yo so i did the whole scent swapping thing for a week with milo (2yo tabby, healthy otherwise) and now he just hisses every time i open the carrier. no scratching, just pure hiss. i need a quick fix because the vet appt is thursday and i cant spend hours doing more training. anyone got a hack for this?
oh no, hissing is tricky. since milo is healthy, maybe it's just the smell of the carrier itself. i had this with my ragdoll luna (7yo, shy) and it helped to just leave the carrier open with a towel inside for a few days. check out my thread on shy cat carrier stress for more on that. also, have you tried any pheromones? i used some sprays on my tuxedo jasper (5yo, hyper) and it seemed to calm him down a bit, see pheromone diffusers review if you want to try that route.
Hi Sam, I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. Hissing can be a sign that the cat associates the carrier with something negative. Have you tried any positive reinforcement? My mixed breed Sam (6yo) used to hate his carrier until we started putting treats in there daily. You can check out some tips in positive carrier training tips. It takes a little time, but it works for us. Also, make sure the carrier isn't too big or too small for Milo.
@jkelly the pheromones sound easy but i dont know if theyll work for a hiss. @terri_w66 i dont have time for daily treats, its too close to thursday. is there anything stronger? like a med or something? i saw something about vet prescribed anxiety meds but i dont want to give him anything weird without asking the vet first. any quick non-med options?
Hello Sam. I understand the frustration. Since Milo is hissing rather than scratching, it might be a sensory issue. I have a blind cat, Mimi (10yo black), and a deaf cat, Cleo (10yo calico), so I know how sensitive they can be to changes. When I introduce new items to Mimi, I use a consistent routine and soft verbal cues. You might want to look at guiding blind cats through change for ideas on how to make the environment more predictable, even if Milo can see. Consistency is key. Also, have you considered if the carrier is placed in a high traffic area? Moving it to a quiet room might help.
@kathy_simmons good point about the location. i moved jasper's carrier to the closet and it helped a lot. but i still think the pheromones are the quickest fix for sam. if that doesnt work, maybe try covering the front with a blanket so he cant see out? that worked for luna when she was really scared. check out hyperactive cat confinement stress for tips on covering carriers.
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