Transporting your cat in a carrier

Getting your cat into his carrier may not seem difficult to you if you've never had a little mad-cat like my Fritz.

About 3 weeks ago, we had a vet appointment for him. I hadn't put him in a carrier since I got him neutered at 6 months old, so I wasn't prepared for the amount of resistance that would ensue. He put up such a fight, kicking and scratching, that I had to abort the mission, and substitute my other cat Gidget, since she was due to go next month anyway. A second appointment also came and went without getting him in the carrier, even though my husband got involved with treats. Both times, he sprand up and away and ran to hide who knows where in the basement. I talked it over with my vet, and we decided to give him a mild tranquilizer for the third try. It worked, barely, but he's such a strong-willed little stinker, he fought the drug. As soon as I came toward him towel in hand, he started bouncing around the room about 8 times before he collapsed and I was able to get him into the carrier.

I've always had female cats who were fairly easy to handle, so I didn't know how to handle this wild little boy. Even though the many suggestions the vet's assistants gave me didn't work for Fritz, I thought I'd share them, as they may be helpful to other owners with less rambunctious cats than mine. So here they are:

*use treats to lure him into the carrier
*tip the carrier on end, and drop the cat into the carrier
*put him in a pillowcase first, then gently push him into the carrier
*put him in a pillowcase and bring him in that way
*wrap him in a towel, then ease him into the carrier
*confine him in a small room, so he can't escape, then get him into the carrier
*when all else fails, drug him