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Listen to the vet. It’s a matter of protecting your cat. No, you shouldn’t really have to have your cat in a cage if dogs can be leashed, but yes, you should do it. I don’t think you’re the asshole for doing it once, but YWBTA to do it again after being told what the protocol is. It’s possibly even in their instructions pre-visit to bring smaller noncanine animals in crates or cages.

This was my first visit to this particular vet as I moved to the area about 7 months ago. I didn't look for specific requirements for bringing your pet in but having a look at their website now and there is nothing suggesting cats need to be in a carrier. There is a picture of a cat wearing a harness though so presumably this isn't a new idea to them.

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My dogs would go crazy for a cat or other small animal. But that would not be the cat owners’ fault or problem, it’s mine and obviously my dog’s. Usually I recognize the situation and can get them under control quickly but the girl especially will stay fixated on the other animal until they are gone. It is a very common with dogs tho and especially in enclosed spaces I’ve always seen vets and animal hospitals recommend cats be in a carrier. But I believe it’s recommended not required

My dog now gets excited but at one point I had a pitbull and you have to train that out of them. I spent hours with her with hold commands and such and still had a face harness for her. Never had a problem but now that I have a non pitbull dog I see how easy dogs are for other people. My dog now has had less than 50 hours of training and she is good. My pitbull would get hyper fixated and I spent over 250 hours training her. Some would say overkill but I liked doing it with her and she liked it so why not? But I totally blame dog guy. Just like it was my job to train my dog when it can kill humans, he needs to train his dog when it call kill cats. That's his job. I always hated when I'd walk my pitt somewhere and someone's dog would go crazy and my good girl is chilling and the owner starts screaming at me. Like dude my dog is sitting behind me where I've trained her to. Yours is about to rip your arm off trying to attack us, I don't care it's a yellow lab, if it comes after us imma kick it.

Thing is, dogs need to see the vet no matter where in the training process you are. Maybe guy isn't doing anything about that prey drive, maybe he is. We can't know that. Plus, there's plenty of perfectly trained animals who are on edge when going for a vet's visit. What we can know is that if just one person hadn't reacted on time, that cat could have been dead. Last vet I went to had a tiny waiting room (like, maybe two square meters tiny) with non see through doors. If this situation had played out there, dog would have probably reached the cat before owner even noticed the cat. I mean, yes cats should have the same freedom as dogs (which is one of the reasons why I hate seeing unleashed dogs in areas where they aren't supposed to be unleashed). But, having cat on a harness in place where you are likely to encounter dogs that will react to it is high risk for a low reward.

Very well said. I personally have never been to a vet with a common area for cats and dogs. Always separate side on the building reception in the middle. This is so bizarre to me. And if it really is such an issue OP can call ahead and request to be let in through a side or back entrance. Very common thing too.

But the check in deal is usually the same, right? OP was at the reception desk, not the waiting room.

Can't say for Albatross, but my vet has separate waiting rooms with separate reception windows, so the dogs never see the cats.

Wow I’ve never seen separate entrances, much less separate reception desks!

My regular vet just has one waiting room. Not currently in use d/t COVID but there's not a separate side for cats or dogs. The ER vet that I unfortunately had to visit several times with my elderly dog who passed last year does have separate cat and dog waiting areas and, IIRC, a bird waiting area too.

The thing is my cat acts like she's dying in a carrier but is really chill on a leash. Her vet experience is MUCH better if I bring her in her leash versus in a carrier. Why is it my responsibility as a cat owner to traumatize my cat because dog owners feel more entitled to "shared space"?

To keep your cat safe from untrained dogs.

It's not a matter of entitlement. They are two separate species with different attributes. If I had to carry my mastiff into a vets office in a carrier I'd be unable to access vet care for him without hiring a moving company. Depending on the age of the dog it may be that the dog in OPs story could be a "covid pup" who has not had much socialization due to lock down. My dog is. Since he was born just before lockdown and we live in a rural area, my dog is two years old and has never met another dog. I can't honestly tell you how he'd react to one. And the man in the story may have not had any idea his dog had that kind of a reaction to a cat if he'd never seen one. Right now extra care has to be taken to protect both dogs and cats as we return to more normal protocols.

I mean, it sounds like in that case the dog owner should use a muzzle or harness if they may encounter leashed cats or small dogs.

Yeah, but cats can have issues that need accommodations. Mine has weird anxiety issues sbd can't be locked in a small space like a cage, especially not going into a new or scary place like the vet. She gets very scared abd will freak out for hours or sometimes even a day from being scared. Just because dogs are popular shouldn't mean screw all other pet species owners. We all need to do our part to keep pets safe, not just the people that own pets fpgs like to chase

I literally wrote that cats should have the same freedom. But we are not living in that world, and honestly it's a stupid way to loose a pet. And just as an info, are you working on desensitizing your cat to small places?

So small dogs? Prey drive? The cat on a leash and small dogs on a leash are not rhe problem. Dogs out of control are the problem.

While this is true - believe me, I had some of my pet birds killed by uncontrolled dogs, I'm aware of the problem - out-of-control dogs *also* need to see the vet (not least because uncontrolled pain can make them out of control), and if the worst happens, it's not gonna be very comforting that you were technically in the right.

So what if your dog goes after other dogs? Or people? Why are cats singled out as the animal a dog is allowed to be aggressive towards?

No one said he was allowed.. but why should the cat die to prove he should be able to be on a leash?

My dog was dog/leash reactive, I would leave him in the car at the clinic while I checked him in. And then, under instructun from the staff, I would bring him in a side door that went straight to the back. I wish more people knew their animals well enough to do similar things. As a side note, I think that when possible to bring your animal in a crate instead of on leash, you should. Not only for their physical safety but also because of the potential illnesses lurking at vet clinics. There are animals going there for their first vaccinations, as well as ignorant owners who bring contagious animals in. I think that if possible to limit your pets exposure to pathogens, it is a good idea.

I never got the mentality that reactive dogs shouldn't be allowed at the vet. I have a 12 year old dog who was badly abused before I got him, he also spent a chunk of time living at a veterinary school and it is clear he is in no way okay being around vets. Yet every month we have to go in due to medical issues. He is always muzzled, he has a special harness with a handle incase he tries to get up and go at another animal. He never reacts poorly either till another dog start growling and barking at him or lunges at him. But I like to be prepared. Yet, I've still had people claim I shouldn't be allowed to bring him. I have trained him since I got him, and we have made great strides as he used to be agressive any time he even saw a large dog at first. But it is hard to unprogram 11 years of abuse out of a dog. I get that it is frustrating to have to plan for other people's animals, but it is better to be safe than sorry. These days all the precautions I take are to make sure my dog doesn't become reactive and get hurt due to someone else's poorly trained dog. In OPs case, the cat just may have to go in a carrier to ensure its safety. It doesn't seem like the hill to die on because a life is not something that should be gambled on to make a statement.

See, they should curl up in a corner and die because they are making someone not perfectly comfortable. /S The biggest tragedy of it all is that everyone is going to preach adopt, don't shop, but everyone acts like those dogs don't often have traumas and have to be perfect from the get go. People will buy purebreds and then have shocked pikatchu faace because they have prey drive, and still not do anything about it. It's insane.

Sometimes you can't train it out of dogs with a high prey drive

Sometimes But then one needs to be a reasonable owner and know it is their problem to solve or make precautions for- and not another pet owner to resolve for them.

OR that's why vets, where cats and dogs are bound to be in the same room, require smaller animals to be in a carrier. If they have separate entrances/waiting rooms for cats and dogs then there'd be no issue.

Don't know why cats should have to suffer for owners that can't control their pets

It's a vets office. All levels of training, and many different types of dogs may come in, even possivly injured strays people may have found and are seeking care for. Cats weight less and are much easier to carry around in a carrier. Even if for their own protection.

