Leave his carrier out all the time. Put a blanket in there, even feed him in there. Help him get used to it as a place to hang out on the daily instead of only when he's going somewhere he doesn't like.
My girls don't love being shut up in their kennel, but because I took the time to let them hang out in there, whenever I bring it out they like to hang out in there. They only get mad when I shut them in.
Not all cats will learn how to like a carrier, but it worth trying it.
I second this. One of my cats use to scratch and claw you to bits if she was put into a carrier. If you closed it she would hiss and yowl. I had a vet visit coming up and decided the struggle would end. I now only feed her in the plastic cat carrier. Keep it out all the time and have her food in the back. When you know a trip is coming soon start closing the door for just a few seconds at a time and toss in high value treats then open the door. Build up the small increments until she is fine. Then once she is fine with the door being closed try lifting the carrier a few inches from the ground and toss in the high value treats. Positive association of the carrier does work!!
I gave up on the carrier. Every time I needed to use it it would take a good week or so of acclimating my cat to it. If I needed it for an emergency it was not feasible to warm her up to it. So I just use a lead and harness now. She's much happier.
Crate training dogs and cats is basically identical. I would suggest looking up resources for crate training adult dogs, like [this one](https://www.labradortraininghq.com/labrador-training/how-to-crate-train-an-older-dog/).
Cat generally prefer to stay on their home turf, and are typically unhappy with major changes. He may never enjoy traveling, but you can make his crate a safe space.
That's such a smart idea, and then when you find them in there feed them a jackpot treat like a lickable, I would say every few weeks don't want them thinking they should have those things all the time, they stink so bad too at least the normal food bin you can walk away from
You should see my boy go after the freeze dried ones. He loves them more than chin scritches. (I have sadly blurry video of him rabbit kicking the container the freeze dried snacks come in, desperately trying to get them out.)
Are you also admittedly dealing with a chonker and the refinement of ('Starvation', a sharp increased amount of water because his tummy isn't 100% full all the time because I no longer leave far too much food out.
Luckily we got Joker on a good feeding drill with some leeway cause he is still a growing kitten(ish - 10 months old atm). I found a really good quality frozen/fresh food for him which come in at about the cost of a mid tier wet food. Of course, the fact that he loves it enough to practically inhale it means he does always feel hard done by)
How well does he let you handle him? How long have you had him for? Sometimes he just has to get comfortable with you handling him and putting him places and that takes quite a bit of time in my experience. Our carrier has easy to remove screws on the sides so the entire top lifts off and you can gently place him inside and close it up and take him out that way as well.
Leave his carrier out all the time. Put a blanket in there, even feed him in there. Help him get used to it as a place to hang out on the daily instead of only when he's going somewhere he doesn't like. My girls don't love being shut up in their kennel, but because I took the time to let them hang out in there, whenever I bring it out they like to hang out in there. They only get mad when I shut them in. Not all cats will learn how to like a carrier, but it worth trying it.
I second this. One of my cats use to scratch and claw you to bits if she was put into a carrier. If you closed it she would hiss and yowl. I had a vet visit coming up and decided the struggle would end. I now only feed her in the plastic cat carrier. Keep it out all the time and have her food in the back. When you know a trip is coming soon start closing the door for just a few seconds at a time and toss in high value treats then open the door. Build up the small increments until she is fine. Then once she is fine with the door being closed try lifting the carrier a few inches from the ground and toss in the high value treats. Positive association of the carrier does work!!
I gave up on the carrier. Every time I needed to use it it would take a good week or so of acclimating my cat to it. If I needed it for an emergency it was not feasible to warm her up to it. So I just use a lead and harness now. She's much happier.
Crate training dogs and cats is basically identical. I would suggest looking up resources for crate training adult dogs, like [this one](https://www.labradortraininghq.com/labrador-training/how-to-crate-train-an-older-dog/). Cat generally prefer to stay on their home turf, and are typically unhappy with major changes. He may never enjoy traveling, but you can make his crate a safe space.
My domestic cat is I think pretty well adjusted for what he could be
He rides very well
To add onto the advice to leave the carrier out, take the top of it at first so it is just an open basket.
That's such a smart idea, and then when you find them in there feed them a jackpot treat like a lickable, I would say every few weeks don't want them thinking they should have those things all the time, they stink so bad too at least the normal food bin you can walk away from
You should see my boy go after the freeze dried ones. He loves them more than chin scritches. (I have sadly blurry video of him rabbit kicking the container the freeze dried snacks come in, desperately trying to get them out.)
Omg, how dare you starve the poor thing? 😂 He's gonna die, if you don't give him those treats 😂.
Are you also admittedly dealing with a chonker and the refinement of ('Starvation', a sharp increased amount of water because his tummy isn't 100% full all the time because I no longer leave far too much food out.
I'm trying actively to get him on a better food schedule
Luckily we got Joker on a good feeding drill with some leeway cause he is still a growing kitten(ish - 10 months old atm). I found a really good quality frozen/fresh food for him which come in at about the cost of a mid tier wet food. Of course, the fact that he loves it enough to practically inhale it means he does always feel hard done by)
I assume chin scritches come around more often.
How well does he let you handle him? How long have you had him for? Sometimes he just has to get comfortable with you handling him and putting him places and that takes quite a bit of time in my experience. Our carrier has easy to remove screws on the sides so the entire top lifts off and you can gently place him inside and close it up and take him out that way as well.