Reducing Feline Stress

Before we can reduce the stress that cats typically endure when visiting the vet, we must first understand the causes for this stress. Consider a typical vet visit from your perspective, then consider the same visit from a cat's perspective. All is not lost, however, there are steps you can take to help make future experiences enjoyable or, at the very least, tolerable.
Your Kitty is due for a checkup. You know how important annual exams are for animals since they age so much more quickly than people, so you call and make an appointment at the vet for an that afternoon. Half an hour before the appointment, you retrieve the cat carrier from the basement. Of course, somehow your cat has become suspicious and is now hiding under the couch. You call sweetly to Kitty. She looks the other way, completely ignoring you. Next, you try to lure her out with treats, to no avail. Finally you move the couch, scoop her up, and try to gently stuff a reluctant cat into the carrier. If lucky, your arms and hands are free of bites or scratches. Take a deep breath, and out the door you go. Kitty yowls all the way to the vet. You feel awful hearing her misery. You arrive, check in at the front desk, and sit down in the lobby to wait your turn. Kitty is still yowling intermittently.  After a few minutes you are led to the exam room. The assistant weighs Kitty, takes her ear temperature and informs you the doctor will be in shortly. You wait a few minutes for the doctor while Kitty sits under your chair and refuses to come out. Soon a cheerful doctor in a crisp, white lab coat greets you and Kitty. You pick up your feline friend and place her on the exam table while talking to the doctor about how Kitty has been doing for the past year. The doctor takes out her stethoscope and listens to Kitty's heart and lungs. Next, she gently squeezes her belly. During the exam, you chat casually with the doctor. Finally, the doctor recommends performing an annual blood panel to make sure Kitty's internal organs are functioning properly. You agree because, after all, Kitty is part of the family and you want to see live a long, healthy life. The doctor picks up Kitty and takes her to the treatment area to have a technician draw her blood. After a few minutes, the doctor returns with Kitty: "You're all set!" She will call you with lab results later in the week. You and Kitty sit in the lobby chatting with another client about how cute their new puppy is until the receptionist alerts you it is time to check out. You return to the car and head home. Once again, Kitty yowls all the way. Thankful to be home, you open the carrier door to release Kitty and you return the carrier to the basement. Kitty is already stretched in her basket cleaning herself. She's obviously happy to be home too.
From a cat’s eyes:
“I am lying in my basket, soaking up the warm afternoon sun just like I do every day, when my person starts acting strangely. She takes a big deep breath and runs downstairs. I crane my head to listen. All of a sudden, I hear her touch the handle of that awful box! I’m outta here! I just barely make it under the couch in time. She is determined to get me to come out. But, I won’t come out for treats, for love or for anything in this world because I know what that box means. It doesn’t mean love and treats. She finally moves the couch to expose my safe spot. She scoops me up and shoves me in. Now I’m in the box and she carries me to the car that makes me want to throw up.  She is going to take me to that place that reeks of scared, sick, and strange animals. I protest, but my cries fall on deaf ears. Once we get there, she takes me inside. Yup. I’m barraged by scents of fear mixed with little bits of pain, over-excitement combined with hints of happy. I wait for an eternity in this horrible box, having soiled myself because the ride over here was excruciating. I cry to no avail. Once we get into a little room, my person opens the door of the box. Thank you!! But wait…what is this stranger trying to do to me? I do not approve and you did not ask! This person picks me up, puts me on top of a weird thing and sticks something in my ear. Once she leaves, I am free to hide out under my person’s chair to catch my breath. Next a lady comes in. She also smells like all sorts of animals. I am NOT coming out. She’s wearing that coat. That means she is about to poke and prod me. My person grabs me and sets me up on a table While I enjoy being high up, I do not enjoy being handled against my wishes. They tell me “I’m ok”, but I don’t believe it. (You people are so intrusive!) The white-coated lady speaks to my person like nothing is happening. I close my eyes and tense up till the touching is over while I listen to them talk. Hold on, the tones of their voices are changing. Wait. Where are you taking me?! Oh no!!!! The white-coat person takes me to a loud, smelly place where there is nowhere to hide. She sets me down on another table and speaks to the girl that stuck that thing in my ear. Now 5 people stand over me, gushing about how cute I am. This is all well and good and you are nice people, I’m glad you think I’m cute… but, please, leave me alone! Take me back to my person. Someone holds my head, while another person pokes me with a needle. They make me stay still. They try to give me treat. What kind of cat do you think I am?! Thankfully, they finally take me back to my person who puts me back in the box (at least it’s clean now)! We leave that little room, but we aren’t home yet. We sit in another loud room where I can hear and see dogs… ugh! Then, oh no! We get back into the thing that moves and makes me want to throw up. I give my person a piece of my mind. I cry desperately to get her to take me home. Finally we stop. She gets me out and I can already smell home!! When she opens the door I jump out and run straight for my basket. Now... let me get this horrid stench off of my fur….