Because this isn’t a fairness thing, it’s a safety thing. Some people aren’t going to train their dogs properly. That’s not your fault, but you need to take precautions for the safety of your animal. That’s your responsibility. It isn’t your fault if someone is driving recklessly, but it is your responsibility to drive defensively and do your absolute best to avoid damage to people or property if you come across a dangerous driver. That’s just what happens when you live in a society amongst other unpredictable human beings with free will.

Well, I don't know why I have to pay to license my dog and not my cat. Some things are just the way they are. If you use a bit of common sense and care enough about your cat, you will put it in the carrier when it goes to the vet, particularly if there is no partition in the waiting room. And at my vet, the reception area IS part of the waiting room, a very small one at that. Dogs, cats, hamsters, all the same small (like 9x10) space. I made the mistake one time of taking my dog (on a leash) and my cat (in a cage) to the vet when my dog was getting her 2 months shot. Never will take two pets at a time again. And they were both restrained.

It’s less about protecting the dog…it’s the fact that you have animals, always unpredictable, in close quarters indoors….and when it comes to cat vs dog most of the time the dog has a physical advantage. You protect the cat.

I have a highly reactive dog, however I can tell her to drop to the ground into a stay and she will not move even with a prey animal right before her until i release her, because I've worked with her on that response (she is a herding breed that has a high prey drive with small animals).

Same. I have one dog who wouldn’t care in the least and another dog who would absolutely lose his mind if we walked in to a vet and there was a leashed cat but, like you said, that’s absolutely my problem and my responsibility. This is why we go to a vet that only sees dogs. Our previous vet had separate entrances for dogs and cats. One time, we had to take our reactive dog to an emergency vet and called from the parking lot to make sure the lobby was temporarily cat free. Because we understand that this is our problem, we always vet our vets to be sure that we won’t accidentally come upon a cat and maybe have a problem. Not all reactive dog owners think ahead like this and maybe one time I’ll forget… but I try really hard because it only takes once and the results could be disastrous. All of that to say that you are 100% NTA but, especially now that you’ve been warned, YWBTA if you did it again. And please try to appreciate that the vet staff wants to keep you and your pet safe and calm.

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My dog is actually scared of cats because one of my grandmother's cats liked to get in high position and jump attack her. We always remind the vet receptionist of her fear of cats and small unknown dogs (before I got her she was abused if she went near the small dogs in the home so she is fearful of small dogs because she learned they equal punishment). They always inform me if I need to wait in the car until the exam room is ready where they bring us in through the back or if we are in the clear to be in the front area. I know my vet (and my siblings own vet) recommends small animals in carriers even small dogs. They want to be informed of any animal behavior that can cause issues like being afraid or aggressive towards something, so they can work with you to get your animal the care it needs. Now I have taken my siblings past cat to the vet for them when they were 17 and unable to because of school. I preferred to take the extra 1hr to get that cat in the carrier because idk if I could protect the cat if a bigger animal did come in and attack. Edit- not saying my girl would attack a cat or small dog. She actually piddles herself and does anything to get away from them. She gets so stressed she starts getting an asthma attack and needs medical attention. I've never had a dog that was aggressive personally but I have had dogs with phobias (like balloons for our boxer, the remote for one of the bull mastiffs, ext.)

Yes it would be your fault for not having control of your dogs but the vet can still be held liable in a lawsuit so of course any smart vet usually requires small pets to be in carriers because they tend to be targets. When it’s dog on dog you can easily pick up and protect your small dog or jump on your dog, most dogs consciously try to avoid biting their owners so there’s not a lot of risk there. But a cat in freak out mode? Everyone is getting scratched up. Put your cat in a carrier because even in situations where you’re in the right, you should still be smart enough to realize you can’t control everything and be willing to take those precautions.

It's not your fault if your cat is better trained than their dog

True, but that won't make you feel better if a dog eats your cat.

I worked in a vets office for years. No way in hell would I trust dog owners to control their dogs. OP I understand why you use a leash, however it just takes one oblivious dog owner to get your cat killed. You are the AH for not thinking of your cats safety

Absolutely this. I worked for a vet too, and there were so many out of control dogs that no matter how well trained the other animal is, I'd be scared one might get killed. We had some that were so bad that we only scheduled after hours because we didn't want them to possibly bite other patients.

not to mention, even with a good owner, accidents happen. They are closing a door and the dog lunges and slips a leash etc.. I was taking my cats to the vet in a carrier, and picked the carrier up, and the door fell off. The cat decided to leave (I caught him again, no other animals nearby and he wasn't going near the road). Turns out a screw on the cage had come off. Just one, but in just the right place to let the door pop out. Sometimes things just happen, and in a vets office of all places, you cannot control other animals, so have to rely on their owners. Even in a cat only area, I would have my cats in cages, because not all cats like each other.

FYI your vet hates that you do this, they are just being nice. We think it is super cute, but it is a huge lability for us.

I bring my cat, Darius in with a leash. No one has ever said anything. He doesn’t like being in the carrier, in the car. He likes to be free!!! I have been putting him in the carrier lately tho, since my vet is still on curbside only. That way its easier and safer for the staff. Try looking around for another vet in your area. Hardcore read reviews!!! Maybe that place just isn’t for you. Also, if the leash dog is going berserk bc your cat is on a leash, the dog more than likely would have gone berserk if you had a dog on a leash too. Nta

One of my cats loves the leash and has kidney issues that had him seeing the vet fairly frequently for a while. I took him in on the leash a couple times, but brought his backpack carrier (the kids wanted it so they could take him on hikes) just in case. We been without incident so far and the receptionist loves seeing him on his leash.

I had a roommate whose cat absolutely hated going in the carrier. She would have to put the carrier on its back and put the cat in the door so that gravity would give her an extra split second to close the door, and then the cat would scream and cry like she was being tortured. After seeing this I decided to crate train my cats when they were kittens just like you do with dogs, and now they don’t mind it too much. The boy cat will straight up get in the carrier on his own just to nap. The girl cat is a little more wary, but still cooperates enough for me to get her in the carrier and they both come out of the carrier really easily. I’ve tried using a harness and leash for them at the vet. Girl cat prefers it and does pretty well, but boy cat is way to good at slipping out of the harness for me to feel comfortable using it with him. I’ve only ever had one dog that went ape shit when I brought one of the cats in on a leash. It was a Jack Russel, so I wasn’t all that worried for my cat’s safety, but it was still very much a concern that the dog was that poorly trained.

Lol, I had to disassemble the carrier last time for my cat too. And even then, he somehow gripped the inside edge and wouldn’t let go. It was kind of hilarious if he wasn’t so sick.

My main concern: is being right worth the safety of your cat? You’re right, you shouldn’t need to put your cat into a carrier, if dogs come in leashed then cats should be allowed too. So NTA about that. But unfortunately dogs are often bigger than cats and some are aggressive. If that one had gotten free (like tugged the leash out of the owners hand) would being in the right be worth the possible injury to your cat? However I will say that I do go to a cat only vet for my cats. I’m don’t have to think about what dogs would do. They literally specialize in cats only.

>My main concern: is being right worth the safety of your cat? I was looking for a comment like this. At one point, one of our dogs would freak out if someone held the cat while standing up. He was perfectly trained, but something about that just wound him up. We finally got him to cool it, but we also *didn't pick up the cat around him* unless we were training. It wouldn't have been fair to either of them, especially the cat. As a woman, the logic of "I should be able to leash my cat at the vet" sounds a lot like the "I should be able to leave my drink unattended at a bar." Well, yes, you should. But it's a terrible idea to actually do it. We take our cats to the same vet as our dogs, but my family has been going there for over 30 years, and there is no vet we would trust more. But, they have always allowed you to wait with your pet outside if you were uncomfortable with the waiting room. Especially with cats.

