The Net

[Cataholic]

I wanted to share something with all of you, especially those of you that have a, uh, um, certain "breed" of cat that doesn't take too well to a visit to the white coats. In all my years of living with felines, and visiting the vet, I have never witnessed such a sight.

Lillycat has a certain striped boy, Indra, that is a cross between a viper, a famished panther, and an eel. Difficult to imagine, but, true. We took Indra to a new white coats, one with a focus on homeopathic medicine to address his diabetes (steriod induced), mange like coat and borderline OCD grooming (to the point of skin infections). I warned the white coat about Indra's special skill and frankly, she seemed to pay no attention to my stern warnings. We talked at lenght, and then it was time. Time to let the monster out of the carrier (sorry Indra and Lillycat).

The vet said she would be right back (and we presumed she was going to get the gloves and personnel reinforcment). Instead, she walks back in- calmly, with a fishing net! A large fishing net, with the circle scoop mouth and pole. She had me dump the carrier mouth into the net, and of course, Indra was a byproduct of the movement. Next I know, Indra is at the bottom of a fishing net. (He he he). The vet then used a series of turns and twists to tighten the net around Indra in such a way that he was netted down, unable to move his viper mouth around to inflict wounds, unable to move, really, BUT, ready for close physical exam. It was amazing. Of course, Indra did not like it, and let us know with this series of yowls and screams that would make excellent sound effects for a slasher movie. Infact, Jonah and Lillycat had to exit the exam room as they both were unsettled by his noise.

I will take my boy, Gussers, into her for this reason alone. Gussers bit our normal vet on both hands, deeply. Gussers freaks out, and this vet would be able to physically exam him, and give him injections, if necessary! What an eye opening experience, and I just wanted to pass along the information.

We asked our own vet, and he had never heard of such a tactic. Not sure he is willing to learn it, but, wow, what a difference it could make.

[Killearn Kitties]

Never heard of that one myself.
Poor baby!

[Karen]

Wow! That sounds fabulous! What a smart lady! (Sorry, Indra - I think I can still hear your anger echoing in the air!)

[lvpets2002]

yES watching the Animal Planet so much = I have seen it done alot.. The animal cops use that tactic a bunch.. It does not harm the animal (if you do it the right way) & saves your skin..

[Cinder & Smoke]

The vet said she would be right back ...
she walks back in - calmly, with a fishing net!
A large fishing net, with the circle scoop mouth and pole.

The vet then used a series of turns and twists to tighten the net around Indra
in such a way that he was netted down, unable to move his viper mouth around
to inflict wounds, unable to move, really, BUT, ready for close physical exam.

Don't you remember the (old) cartoons where the Hero Dog Catcher
chased the NawTee Dawg - with the BIG Net?
If I remember, the Catcher Guy wound up IN the net more often than the Dog did.

I remember (LONG ago) a BAT got in the house in P-burgh ... Mom wasn't too thrilled;
Sis & I thought it was "neet" till the critter dive-bombed US.
Dad came home, took one look, and headed for the basement.
Back in a minute with - yup - his favorite short-handled, fine mesh Trout Net!
Took him a couple of practice swings, but Mr. BAT was nicely *netted* on
about the third swing - and headed back outside to the great outdoors.

More'n one way to skin a Kat!

[Randi]

I can't help but feeling sorry for Indra, but I can see your point. Hope Indra calmed down soon after and wasn't too angry.

One time when Fister had to go to a pension, he was netted too, and he was NOT thrilled!!

This is an extract of what John wrote back then:

We have spent a lot of time searching for a suitable place for him, and once tried a kennel slightly closer to where we live, and felt comfortable with it since it was run by a Vet. What an incompetent fool he turned out to be! We had carefully explained about Fisters rather special habits, and he seemed nice and understanding. The cats had a cage each, and a free area where they could mix if they wish. When we got back, I phoned him to arrange to fetch Fister, and explained that he would have to sedate him to get him in his box. “No problem” says the guy, he’s as mild as you can imagine, I can get him in the carrier with no problems. I could hardly believe my ears, was Fister going all soft on us? So we arrive at the vets, and he brings out the carrier and proudly shows us the contents. A small longhaired orange cat looking nothing like Fister at all! In all the time Fister had been there, I don’t think he’d seen a single hair of him. So then he had to be found and netted, and THEN he sedated Fister! When we arrived home, we found that Fister was scratched in the face and had a terrific cold. We were hopping mad, and the vet didn’t get his full fees.

[Cataholic]

Randi,
I do remember that story about Fister! That would have been the same startled look on our face if someone said Indra was all calm, no problem.

My mom CAN get Indra into the carrier, kind of a sneak attack. But, a physical exam is impossible. When you consider the necessity of the exam vs. the public humiliation of being netted, I have to say the net is a better idea. Indra was not harmed- physically- by the net. And, he spent probably 20 minutes in there, on top of the table, and calmed down. Not to the point of making an exam possible. This vet knew what she was doing, and was able to flip Indra over and examine his belly and inside of his legs, something that hadn't been done in years. I don't think the net training/experience is for the feint of heart, for sure.

[Barbara]

The way you describe Indra - I think it was the best way to go.
Funny that cats can have fish character. Filou's an eel as well- but no famished panther

[jenluckenbach]

What an excellent tactic! Congratulations to that vet for the ingenuity.

[kitten645]

Wow that seems like a sensible thing!
I work where there is a large outdoor pond and ducks have settled there. We have our duckling rescue kit in my office. Wellies and two different size nets. The babies get stuck in the silliest, most precarious places...in drains mostly, so off we go to scoop them up and rescue them. Seems like a clever plan to me!
Claudia

[Killearn Kitties]

I remember when we first used to take our cats for their injections, they were a lot more wild then and they did not handle at all. The vet used to put them in what she called a crush pen, which sounds awful, but was just a pen where the top moved down and the sides moved in to hold the cat steady. She could then inject the cat through the top grid.

[krazyaboutkatz]

Wow! What a neat idea. I've never heard of a vet doing this before. When I took Ziggy to an eye specialist they use the cat sacks and zip them closed so that only the animals heads are sticking out. Then the animals can't move but they'd still be able to bite if they wanted to. I'm glad that you found the right vet for him.

[catmandu]

ALMOND ROCCA WAS BANNED BY TWO VET CLINICS AS SHE WAS AN EIGHT POUND BUNDLE OF TERROR.
SHE HID IN THE FAKE CEILNG AT ONE PLACE FOR THREE WEEKS AND AT THE VETS WHEN I GOT HER THERE SHE GOT IN BEHIND THE COMPUTER THAN BILLED THE PATIENTS , AND IT TOOK TWO DAYS TO GET HER OUT AND THEY NEEDE ALL NEW WIRING!!!!
SAD TO SAY JUST AS WE WERE PALS, SHE HAD A MASSIVE STROKE AND KIDNEY FAILURE AND PASSED ON.
MU MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL CAT, IT TOOK 2 YEARS BEFORE I COULD PET HER, BUT IT WAS WORTH IT!!!