The cat: part 2

[wraithfodder]

First off thanks to everyone who commented in the previous post. It's much appreciated!!

Part 2: during one pilling session, he fought like a wildcat, then, because his back was to my chest, he slammed his head up and smacked me in the face, drawing blood with one fang. Fortunately it was just one single hole. I make it a point to wear my glasses so I don't lose an eye!

So, pilling is, er, difficult...We're grinding up the pill and injecting it with water into mouth. Still a nasty process, but less chance of being bitten again.

The subQ, however, is placing cat on ironing board, grabbing skin, sticking needle in (he made a brief noise and attempted to bolt but then settled down).

I must admit Iet my brother the former EMT do the honors of jabbing it, although I am going to have to do it.

Odd that stabbing cat with needle is easy, but prying open the mini Jaws from hell is difficult. Aieee...

Comments

[black-raven135.livejournal.com]

Pilling is difficult???
ROFL
Try almost impossible
I had to wrap my cat in a towel, looked like how they babies
in Russia, and even then it was a task
She had to take them for five long agonizing days.


But here's a little greeting for 'the cat'. . .

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

OMG my cat is going to need pills FOREVER. But we're looking into liquid vitamins, or a cat food that contains everything he needs, if such a food exists.

[black-raven135.livejournal.com]

If you can figure out some way to deliver it liquid, it will make it so much easier...........
I love how the vet told me 'so easy, just slip the pill between her teeth and inside cheek and then gently massage her throat so she swallows' or words like that.......
((((rolls eyes))))))
I already related what I had to do and it was just not EASY

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Ugh, why can't cats be like dogs when it comes to taking pills? If possible I'll usually dissolve pills into wet cat food but even then it's still a hassle - my cats don't particularly care for wet cat food. Crushing it up, putting it in water and squirting it in sounds like a good idea. They give the cats at the animal shelter liquid meds, and though there's still a bit of a fight involved it is so much easier compared to force feeding.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

That would make a good reality show: Pilling Cats! Every week a different person tries to pill their cat. It never works out, I swear!

[piplover.livejournal.com]

Pilling cats is horrible. One of my cats has an auto-immune disease, so he's been raised with pilling and still fights me, though not enough to be a real problem. Is there anyway you can use pill pockets? I found some by Greenies, and OMG, it makes it so much easier. They think they're getting a treat, and they usually don't even notice the pill inside.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

I think he'd spist it out but with his renal issues, I'd have to make sure ingredients are okay. Trouble is the vitamin pills are sorta large, and the Baytril tastes yucky.

[piplover.livejournal.com]

Here's the ones I get. http://www.petfooddirect.com/Product/5254/Greenies-Pill-Pockets-Feline-Chicken-Flavor-Cat-Treats

A list of the ingredients is at the bottom. I can totally understand, though. Rodney can't have any fish, and for the longest time he was on baby food because regular wet catfood made him swell up. Could you try babyfood? My vet suggested it when Rodney was having a lot of issues, and it worked really well, since you can get the chicken or beef baby food that's just meet and water.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Cat seems to love baby food, but I'm going to get him onto wet catfood due to the nutrients and taurine that the cat needs.

[anariazanyr.livejournal.com]

I had the same problem with pilling one of my cats (who didn't?) and I was jealous of the vet who did it so easily. I asked him to show me how to do it. If you grab the skin back of their neck (where their mother carries them) and pull back a little, they will freeze, and won't move at all until you let go. With your other hand you can easily open their mouth and put the pill where it should go. They will swallow it. The trick is to find the right spot to grab, but I'm sure if you ask your vet he will show you.
There is another way with holding the cat's head, but than somebody has to hold down the rest because you risk scratching otherwise.

This demonstrates both, but with the second it could scratch it it wanted to.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQ330ikMi8M

(don't mind me, just one of your long time lurker is trying to give you advice :) )

[anariazanyr.livejournal.com]

I had the same problem with pilling one of my cats (who didn't?) and I was jealous of the vet who did it so easily. I asked him to show me how to do it. If you grab the skin back of their neck (where their mother carries them) and pull back a little, they will freeze, and won't move at all until you let go. With your other hand you can easily open their mouth and put the pill where it should go. They will swallow it. The trick is to find the right spot to grab, but I'm sure if you ask your vet he will show you.
There is another way with holding the cat's head, but than somebody has to hold down the rest because you risk scratching otherwise.

This demonstrates both, but with the second it could scratch it it wanted to.

watch?v=GQ330ikMi8M

(don't mind me, just one of your long time lurker is trying to give you advice :) Sorry if it's double, but the first time it said the comment was marked spam (probably because of the youtube link I cut in half now)

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Ah, yeah, it could have been caught as spam Heh, the vet always has better luck than we do. I'd rather pill an alligator. At least there's more to grab. This cat is only about 7-8 pounds and skinny and sorta reptilian (in the way he can slink quickly out of hands!) ;)

[alyssa22.livejournal.com]

Pilling the poor things is awful. I hate to think how I'd go with Cookie or Maisie. Edie might be doable.

Kasper was a dream, though. Being deaf, I'd sneak up behind him and it'd be in his little gob before he knew what hit him! After a while, he just accepted it.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Wow, my cat sure isn't like that!

[jaekayelle.livejournal.com]

If you're resorting to grinding up the pill get a pill crusher, and then mix the ground up pill in yogurt. I did that with Desi and it worked like a charm. He thought he was getting a treat. Just a tablespoon of flavoured yogurt. might want to try out some flavours first to make sure he likes it and you don't waste a pill. Desi always licked the bowl clean. He liked most berry flavours, peach and vanilla. :)

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

HE's done with the nasty pills, now just vitamins. We're going to get some liquid vitamins. It's just safer for us humans to administer ;)