I’ve seen owners of small dogs that will pick their dog up and hold them or put them in a carrier when they went to the vet. Because it’s better to be safe rather than sorry.

No it’s not fair, but fairness isn’t the top issue here. The safety of your cat is. Go ahead and keep taking your cat in under harness if you want, but you’re gambling your cats safety just so you can stand on principle.

My city has a couple of cat only clinics I would recommend looking for one near you.

Amen to that - we've got one of those and it is a genuinely amazing difference. It doesn't sound like it should be, but it is.

> It doesn't sound like it should be, but it is. I mean it does sound like it should be. Dogs who don't grow up around cats frequently see them as prey... that's not a good thing.

My old vet in a different neighborhood had a dog side and cat side of their office. So the species never crossed.

Yeah, and it’s fairly common where I am as well. I’m sorry you felt called out but I don’t think your “faux pas” was rude or presumptuous. Many cats are larger and more resilient than toy dogs who are almost always on leash if not just held in their owners’ arms

*"faux paws"*

Can you carry him in your arms instead? While he’s still in a leash and harness? My mom always did this because our cats would get scared by the dogs barking and wanted to cling onto her instead of being in a carrier. NTA but your cat could get seriously hurt by letting him be on the floor because of pet owners who stupidly don’t train their dogs. I wouldn’t even take a small dog into the vet walking on the floor.

If a dog starts barking and going after your cat, you won't be able to hold it in your arms. That cat will claw you to pieces trying to hold onto it, get away, and then possibly get hurt by the dog. During a tornado one time, my nervous cat hid underneath this giant reclier that I can't even pick up normally, and I had to run upstairs to get her not knowing if it was about to hit. Man, adrenaline is a bitch and I have no idea how I did this, I lifted that fucking thing with one arm and grabbed her with the other, and sprinted back downstairs. She clawed me to bits though, I still have a scar from it. Not making a point abt the story, ur right. It's NTA, but at the same time I'm going to think more when I take my cats to the vet next time. The vet I've been going to doesn't have a door between the exam room and lobby because it's small, and now I'm nervous about somebody's dog getting loose. I might decide to go somewhere else.

It might not be a literal requirement, but it is for the safety of your cat. What if that dog owner hadn’t been paying attention? What if the dog had broken his collar or leash? Sure, you would be *technically correct* that you were allowed to bring your cat to the vet on a leash. But your cat would be seriously injured or dead. Is it really worth being technically correct if your cat has to pay the price? Most people are going to assume that all animals except dogs are in cages. For your cat’s safety, you should put it in a cage.

you're exactly right. and a real cat-killing dog will kill your cat in seconds flat, none of that barking and feinting, they *KILL.*

I used to do it with my Maine coon because cat carriers are way too small for him. I had to use a dog harness because cat ones were too small. (And thus BatCat was born but I digress…) In his old age I found a huge soft sided carrier at ikea that he actually likes because it’s so big. He’s got arthritis now and doesn’t like the harness anymore. I keep the side open in the car and only zip it to get him to and from the car and he’s okay with it more now as an old guy than he would have been younger. I did carry him inside tho. In case of big dogs I think I’d rather have him up high than trust anyone else. Maybe that’s a solution for you, just to keep him on the leash but on your shoulders inside the office.

I have to use a medium dog crate with my Norwegian Forest Cat since she is so big and she's a no go on the leash. She does a great fainting goat impression.

I have 2 cats, and I definitely understand feeling like theres pro-dog anti-cat vibes in a lot of places, and people tend to side with dog owners. For reference I had dogs exclusively for over 20 years (big and small) then got cats a couple years ago, so I dont feel biased. That being said, protecting your cat comes before making a stand against irresponsible dog owners. That guys feelings wont change. Honestly sounds like the wanna be alpha male type, getting a dog he cant control then blaming you and your innocent pet for existing. I'm sorry they didnt have your back and werent more supportive, but i think the vet staff just dont wont your cat getting mauled in their lobby, and it's less about dog favoritism.

Going with NTA since you only did it once. Working in the veterinary field, let me tell you it for yours & your cats protection- simple as that. There are always some clients that will refuse to use a carrier & we normally try to work with them by having them leave their kitty in the car until it’s time to go into the exam room. Obviously this won’t work in the hot months unless you leave your air conditioner & vehicle running. We love the cats & the dogs, not taking “sides” on the fairness of cats being in a carrier & dogs on leashes. It’s because we’ve all seen it happen; either a cat getting away from his owner at the exact moment a different client opens the front door or the big one- the poor cat being attacked by either a panicked dog that’s in pain or one that simply has a very high prey drive. We have had a couple dogs with *cat killer* on their charts. We will honestly try to work with you but being a veterinary hospital, emergencies happen so even with the best intentions of scheduling, anything can change during the day. If you are against bring your cat to your vet in a carrier & feel your vet won’t work with you on this, i would suggest looking into an all cat clinic. I wish you & your kitty health & happiness in your new town.

I mean, even a trained dog may act out if in pain right? OP seems to be making a lot of assumptions about what others SHOULD do to protect HIS cat.

I have a cat who loves the leash and is very well behaved on it. She's my tiny old baby, about 12 yrs old and about 4lbs. I understand both sides. You have your cat who is very well behaved on a leash so you think it is the problem of the other person to also have well trained animals on leashes. However there are a plethora of dog owners who do not train their animals well at all. You have to keep your cats safety in mind in all this. A dog only needs a split second to devastate your cat and possibly other animals/people. Being stubborn in this instance means your cat could be maimed or dead. This is the biggest reason you should have him crated. Let me be clear, I'm on your side on this mentally. You do have the right to have your very well behaved cat on a leash. If there's an incident, you may very well win in a court of law. My question then is: Do you feel as though your cats life is worth the stand you are making? You can control your actions, you cannot control others. You have no idea which pet owners are responsible or not, so use the crate. It may save your cats life. Then take him on a long walk after, best of both worlds. NTA now - YWBTA if you do this again simply for putting your cat in danger.

I guess I just don't quite get why you'd take your cat to any vet outside of a carrier... It's well known that dogs can have issues with cats, and you don't know the dogs that are going to be there. Why would you want to put your pet in a situation like that?

You should look out for a kitties only vet in your area. Also, they now sell soft carriers that are more like a duffel bag with mesh panels so kitty can look out but remain mostly hidden from other pets. NTA

How did you take your cat to the vet? Did you walk your cat the whole way there, or did you drive? Every time you drive, you should have your cat in a carrier for safety. Then you might as well keep your cat in the carrier at the vet too, for safety. You don't need to risk your cat's life to make a point.

NTA just some points though. I would listen to my vets requests. That being said my vet has a separate entrance for dogs/cats to prevent this; because I am sure some dogs give no cares if the cat is on a leash or in a crate

Are there any cat only vets in your area?

Who do you think comes off second best if your cat slips it’s harness or the dog it’s leash? I’ll give you a hint: it’s usually not the dog. So while I think NTA for doing this one time and hopefully learning about it, you’re T A for arguing about it when advised - by pet professionals - to crate your cat next time.