It is so very easy for us humans to get caught up in seeing life from our own perspectives ("I have to pay the electric bill today, then make sure the trash goes out on the curb tonight, can't forget to call mom, etc"), we forget that life is all together different from the eyes of a cat. We know that we take our pets to the vet because we love and care for them. We very easily have the capability to look at life from the perspective of cat, but we cannot say the same for the cat. If we take the steps necessary to show our pets and help them understand they are safe, the process of going to the vet and traveling in general will be much simpler and more enjoyable for everyone.
So.. What's all Kitty's fuss about and what steps can I take to alleviate the stress?
First let's make sure to keep one thing in mind: Cats communicate primarily through action and body language. This is what we must do to help them understand. We cannot explain things to them and expect them to get it.
Certain things (carrier, car, vet) carry certain associations/expectations. We must break those negative associations and replace them with positive ones as much as possible (literally as much as possible, inundate them with positive experiences and they will eventually forget the negative ones.) Please know will take effort, consistency and patience to undo anxious behaviors/phobias. The amount of time and effort completely depends on your cat's personality and your consistency. Work on one thing at a time.
Let's start with the carrier. the dreaded carrier. First of all, be sure you have an appropriate size/shape carrier to suit your cat. They should be able to stand up and turn around in it. If your cat like to be up high and have a good view, make sure you provide that for them in the carrier. If they like to hide and tunnel, provide a carrier that has less "windows" or cover the carrier so they feel safer.
Once you have the right carrier, make sure you keep it in a place where they like to hang out, keep the door open and put some comfy bedding in it so they can choose it as a safe spot. Throw treats into it. You can actually feed them in it if you want. Encourage it to be their  go-to spot. If they associate it with being comfortable and safe, that's how they will feel when they are in it. If it only comes out when bad things happen, that's how they feel when they are in it. Make sense? Once the carrier is the happy home of your cat, move on to making the car a positive experience.

The car can be a frightening thing for a cat because it moves, makes them feel funny and the scenery is constantly changing, making it difficult for them to assess their surroundings. This one may take more effort and time, but is completely achievable for most cats.
To make the car a positive experience, take baby steps to help your cat feel safe. Don't move too fast, or the result will be more fear.
Make sure the carrier is completely secure in the car and cannot move. If your cat gets carsick, put the carrier on the floorboard in the front of the car, as there is less movement than anywhere else. Cover the carrier.
Start out by sitting in your car with Kitty for a few minutes. Talk sweetly to her and play quiet, soothing music. Remember, we're trying to set the mood. After a few minutes, try to give Kitty a treat. Not just any treat, but one she goes absolutely crazy over (for mine it's canned tuna). Tell her how amazing she is. The end. Take her back inside and put her carrier back in her spot. Do it again every day. By spending just 5 minutes a day on these things, it can make all the difference in the world to sweet Kitty. Once you feel she knows that when she goes to the car she gets amazing treats, start the car and do the same thing each day. Sit there with the car on. Read a book. Just make sure YOU are relaxed during this process.Then you can work your way up to going on joy rides. Once you are at the point where you can ride around and she is ok, take her with you to get cat food. Take her with you to the bank and ask for a treat at the drive through. Take her anywhere and everywhere you can think of where something positive can happen. Always, always always follow the experience with a really awesome treat and praise. Even if she doesn't eat it or seem to appreciate it.
Now, onto the vet...
Tell your veterinarian that you would like to work on improving her behavior and stress level at the vet. In fact, tell every person at the vet that comes in contact with your cat in case they need to change anything (not taking Kitty to the treatment. Hands down the best way to acclimate a pet to the vet is repeated "happy visits." Ask the support staff at your vet when the best time would be to go into an exam room and let Kitty walk around for about 5-10 minutes. When you get into the exam room, set the carrier on the floor and open the door. Do not interact with her or try to get her out at first. Let her come out on her own terms (always try to do this if you can). If you end up sitting there and she never comes out, that's fine. This is all about increasing her comfort level. With a cat, allowing them to feel as much control over their environment as possible will increase their comfort level at an exponential rate. Do this as many times as you absolutely can before taking her in for a real exam, then continue to do it after any exam visits. Of course life happens and sometimes we don't get to play out best case scenarios, but just do your best and try to be consistent. Make sure you keep your veterinarian in the loop because he or she may have sound advice if something goes awry or if you happen to backslide for any reason. Remember to be patient and ask for help if things aren't going the way you had hoped. Good luck and good day!