DAY 1
Let it live in the room
Place the open carrier in a familiar, low-traffic space. Do not place the cat inside.
A HOME-FIRST CARRIER ROUTINE
Make the carrier familiar before you go.
Seven invitations—not seven deadlines. Repeat a comfortable day, split one step into smaller parts, or stop when your cat needs more distance.
From the cat’s side
Let me understand this place before asking me to move through it.
DAY 2
Add familiar scent
Use a familiar blanket or safe scent item. Leave entrances open and the route away clear.
DAY 3
Reward approach
Mark and reward voluntary looking, sniffing, touching, or entering. End before attention fades.
DAY 4
Build comfortable entry
Place rewards near, then just inside, without reaching for the door.
DAY 5
Practise a brief closure
Only after relaxed voluntary entry, close for a moment, reopen, and reward. Return to an easier step if needed.
DAY 6
Add gentle movement
Lift minimally, set down smoothly, and reopen. Keep the session short and predictable.
DAY 7
Try one small transition
Move to a hallway, doorway, or parked car. Observation may be the whole step.
A POSSIBLE SIGN TO PAUSE
Watch the whole cat.
Look for changes in posture, ears, tail, pupils, breathing, vocalization, freezing, escape attempts, recovery time, and willingness to take food. One signal alone does not tell the entire story.
“Let me choose the next step.”
FROM THE CAT’S SIDE