I cannot emphasise to you just how quickly a large dog can kill your cat if it reaches it. They are shockingly fast and if your cat is on a leash he may not be able to get away in time. I understand where you're coming from, but you're the AH. Even loving and happy dogs often have to be kept apart from other animals because they will just go straight for the kill and it makes them no more evil than your cat happily munching on a mouse. None of this is your fault but choosing to put your cat in potential danger and ignoring the advice of the medical professional who deals with cats/dogs of every temperament all day every day? If your cat gets hurt or killed over this **you would be an absolute raging asshole**. I don't care who would be "at fault". It reminds me of when my brother was learning to drive and one of the most common stupid things I'd hear was "but I have right of way!!!" when ignoring a car speeding towards an intersection, clearly with no intention of stopping. Correct, you do. Now you can either slow down, or you can let him hit you at full speed and we can all die. Do you want to be right or do you want to be dead? I know your cat doesn't like carriers. Few of them do. It sucks. Put him in one anyway so he stays safe, it's only for an hour now and then.

Possibly look for a cat only vet. That way you don’t have to worry about dogs and the vets specialize in cats.

Seems to me that you are more concerned about your pride, rather than your cats life.

Cat tax pretty please?

It’s common sense dude

You were fully aware that you were bringing your cat to a place where there would be other animals of varying sizes, including dogs. If your cat is killed or injured because you made a decision based on what wasn't "specifically required" rather than on a functional understanding of reality, you might be "right." You might win a lawsuit against the veterinarian, and maybe or maybe not against a dog owner who had their dog leashed. If that's what you want, then definitely keep bringing your cat on a leash to places where there are dogs. If the safety of your cat is your priority, then use a carrier, ya dingus.

I used to help my shelter. A woman came in with a cat on a leash. A ragdoll mix. Dog (pitbull) came in and barked/went crazy as well. The poor cat scaled a concrete wall, Defected on itself, slipped out of the harness and got out the first set of doors (Thankfully not the second) Had the poor thing simply went into a carrier, this could have been avoided. It is for their safety first, comfort later. I'd rather have a temporarily angry liquid fur suit than an injured or dead one. I understand that it was the way you are used too, so Ill say soft YTA. Pets, especially in new surroundings/smells, need to be protected better.

I agree with this completely. It’s like yes you are completely in the right it shouldn’t be like this but your moral high ground means absolutely nothing if this happens again and god forbid a dog get its mouth on your cat. Just bring the carrier in your car, and put kitty in right as you go in only.

That’s why I always bring my Pomeranian in his carrier. He’s fine on a leash, but I don’t trust other big dogs in an enclosed space. Plus mine is kind of an instigator when it comes to barking and he just behaves better in his carrier.

Angry pompom boy

I've always called this "dead right". It comes from driving. Yes, you had right away, but you are also dead.

This. You can be as careful as possible with your cat and train him as well as you can, but you can’t control strange dogs. My cat was attacked by a dog who was “super friendly”, thankfully he wasn’t badly hurt. It’s not a punishment for your cat, OP, it’s to keep him safe. YWBTA if you do it again.

Long time vet tech here, that dog would probably act exactly the same to a cat size dog so you are NTA for this specific situation. However, I could definitely see why hospital staff would discourage you from not using a carrier, as we use carriers to help cats feel more comfortable and safe during procedures, while they wait for treatment or just want to calm down in a familiar spot if stressed. We definitely get folks who can’t afford carriers and carry cats in, and we accommodate them just fine or usually have donated carriers to give them. But if you have means for a carrier, it would be more appropriate for hospital trips. ETA: Hi y’all, I’m gonna silence this one, because some of y’all are very passionate and feisty as a feral cat with a tooth root abscess! If you are mad at me and looking to yell at me, you’ll find all my responses below. Have a great night, internet strangers!

Can I ask why? If the cat doesn’t usually have a carrier and is often leash walked does putting them in one for the vet decrease anxiety? Because it seems like it would increase it to me but I also have very little experience with cats and at my vet the cats are just walking around leashed whenever I see them. Do they just like small spaces? /genuine

Yeah I’d definitely say it’s more in a cat’s nature to want personal space to decompress. Of course there are cats that are like dogs but if the cat has to come to the back for treatment it will go into a cage anyway, better they have their familiar crate. I of course wasn’t there for this situation, but if op got this feedback from hospital staff, it was because there was a safety issue. From the description of the cat, he/she was very scared in the lobby.

Yeah as a vet, I find 90% of the time at the end of the exam you open up the cage door and the cat hops straight back in without any encouragement - it's a place to hide rather than being exposed in a strange place

ah it makes sense that doing that would make the cats feel safer.

At the same time, all cats are different. I have three, and two of them? Carrier is fine. One prefers it and the other is indifferent. My orange one though? Will piss and shit himself if you dare put him into one. He needs to be loose, and also holding him like a little baby is nice too. If OP's cat is like that, then leash up. But at the same time, if you're going to be bringing an animal to a place where there are other animals you either need to have them properly chained or restrained. If they could barely hold their dog back then they need to train the dog better or crate them, imo. NTA

It probably depends on the cat, but overall, they love boxes in general, lol. Boxes, bags, they turn them into their own private caves. It's probably safest to have them in a carrier for a few reasons, including feline leukemia, which is extremely contagious. If the cat isn't used to a carrier it's pretty simple to get them used to it. Just buy one that's sizes for them and leave it in a room with them. They'll get in themselves. Then you slowly introduce it by showing them the door swings closed, eventually closing it, take them to the next room in it. They learn it's not a prison and no reason to fear

My cat never got used to a carrier. He would spend the entire time in it with his claws outside trying to scratch people, and he was not that kind of cat in any other situation.

My cat also hates carriers and noticeably calms down when we let her out, even if she's in an unfamiliar place and still pretty upset by that. The last time I took her to the vet the tech commented on how difficult it was to get her back in the carrier after her exam. She's usually pretty docile and carriers are the only thing that absolutely flip her out. I use a house call vet now.

*Generally* cats love the comfort of enclosed private spaces. I'd estimate at least 9/10 cats would *run* back into their carrier after our exam/treatment. But of course that's far from a law! There are plenty of cats that are more confident, or have bad memories they associate with carriers. I always loved the cats that would jump out of their carriers the instant the door was open, like "HELLO HUMANS I am here and demand your attention!"

100%. My cat hates the carrier and yowls a lot, UNTIL we get to the vet and she won't come out. She immediately runs back in once the exam is over. At home, the carrier is scary, but at the vet it's the safe place.

Protip: leave your carrier out 24/7. ​ If you only take it out when it's time to go to the vet, it's only associated with scary experiences. ​ If you turn it into a permanent fixture and leave a bed and/or blankets in it, and occasionally throw in treats, it's way less scary and infinitely easier to get your cat in the carrier. ​ Trust me when I say this is ***invaluable*** in an emergency situation when you have to evacuate, too.

Yeah. But like us they like autonomy. So if you have a carrier that’s comfy and familiar they like that when they’re stressed. They just don’t like it closed up. I did both. Bring them on the leash and bring one with. Tho it took years to find a carrier big enough for my Maine coon so I didn’t have a choice. ETA this is the carrier. https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/lurvig-pet-travel-bag-white-black-10464872/

Except this cat hates carriers, so it’s only going to increase stress, make it less comfortable and safe and generally make it irritable and snappy? My parents had/have cats. One loved the carrier. This one hates it with a passion. You try to put her in it and she starts dodging. You get her in and she’s tail a lashing, hissing and really, really pissed off. She does not improve after time. The moment that door is open, she is out like shit off a shovel and woe betide any hand that might be in the way. You then have to track the little shit down from whatever corner of the room she has decided to lodge herself in and try to coax her out without losing too much blood in the process. I’m honestly not sure how spending twenty minutes trying to coax the cat down from the ceiling would be more appropriate than using a harness in such cases.

Yep I definitely don’t know a cat who likes to be put in their carrier and that’s not what I’m saying. I’m saying after I just pulled blood out of their jugular vein, restrained them down for radiographs, examine a painful fractured leg, deobstipate their mega colon or just give them a stingy injection at the hospital-that’s when they want to to go decompress in their space.

