Taking Kitty to Vet

[kgeorge]

I took Sundacne to the vet 2 times so far and both times he went into the carrier fine, I have to take hime Friday so I was practing putting him in the carrier and he didn't like it. I have left the carrier out since the last time. Anyone have any tips on getting cats into the carrier, it is a front loading and top loading so I have my choice, I thought of picking him up with some tuna in one hand and then just plopping him in. Any help would be appreciated. :0

[Pam]

That's the worst part of going to the vet! I had to even cancel an appointment one time because I couldn't get kitty into the carrier. Considering that they are so small, next to us, it is amazing that they have the upper hand but they do! The vet's office was very understanding (I called in plenty of time) and they said they have even had people cancel because they can't find their kitties. Something about the carrier makes them disappear! They suggested next time that I put kitty in a pillowcase and lower him into the carrier. Haven't done it yet but both kitties have appointments on 2/21. This should be interesting! I'll let you know how I do.

[4 feline house]

What has been working for me for years is setting the carrier up on its side, with the open door facing the ceiling, and then lowering my cats in feet first. I think the head-first thing kind of freaks them out. It has not been fool-proof, and I sometimes still get pretty bloody, but overall it's alot easier. This works, too, if you have more cats than cages and have to double up. Good luck! And good luck to little Sundance!

[wolflady]

You said it Pam! It is funny how they always seem to have the upper...uh...paw? Anywho, this topic made me think about getting a stray cat into a carrier. I have been feeding a neighborhood stray since I moved into my new house. I swear, I'm a cat magnet...any stray in the area will find me, cuz I think they know that I will feed them. Anyhow, there is a stray/feral program at the vet that I go to (same vet that the cat rescue uses), and what it is is a $10 program where you bring a stray or feral cat in, and it gets all its shots and even fixed if it needs that done. Well, I am really wanting to get Crookshanks (I've named her Crookshanks after the cat in the Harry Potter series of books, and because it looks like her tail was broken earlier and healed in a very bad way...poor thing!)into the program. The thing is, how do I even get her there?? Should I get a separate carrier and leave it out for her to explore and get comfortable with?

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"In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats." - English proverb

[Pam]

Wolf Lady......I decided to bring the carriers up from the basement last night and put them in the dining room with the doors open. I wanted them to get used to seeing them. Well when I brought the first one up, Trevor went right in and sat down. It was very tempting to close the door and keep him in there until next Wednesday!! Now if I had brought them up an hour before the appointment I am sure he would have never gone in. Wonder if he can read the notations on my calendar!

[thelmalu99]

Pam,
That was really funny about keeping Trevor in the carrier until Wednesday!
It was a good idea to leave the carrier out for him to explore. That's what I did with Charlie. He was even sleeping on it!(soft carrier) When the time came, I didn't make a big fuss about it, I just put him in front of the carrier door and gave him a little push in. I left it in the same spot that he was used to seeing it in, so nothing would seem "fishy" to him. It was fine, and I had given myself 45 minutes of "wrestling" time to try to get him in, so I ended up having all this time to spare!

[Fuzzy317]

A few months ago, a little stray kitten, only 6-7 weeks old, started hanging around our house. It would jump on a window and see our Rosie and start loving all over the glass. It didn't know our Rosie was trying to swat is through the glass. We named her Sweet-pea, nicknamed her Little-bit.

To catch it: We first just sat some food outside to get it used to us some. We went the next day and got a spring loaded trap. We put food in there without setting the trap to have it comfortable being inside. Then the next day we set the springs. She came back but the trap didn't spring, we didn't have it set correctly. Our son went around the house to try sneaking up and spring the trap with her in there. He missed her.
We reset the trap for later. She was back at it for food in about 10 minutes, she must have been hungry. This time the trap worked. To make a long story short: We took her straight to a vet a few times in the next few weeks, and always keeping her seperate from the other cats for fear of FIV. I am not a doctor so forgive me if I get this wrong: It was determined she had a shunt(sp?). Her body was not sending blood like it should to her liver, so she was getting sicker and sicker. She was not doing well, and she was suffering because of this, so the vet suggested she visit the rainbow bridge. It was a hard time for us all. We still have fond memories of her.

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Fuzzy317 - Recently adopted by a dog, 3 cats, and my fiancee

[wolflady]

Ok, I think I will get a separate carrier and sit it outside for her to explore. Hopefully that will make everything easier! I called my vet today and I got Crookshanks into the stray/feral cat program. I'm scheduled to drop her off on March 1st in the morning. They said that what they do is test the cat for FIV. If she comes back FIV+, then they will euthanize her(because they don't want it spread to the homeless cat population) If she comes back FIV- then they will vaccinate her and spay her if she needs it. Then they will put a notch in her ear so she can be identified and a 'fixed' cat. Oh, how I would keep her and let her inside in an instant, but my husband doesn't want a 3rd cat in our small home, especially since we already have one with behavior problems and he's a handfull!! I've never been fond of the outdoor pet idea, but at least the weather isn't so harsh here. I'm just afraid that if she gets surgury, putting her back outside right away just doesn't seem right. Are there any types of enclosures for cats that can keep them warm and dry? Right now we have a wooden box with carpet inside for her to lay in, but it's not very big, and I'm afraid the rain will soak in and she'll get wet anyway. I do have a very small fenced yard and have thought about moving her and her box back there where she would be protected from any other animals that are running loose in the area. Any ideas for inexpensive enclosures for cats?

Fuzzy, so sorry to hear about the kitten. I'm sure that was a tough decision, but you did everything you could for her, and that was probably the best thing to do in a situation like that. It's never easy, but you can be comforted knowing that Sweet-pea is running free with all our beloved ones before us and that she'll be waiting to show her gratitude for the kindness that you showed her in such a short time

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"In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats." - English proverb

[HowieDawn]

Spencer, I was looking at that just now (but i have to admidt that i just looked at the picture...-i am at work) and I was wondering, are you using a chain linked fence or a wooden fence. How do you keep the little monsters from digging out beneath?
Just curious. My husband and I talked about making a contraption like this last summer.

KGeorge, I have one of the little kitty houses. (actually a couple around the house) Beside of their favorite, I keep on of the cat carriers. They love to run in and out of the carrier and act like kids...it's their play house. I tried the plastic carriers, but they hated them...would spit and growl at them. I found the ones I use at petsmart, and they are fairly cheap. http://www.petsmart.com/products/product_15749.shtml Walmart has them as well.
Since I leave the carrier out all of the time, they just hop right in when we go to the vet or anywhere else. i guess I am one of the "lucky" people in this CATagory
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Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails, Explore, Dream.
-Mark Twain

[This message has been edited by HowieDawn (edited February 17, 2001).]

[wolflady]

Spencer, the net is a great idea! Thanks for sharing your plans

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"In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats." - English proverb

[Laura]

Relating to your question about getting the cat into the carrier...the best way I've found is to leave the carrier sitting out in the cats' room all the time. They get used to it. When I actually have to put them in the carrier, because they still DO NOT like going in there, I snag them and flip them around and put them in rear first. They don't have time to get their paws out to catch the edge of the carrier, and they can't scratch me if I'm fast enough. By the time they realize what's happened, I've shut the door and they're on the way to the car. I'm not popular for a couple of days after, but I suppose that's part of being owned by two very proud kitties.