times that she can spend in the carrier without taking it anywhere. Leave it out in a room she hangs out in. Maybe put treats or catnip or something she likes in it. Do that for awhile until she gets relaxed with it and maybe will go in it on her own.
Reply:my oldest cat hated the cat carrier..screamed while in it...so i got dog purses..for the both of them..they could stand up in them and turn around...they are also soft so they could lay etc...and the top is netting with a zipper and velcro...and when she would cry i would lay a towel over the top she was fine in the dark...for some odd reason..it worked..this is how i moved her 500 miles two months ago when we moved...it was so much easier than that freakin crate..because she would pace it
Reply:Is there a scent in the carrier that makes her remember that a trip in the carrier is linked with pain? Cats might pee in fright of going in it???
Reply:I can't speak for actually having used this method. But I have heard of it. 30 years ago, when my parents went to adopt a kitten for me, my aunt (who has always been active with a network of people who foster cats until permanent homes can be found for them) advised them to bring a pillowcase along. That way, in case there was no box available for the kitten to travel in, they would have something to keep her safely confined for the trip. I don't know how well it will do for your cat, but I do have enough faith in my aunt to say it can't be totally insane.





I leave my cat carriers out and open all the time. My cats use them as beds or to play in. That way, there is no special stress to them in seeing the carriers out. They don't resist too hard when I put them in and close the doors (the meowing does not start until they get out to the car). You might want to try leaving your carrier out all the time, too. After it has been out for a few days, try offering your kitty a treat near it. Every day, offer a treat closer and closer. Then start tossing the treats into the carrier. This will create a positive association with the carrier for your cat, and that might counteract the negative association she has now.





EDITED TO ADD: If it is the sound of the carrier, and you have $20-$50 you can spare for this, consider buying a soft-sided carrier such as this http://www.discount-pet-superstore.com/d...


I have one made by Rubbermaid, that I got at Big Lots for $20. I really like it because it has removable padding that can be easily washed, and absorbs accidents pretty well, as well as having straps you can put the seat belt through for a secure drive.