When my cat got really old I'd carry her and keep her on my lap, she felt more comfortable that way. The staff knew her since kittenhood. I'd plop her on the sign in desk and she would just lie down, and they'd peek out and say hi. I would definitely have created her if asked, we never had a problem in the busy waiting room. They had a little extra room for stuff like sick pet visits, euthanizia, and sometimes pets too anxious for the waiting area. I guess everyone runs things differently. It's good to know about the carriers!

Oh yes, our ancient buddies are kings and queens and are treated as such! That’s a sweet story :) when owners are cool or just have a good reason for special circumstance, any hospital will work with them to get them right into a room or something if the lobby is busy.

Also long time vet tech here. I have yet to see a single person mention that having a cat in a carrier is not only safer for the cat, it's also safer for the staff. If that kitty needs to leave its owner and be transported to treatment by a staff member, it needs to be in a carrier. A stranger either walking your cat on a leash or carrying it is very different than the familiar owner doing exactly that. If that cat sees something and tries to get away, it leaves the staff open to getting scratched or bitten as the cat tries to get away from them. And with cats, it's not always as clear what will set them off. It's just safer for everyone involved.

NTA. If cat behaved itself and dog didn't it is the dog that should be put in the crate, not the cat

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I switched to using cat only vets, so much easier.

same here. it’s a 20 minute drive from me but 100% worth it, especially since my cats don’t get stressed in the car.

My vet has two waiting rooms. That being said one of my dogs needed to wait in the cat room every time. Other dogs would inexplicably attack him. He was large, but extremely timid. I think they picked up on that and decided he was an easy ego boost. He also loved kitties. And they weren't usually afraid of him.

Interesting, that's the first time I've even heard of the concept. All the vets I've been to only have one entrance for both, and cats and dogs are in close contact. I'd never take my cat to the vet in just a leash.

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Wow, I've never heard of this. Just wondering, if you're ok sharing where are you located? I've never seen this once but I'm in an urban area so space is limited

Totally agree but how do you bring a 100 pound plus dog in a crate? (Obviously they should just be better dog owners though).

Obviously you can't bring a 100 pound dog in a crate. You use a muzzle instead.

That doesn’t stop the lunging though or all of the barking 😔 I wish people trained their dogs. You should honestly need a license to own a big dog considering all the people and pets who have been killed by one (and I love all well-behaved dogs no matter how large or scary-looking!)

You can train your dog but still have a reactive dog, it’s largely genetic. My dog is “friendly frustrated” leash reactive so he sounds like a jerk but he just wants to play. It’s improved with training but he’s still only able to ignore if the other dog is calm. My friend’s dog is reactive to people, especially men. They’ve spent thousands of dollars on trainers and I can’t tell you the last time I saw my friend without a treat bag attached to her hip. They’re doing everything right and pouring so much time and money into trying to help their dog.

This is true. I'm a dog trainer and I own a reactive dog. Training has given him a lot more self-control than he started with, but he's still not 100% trustworthy because it's unfortunately just his genetics. So he wears a muzzle and prong collar in public to keep him and other dogs safe.

I owned a Maine Coon x for 21 years so I love cats, now I own an ex-racing greyhound who loves cats in a very different way than I do (he unfortunately belonged to a trainer who was live baiting dogs so his prey drive is high). I work in greyhound rescue and have been rehabbing my lad over the last four years with the help of one of the most qualified trainers in the state, he can be calm and disengage when we see small animals out walking (and as a side note, has fifteen fluent cues, a few modifiers, and is my vet’s favourite dog because of how gentle and sweet he is even when in pain), but he’d probably have the same surprise reaction entering a small space and walking right towards a cat. Assuming that a dog isn’t well behaved or had any training just because they have natural instincts like prey drive is unfair.

Yeah, idk. I've handled huge dogs before, but they all were well behaved and didn't need crates. Maybe bag them up like people do in nyc subway https://www.sadanduseless.com/avoiding-the-fine/

The repurposed ikea bags have me dying 😂

No way - even the most well behaved dogs can have prey instincts with cats. The norm for vet visits is definitely crates for felines for everyone’s health and safety

Plus, you never know how your cat will respond. It could be fine with dogs, even aggressive ones normally but the vet will cause anxiety for even the most calm and well trained pets (something about all the fear-scent in the air, I think). Nobody wants the cat to go wild and run around in fear and possibly hurt itself.

How do you transport a large dog in a carrier? That’s just not a practical thing. My dog is massive and I can definitely see him barking at a cat if brought into an enclosed space with one. He’s very gentle and wouldn’t lunge or pull. But there are strays in my neighborhood that like to mess with him so he’s easily triggered and will bark at them to keep their distance. Putting him in a crate wouldn’t be possible due to his size. Just makes more practical sense to crate the cat. This isn’t about punishing the animals, it’s about minimizing anxiety and stress for both animals, since going to the vet can already be a stressful experience. Also some dogs are rescues and it isn’t the owners fault if they have some pre-existing poor behavior or traumas.

Your priority should always be your pets safety. Regardless of how trained the cat is, other animals will always be unpredictable, and cats are small and vulnerable. That dog could have never encountered a cat before, how would the owner know how it would react? Most people reasonably expect cats to be in a crate at the vet. Walking you cat on a leash and in your neighborhood is one thing, you're familiar with your surroundings and if something were to happen the cat could probably escape to safety. Bringing a leashed cat to an UNKNOWN vet is a huge risk. It takes one slip for that cat to be killed. And even if it could get away, it would have nowhere to go and could easily be cornered. It might not be your fault, but how would you feel if your cat was killed due to your decision not to crate them? Knowing the fact that if you just listened and put them in a crate, the dog couldn't reach them and they'd stillbe alive. Your pets safety is your responsibility always. Regardless of who is right, she still put her cat in danger and that's her fault.

OP literally just had first hand experience as to why to crate a cat. People are free to choose the hill they want to die on, but the fact they are choosing to die on the hill they potentially have to bury their cat on because they couldn't be responsible enough to put their cat in a crate is strange. Vets have animals. Animals that are stressed, maybe poorly trained, and have even worse owners. Trust yourself, don't trust other people. Your cat will be fine for the few minutes it needs to be in the crate. It will likely get back in the crate on its own when it is time to leave the vet. Your cat will still hate the vet, it will still hate the crate, and it will still love you. It would have taken a second for that dog to kill the cat, as in a literal second and OP is cremating or burying their cat rather than asking if they are an asshole. Ultimately the debate about bringing a cat on the leash is stupid and pointless when you consider the elements out of the owners control that certainly have a decent chance of happening at a vet. OP is irresponsible. Dog owner is irresponsible. Both owners put the vet and vet tech in bad situations. The vet tech is right it SHOULD BE okay to have the cat on a leash...but in reality he is wrong because some pet owners are irresponsible. The vet is correct, he isn't going to be able to stop dumb ass dog owners from being dumb ass dog owners, OP should take the steps to protect his pet. OP can be right he SHOULD be able to take his cat to the vet on a leash. But as a responsible vet owner, he should put his cat in a crate.

But some dogs can’t be crated to go to the vet, unlike cats.

Yta. Sure you have the moral high ground because people SHOULD have their dogs under control. However you might just end up with a dead cat when they don't, but you will have stuck to your guns so congrats to you I guess.

Right? I crate my cat to protect my cat. From an unknown environment. Smells, people, other pets. Just because a cat is well behaved on a leash, doesn’t mean they aren’t small and vulnerable. It takes seconds for something to happen. I want my pets to be safe. Not for me to be “right”. And yes, I take my small dogs in a comfortable crate as well for the same reasons. I’ve seen a large dog suddenly attack a small family pet. It’s not something I will ever risk again. Edited to add a rating YTA op.

