InFURvention Cat Carrier Contest from Banfield Pet Hospital Concludes

Published October 16, 2012

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Gary Malerba/Invision for Banfield Pet Hospital/AP Images

The "InFURvention" contest from Banfield Pet Hospital, which tackled the issue of cat carrier training, recently came to a close. Danielle DeLozer and her tabby Pooh (pictured here) were pronounced the winners.

With 86 million cats in the United States sharing their homes and hearts with guardians, it stands to reason that the feline species can be considered one of the most popular animal companions in the country.

This said, however, when it’s time for kitty’s all important annual veterinary check-up, one-third of all kitty guardians forego this essential part of feline care, throwing up their hands in desperation the moment the cat carrier appears and their normally well-behaved and mild-mannered fur family member suddenly transforms into a demon-cat.

In response to this demoralizing dilemma, Banfield Pet Hospital and Animal Planet's Victoria Stilwell teamed up to create an exciting “InFURvention” contest with the goal of giving kitty guardians some simple solutions to resolve their overwhelming struggle and put an end to the frustrating and exasperating game of “cat vs. carrier”.

Cat guardians were invited to participate by creating a “real life” video of putting their cat into a carrier, whether successful or not, for a chance to win the astounding prize of a years’ worth of free preventative care from Banfield Pet Hospital. As an added bonus, the winner would also receive an at-home visit from Victoria Stilwell for sage advice and her professional “tips and tricks” on how to more easily get kitty into the carrier.

After viewing a sizable parade of YouTube videos highlighting the relationship between cats and their carriers, a winner was finally chosen.

Banfield Pet Hospital congratulates Brownstowne, Michigan resident Danielle DeLozier and Pooh, her beloved orange tabby senior citizen, as victors of the InFURvention contest. Since Pooh had gained much unneeded weight, Danielle thought it the perfect time to get her video camera rolling. She is thrilled with the InFURvention outcome.

Pooh can now look forward to a year of free preventative care from Banfield Pet Hospital and Danielle received a fabulous personal one-on-one training session with Animal Planet’s Victoria Stilwell.

To get an up close and purrsonal view of the battle royal this kitty guardian endured with Pooh, watch the winning video uploaded to YouTube by weech11.

Danielle’s video definitely shows the struggle that many folks experience while trying to entice kitty into the cat carrier.

Judging from the smile on her face in the photo, it surely appears that Danielle’s training session with Victoria was triumphant, resulting in the end of Pooh’s carrier conflict.

How would you handle getting a recalcitrant cat into a carrier? Tell us with a comment.

Jo Singer

Shortly after retiring as a social worker and psychotherapist, I discovered my "writer's voice"…

Filed Under: News & Blogs, Trouble Sniffer
Tags: Cats, carriers, cat carrier, vet visits

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Comments (4)

EAS (Unverified)

Added 10-16-2012 05:02pm

I casually set up the carrier on end the night before (usually) or before the kitties have done their morning yoga exercises. Then I sweep up the drowsy kitty as if I cannot resist copping a pet at that very moment, and carry said kitty to the yawning maw of the carrier--mewahahahah--and usually with very little trouble insert cat butt into carrier, tail first, and close the door, repeating over any catly protests, "No, kitty, I did not put you into this thing in order to throw you in the river. Cat folklore on the subject is extremely unreliable. We are going a mere two blocks away to the vet's office." Once in the car, I put a little blanket or a towel over the top of the carrier because I've read that kitties are reassured by this. I talk or sing to the cat the whole way so he will realize that this is not all a terrible mistake and the person who loves and feeds him is not only present but means for this atrocity to happen. Usually it is much much easier to get said cat into said carrier on the return trip and very little feline protest occurs on the way home.

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Reno (Unverified)

Added 10-16-2012 02:34pm

I must be lucky. With 8 cats, there is no enticement needed. When one or more of them must go to the vet for illness or wellness exams, I simply put them in the bathroom about 1/2 hour before we need to leave. Then they are very easy to catch. I hold both of their back feet together in my right hand and hold their scruff firmly in my left hand and gently load them into an upended carrier feet first. No struggle and it's over before the cat realizes what is going on. Of course, I am seranaded LOUDLY for then entire trip to the vet. Thank goodness it is only a 1 1/2 mile drive. :)

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jmuhj (Unverified)

Added 10-16-2012 02:19pm

Nice ;) (And cats aren't "one of" the most beloved companions, they are THE most beloved companions, nationally and globally. Almost TEN MILLION more cats are loved domestically than dogs, running a distant second.)

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Vicki Jasch (Unverified)

Added 10-16-2012 11:55am

LOL, reminds me of trying to get a horse into a trailer for the first time, except of course, not quite as dangerous. I think I would lure the cat with a nice treat. If that didn't work,I suppose I would somehow manage to get him in the door with the door closing right behine him. The video is just too cute.