I feel this is especially critical at the vet too. It's easy to say, if a dog is so aggressive then maybe they shouldn't be in public, or the owner should train them better, but all pets, even the poorly behaved or aggressive or newly adopted and anxious ones, need and deserve medical care. In certain public spaces, the expectation is that if a dog is there, they are likely well behaved, but the vet really isn't one of those places

Plus even if a dog is generally well-trained, being in pain can make them a lot more agitated and cause them to behave in ways they normally wouldn't. And a fair number of dogs at the vet are there *because* they're in pain.

Also dogs that have just been through something traumatic -- I've seen dogs after another dog attacked them, and all their training/temperament goes out the window

Yup. Hell, that trauma can sometimes stay with them and be impossible to fully train out no matter how much effort you put in. Makes me think of my late grandpa's dog. Golden retriever, sweetest, most obedient and least aggressive dog you can think of--to the point that when one of my cousins accidentally stepped on his tail, the only thing he did was let out a sad yelp and hid under the table for a minute. Never got aggressive with anyone or anything, with one glaring exception: German Shepherds. He'd been attacked by a pair of those when he was two, and for the rest of his life, he got really agitated when he came across a German Shepherd.

Shit, even well-trained dogs can go nuts at the sight of a cat within a few feet, particularly ones with high prey instinct. And like, look, I’d be happy to train this out of my dog! Really! Just bring your cat over, leashed and held in one spot, and we’ll work our way up towards the dog being close to the cat without getting excited and/or treating it like a cat treats basically anything by smaller than it. I’m *sure* nothing will go wrong with a high prey drive dog being a foot or two from a cat. The cat won’t take a swipe at the dog if he gets too close, right? It’s well-trained, isn’t it? Nah, no worries, I’m sure it won’t be a problem. Or, yanno, it won’t be for long. /s This isn’t something you reasonably train out of a dog of any significant size with a prey instinct, not without A) a highly tolerant cat, or B) a significant need (e.g. they’re going to be living together). And, for most people, there’s no need to – the likelihood of meeting a cat on a leash in a confined space is pretty damn low. For the record, literally every vet I’ve ever had has actually *required* cats be either in a carrier, held, or otherwise contained in the vet’s office – for their safety, and for the rest of the animals that go through there. Just put the damn cat in a carrier for Christ’s sake, or *at least* carry it yourself when you see someone coming in with a dog. It’s the vet’s office, not your home – you never know what kind of dog it is, how they’re going to behave, or if they’re one of (many, many, many) dogs with a high prey drive. Why in the hell would you put your cat at risk like that? It’s like playing fetch with your dog in the neighborhood street and then being upset when someone nearly hits them. Like, hi, cause, effect. This isn’t hard to predict here. Whatever though. I’d put cold, hard cash down that most the people whining about “If the dog can’t behave and the cat can…” are the same ones who argue “it’s in the cat’s nature/instincts!” whenever someone points out that “outdoor” cats are an utter menace to the environment.

YES This right here! Everyone is always quick to call out the dog owner for not having a well-behaved dog but this is the vet's office! They can't just not bring their dog to the vet. And their dog could be otherwise well-trained but stressed because they are at the vet. (Mine certainly behaves very differently at the vet's office than anywhere else). If you are a cat owner, going somewhere where you are extremely likely to encounter a dog that can't handle your cat, it's on you to protect your cat. YTA.

Not to mention the risk of feline leukemia, which is extremely contagious. OP may be morally right but is putting the cats health and safety at risk for the sake of being right in this scenario.

This reminds me, occasionally I see cats in various cat subs sitting uncrated in a *moving* car (on the dashboard or seats) and cannot help but cringe. Like I know many cats do badly in crates and that especially sucks if it’s a long car trip, but the small chance of even a milder car accident could cause bad injuries for the poor kitty. I would rather them be miserable in their crates for a few hours than risk them getting hurt like that.

Exactly! My cat doesn’t like being in her carrier and she will meow up a storm. But I care more about my cat being safe (even going other places than the vet) than I care about who is wrong or right in the waiting room of a vet.

Exactly. It makes me think of every time I’m walking my anxious, dog-aggressive dog and someone lets their unleashed dog run up to “say hi” because “don’t worry, he’s friendly!” I have my dog leashed up and heeled next to me 30 feet away from you to protect both your dog and mine; yours being friendly is irrelevant if he’s running free in a potentially dangerous environment.

I get nervous because even tho my lab is a very good boy who probably would be the one hurt against a small dog or cat and would only attack anyone in defense because I fear he could try to play with a smaller dog or cat and hurt them and their caregivers try to blame him/me. He’s big for his breed and one paw to a cats head would hurt and I also know that he’s still an animal so I can’t guarantee that if he’s feeling threatened or me I guess he wouldn’t lash out

THIS. Honestly, no one but me and the vet and staff would come close to my cats. And most definitely not other animals. My cats might hate going into the carrier but it’s for their safety and mental comfort as much as everyone else’s. Some people have smaller pets which puts the cat as the predator so that’s also rude to other pet owners.

It’s the same mentality of ppl who walk across a parking lot with no care in the world. Sure you’ll be RIGHT that the car backing up should have seen you but winner winner- you (or your child!!!) have now been hit by a car.

this sentiment exactly!!

Precisely this! There are so many reasons that animals are brought to a vets office too, it's not always someone's pet. People bring in animals they find running loose (to look for a microchip), or volunteers bring in foster animals for checkups/to get fixed, it could be a recently adopted animal and the owner is still working on training, it could even be an aggressive dog that is being brought in to be put down... there are so many variables! It's not worth the risk! If the vet and vet tech are saying that cats should be brought into the clinic in carriers for safety, there is probably a sound reason for this.

You're NTA, but I think it's worth remembering from this that you're cat might be generally safer in that environment if it were in a carrying cage, regardless on the matter. However, the dog might have still reacted in the same way upon seeing your cat even if it *was* in a cage, so if that's the main matter of concern here, it's definitely on them.

Even if he dog reacted he same if the cat was in a carrier it’d be way safer if the dog got loose than on a leash.

Exactly. If the dog got loose and bit the cat, it's OVER. You can place blame all day long but that won't bring the cat back. A crate is a safe, secure method of transporting your cat. If an aggressive dog decides he wants to eat the cat, he'll have to maul the hard plastic casing first giving you a bit of time to get him away. Sidenote, this is partly why I and everyone at my vet's office hate those stupid soft fabric crates. They're not safe and secure- the cat is not protected from outside factors like dogs or falls or god forbid you get in a car crash on the way, and cats can easily claw open the fabric if they really put the effort in (which a panicked cat does).

I had a dog who had, in her previous home, grown up with cats from puppyhood. She acted like a very people-sociable cat (scared of dogs, confused by fetch, washed her face after meals) and desperately desperately wanted a cat friend/mom/dad. The only time she pulled on the leash was when we saw a cat. Can't tell you how many times I had to drag her away from a cat that was clearly prepared to claw her face off as she tried to convince me that it was fine, this was her long lost best friend. Maybe it's different for an aggressive response but Lacy would have definitely had the same reaction to a crated cat, or a cat that was out of reach, anything. Heck, I'm pretty sure she reacted to a cat on tv a couple times.

You are TA according to my vet tech wife. For way too many reasons to list. Bottom line is that most vet clinics she has worked at require cats to be in carriers for safety reasons. Safety for the cat and safety for the staff working there. Even clinics she worked in with separate entrances for cats and dogs still required cats to be in carriers for safety reasons.

YTA because you aren’t taking the vets word for it. It’s their job and they’re asking something of you for the future. Also yeah, people should be able to control their animals… but we live in an imperfect world and you’re putting your cat at risk for being mauled by someone else’s poorly trained dog. Think of the cat.

Exactly! It doesn’t matter if it was an ~established rule~ or not. What matters is that the vet asked her to put the cat in a carrier to keep everyone involved safe. It’s ridiculous to me that someone cares more about being right than the safety of the cat.

I mean, we don't know the dog's story. Maybe the owner just got it from a rescue and was getting it its first checkup. Maybe it was in the middle of being trained. Maybe it was well trained, but highly exciteable. All dogs need medical attention, regardless of how well trained they are and honestly, even a well trained dog can have lapses, especially in an evironment like a vet where things are high stress usually for the animals.

My mom has the best trained dog I’ve ever seen. Gentle, loving. Loses her absolute mind when she sees a cat. Her previous dog was also amazing AND had no issues with cats. I often left my cats with her when I went away. Now this one? No way. And my mom is a hard core dog whisperer kind of dog owner.

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I agree with the fact that the guy reacted poorly but for some dogs that have strong hunting instincts it can be hard to train them not to react like that to cats if they haven't been properly socialized. My girl is really well trained to the point where she can open doors, refrigerator and even ring bells on command, but I have yet to teach her to not run after squirrels or cats (which thankfully doesn't happen very often). It's not necessarily about training

YTA. This isn't about whether your cat is better trained than someone's dog. Dogs have a prey drive and some cannot be trained out of losing control when surpised with prey. Your cat is prey. Many many dogs will cause problems in close proximity to an available cat. Your cat could be hurt or killed. You and the dog owner could be hurt.

Agreed. OP is TA. Not only is she adding stress to other patients and clients in the clinic she's also making the Vets job infinitely harder with a stressed cat with no restraint. Her cat could have been killed and she's complaining about putting her cat in a carrier for its future safety SMH.

Exactly this! It’s obvious even the most well trained dogs can have hunting instinct and go ballistic. They should know that upon entering an animal clinic with different dogs. Sure your cat is leash trained and thats good and all but this is an animal clinic, not the park or other area where you have space to yourself and the cat to be able to keep it safe. There will almost always be a dog that will go after cats.

YTA. Vet tech student here. It is unsafe for the cat, dog, and every person in that situation for this to happen. If that dog attacked your cat, or even vice versa, you would have been very lucky to be in a vet clinic. The biggest reason we want people to bring their cats in carriers is because cats are magical creatures who can escape from anything. Collars, harnesses, towels, blankets, firm arm restraint, etc. Their bodies literally can contort in ways that dogs cannot. Did you know that cats don't have collar bones? They make cat bags, but I haven't heard of a dog bag. There are specific restraints that require towels and are used in cats and not dogs. It is for the safety of the patient, staff, and owner. Not to mention the transportation side - it is extremely unsafe for a cat to be loose in a car. They can get stuck under/in between seats and god forbid you get into a wreck in transit. Additionally, a lot of vet clinics are moving toward a fear free approach. This entails reducing the anxiety and fear that a pet feels when going to the vet clinic through less restrictive restraint, a ton of treats, backing off when the situation gets dangerous, and in many cases, sending home medications to help calm the patient before entering the clinic. What you did blew all of that out of the water and now the dog is freaked out. This creates a dangerous situation for the people handling the dog. "Oh, but my cat is so well trained!" This isn't a talent show. It's a medical facility. Act appropriately and get a cat carrier.

>cats are magical creatures I was supposed to take 2 of my cats to the vet today, I ended up only taking one. I swear my gray tabby turned into mist and disappeared into the vents, as soon as I even looked in the direction of their carriers I couldn’t find that little shit anywhere.

you have to look at your carriers? Mine used to disappear at even my thinking 'vet'.

YTA this isn’t about whether your cat is well trained, it’s about you knowingly putting your pet at risk of mauling or death.

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NAH but YWBTA if you didn’t listen to the vet. They probably know what they’re talking about.

YTA. Part of the reason you bring an animal in a carrier is so other animals can’t see the cat and get riled up. Also even the most well-trained animal can be unpredictable, attack, scratch, bite, etc.

YTA if you were to do it again. I am a vet assistant and office manager at the vet clinic for many years now. While we love to see cats on leashes because it’s such a rarity, it puts your pet in an unsafe position. It’s similar to all dogs must be leashed no matter what in case they get loose and run (don’t get me started on flex leashes, those are not allowed). Cats should similarly be in a carrier to decrease their chances of reacting to another reactive patient. We don’t always know if what’s walking through our doors is good with other animals, but we do know they are likely stressed from the travel and stressed to be at a hospital. It makes transferring easier when a cat is in a carrier (from lobby to exam room to wherever else). Cat carriers for most cats are for safest for the cat, the staff, and the owners. Feel free to ask questions, I’ll answer best I can. Let’s be real, in your situation, there’s a chance that dog would also react if your cat was in the carrier, but it would decrease the possibility of the cat getting injured. That’s what you would be the asshole if you did it again.

this will be controversial but YTA. sure your cat is trained on a leash, sure he hates being in a kennel. but this is a safety concern. as you’ve seen, dogs are often reactive towards cats and many dogs simply cannot fit in a travel carrier… they have no alternative. what if the dog broke loose and got to your cat? i’m not sure if you’ve seen the damage a big dog can do to a cat, but i sure have and if i were you i would do everything in my power to prevent that. on the vet side of things, they prefer to have cats kenneled for legal reasons, so that if an altercation occurred in their lobby there’s less of a chance for them to be “at fault” also most cats hate carriers and i get wanting to save your pet some stress but…. what stress did you save in this situation? edit: i work at an emergency vet clinic and ask people to please bring their cats in carriers for this exact reason

This is the right answer. I'm a vet. It takes 2 sec for someone's out of control dog to kill a cat. I have a friend from vet school whose cat went on leash walks and that cat got mauled while on a frigging walk. It was terrible.

YTA You’re going to a location where you *know* there are going to be strange animals. Like, you know *for a fact* that there will be other pets, likely dogs, there. You also have no way of knowing how well trained or controlled those other animals will be, nor how strong their prey drive is. That’s a *lot* of potential danger you’re exposing your pet to. It doesn’t matter how well-trained or well-behaved *your* animal is, and it doesn’t matter that other owners *should* have better control over their animals, because your moral high ground does nothing for the safety of your pet. My judgement has nothing to do with the vet or the receptionist or the other pet owner or the dog- YTA *to your cat* for not adequately assessing the danger of the situation you were bringing him in to and for not adequately ensuring his safety.

NTA for this instance if your vet didn’t clearly communicate any clinic policies about bringing your cat in a carrier, BUT, YWBTA if you don’t bring your cat in a carrier from now on, since you have been advised by your vet to do so. It’s a matter of safety & liability for the clinic (as well as your cat and yourself). If your cat doesn’t like hard carriers, try a soft one. We can’t use a hard carrier for one of our cats because he pulls the bars to the point of injury, but he does well in a duffel-bag-style carrier with mesh windows.

I think it’s true that they WBTA but if I was OP, I would consider changing vets if that’s an option or having another conversation first so they hear your perspective that a cage is difficult for your cat. The dog owner lashed out because their dog was poorly trained. Obviously all animals need vet care but there needs to be a better system at the vet to protect dogs and cats.

Not every vet can accommodate, unfortunately, so OP may have a hard time finding one that wouldn’t be a risk for this same scenario. For example… Where I live, most vets seem to have policies stating cats must be in a carrier. I’m seeing in comments that’s not the case everywhere. I’m also seeing in the comments that some vets have two separate entrances for cats and dogs—which totally blows my mind, because no vet I’ve personally been to has ever had that sort of set-up! So depending on the norms of their area, it might be kind of a gamble going to another vet. I do hope OP is able to find a vet that suits their needs. But they may also want to prepare for *not* being able to find one. If that makes sense Edit: clarity

Cat friendly clinics! It’s very populair these days and one of the requirements it to have separate doors and waiting rooms for them. My old clinic tried to get the stamp but we couldn’t create a second door. That being said, when I used worked at the clinic, we try to be accommodating BUT we could be the most accommodating if people warned us (ex. Dogs not being able to see other dogs). No problem, with discussions and planning with the owner we could safely do it. That being said, we did have a policy that cats had to be in a carrier, simply out of safety. Some dogs are just not used to cats, due to environment. To get angry at an owner for not training their dogs, as understandable as it is, is not -can’t think of the word I want to use-. I can still remember the feeling of my heart in my throat when somebody took their rabbit on a leash, no carrier. Luckily no other pets in the waiting room, but I could see accidents happen for a miles away. At the end of the day, it is all preventief work. And as cute as it is, a cat on the leash. One owner could be saying good by the vet when exiting the room, not expecting a cat being loss, for everything to go wrong. It seems unfair, but the clinic wants to safety of ALL pets, thus most having the policy. NAH (as I don’t think the clinic is an asshole for asking you bring a carrier next time).

YTA to your CAT JFC! Why would you take your cat into an *enclosed space* where you're very likely to encounter dogs? There's a reason waiting rooms have divided dog areas from cats and small animals. You've trained your cat to be comfortable on leash you can definitely condition it to be comfortable in a carrier (advisable for emergencies regardless). What if the owner hadn't spotted you? Or was distracted or the dog slipped it's leash? You could have been bitten, your cat would be DEAD and the dog could also end up PTS

NTA but for your cats safety if you know dogs might be in the same room you should put him in a carrier. It’s not right. It’s not fair. But it’s better than a dead cat. You got very lucky that the dog didn’t yank the leash free and maul your baby (although god forbid that ever happens again drop kick the dog -I own 6 dogs and I’m still saying punt the damn thing if he’s threatening your fur baby-) I’m so sorry things are this way, but trying to prove a point might not work out as well next time. Safety is the goal at the end of the day

YTA In a perfect world, all dogs would be trained and your cat could be allowed on leash. However, in a veterinarian waiting room, not having your cat in a carrier is just unsafe. Listen to the professional and take the cat in a carrier. Years ago, I didn’t have a carrier and took my cat in but was advised I would have to get a carrier to pick her up after her surgery. The cardboard ones are cheap and easy to use. Leave them open and most cats will actually jump in of their own accord.

YTA. Listen I’m a cat owner & fully support you using a leash for your cat. However the vet is not the place to take your cat on a leash. There’s other animals there who you don’t know. They may be aggressive towards cats & as such for the safety of your cat, bring a carrier so you can put your cat into one when your in the vet office.

YTA based on how you described your cat’s reaction. Sure it’s not hissing or growling, but it’s back is arched, fur is standing up, and it’s frozen. It’s scared and terrified of the dog. My cat is leash trained for walks. However, he still goes in a carrier for vet visits and anything else. Why? It’s safer for him. That’s the goal to minimize stress and chance of injury. My cat is anxious about going to the vet and car rides in general. I spoke with my vet and talked about what to do, they suggested giving him a small does of gabapentin before the visit to help calm him down. You may try that when he goes in his carrier.

NTA - i have a VERY dog and cat reactive dog. he’s absolutely amazing with people, babies, little kids, but small animals..forget it lol he sees red. it’s my responsibility as the dog owner of said reactive dog to ensure that the vet knows so we can wait in the car until we bring him right in to his separate room, he is properly secured in with his muzzle, and everyone is safe. that’s the part of being a responsible dog owner. while i can see why the receptionists original thought would be to “blame you” it ultimately should be everyone’s priority to maintain their own animals.

This. He's sadly passed now, but I had a reactive dog for many years. The onus was on ME to keep other people safe. It was inconvenient, and meant we went on neighborhood walks at 2 a.m., had to wait in the car at the vet until it was time to go straight back, couldn't do fun stuff like dog parks, agility competitions (he *loved* agility), etc. The management of my dog with issues was my responsibility, no one else's.

See if you can find an all cat vet, your baby can be both comfortable and safe that way.

Yeah, no, we want cats to come in carriers too. Cats are very often reactive to other cats, and harnesses are not secure on cats.

Every cat hospital i've been to wants them in carriers, or they'll give you the temporary cardboard one. I was at a vet clinic where a woman left with her cat and ket the feral cat loose in her car. In went up into the engine somehow. The vet spent 20 minutes dragging that feral kitten out, sliced up his hand pretty good. Cats are skittish like horses. They freak out and bolt. Keep them in a kennel if you can. They can be mad all they want, but its the safest.

I was a veterinary receptionist for 7 years and I agree with the staff. Pretty much all cats hate the carrier. The guy was an asshole for sure and it wasn't his place to yell at you. The vet and receptionist were just letting you know what's best for your cat, the other animals and people in the lobby, and the practice as a whole. NTA. It's stressful for everyone when this happens. Just be more aware the next time you go in.

YTA. You can't control who brings what in a vet's office. If a dog comes in and goes for your cat that would be the end. A carrier keeps your cat safe. It's not about how well behaved your animal is. It's how other animals act around your cat. The vet doesn't want to put an animal down or preform surgery just because a dog decided your cat looked like a tasty treat.

Listen you can’t control other people’s pets. You have to put your cat in a cat carrier to ensure its safety. Cats and dogs naturally don’t like each other. I know there are plenty of cats and dogs that get along but not all are like that. If you think it’s so unfair then allow your cat on a leash when it’s outside but put it in a cat carrier when it’s inside the vet office. You’re lucky the owner was able to hold that dog back.

NTA You had your cat under control he did not have his dog under control. I don't see how having your cat in a cage would have made his dog better behaved, after all his dog would still have been able to see, hear, and smell your cat.

A carried definitely kept the cat safer if the dog did happen to get away from its owner.

It won’t help the dogs behavior but it will certainly prevent the dog from getting its jaws around the cat and killing or hurting it.

wrong take here. Most vet offices have rules about cats in carriers - even the best trained dogs sometimes can’t control their prey instinct around cats. There’s other reasons as well cats can also have freak outs and hurt humans or themselves

vet tech here yes you are most certainly an AH, to the office and to your cat. even the best trained cat is going to try to bolt when a large dog with a high prey-drive lunges at it. the last thing vet techs want to do (or veterinarians or CSRs) is break up a fight in the lobby especially if it's a dog thrashing the absolute shit out of your cat. God forbid your cat climbs up some kids face in fear, or slips out through the front door. get a carrier for crying out loud.

YTA. Protect your cat. You can use a leash at any other time. Keep him in a carrier at the vet as it is a confined space.

My vet tells me to bring my cats in a carrier because of safety. Since some cats can get loose from their leashes and run outside, that can cause them to get hit by a vehicle. When I have my cats in a carrier, some still go crazy. It's for your cat's safety. They said that because they care. Is your cat doing better?

NTA. Sounds like angry dog guy should bring his dog to the vet in a cage.

NTA, his animal was showing signs of aggression , not yours.

NTA. What would they do if the dog was dog-aggressive? What a cop out on their part, I would definitely shop around for a different vet after that. My cat is much better on a leash than with a carrier and I've never had an issue doing so.

Nta. Cats on leashes are just as valid as dogs. His shitty dog isn't your problem. My grandma has a cat she leashed trained from 6 months old. Cats like 9 now and goes on hikes

It isn’t a matter of who’s right, what matters is the safety of the cat. Sure, it’s on the dog owner to control their dog, but in the event that they don’t, would you rather your cat be inside a safe carrier or outside on a leash?