Update on my girls/need some advice

[Vermontcat]

I'm sorry I haven't had time to post many pictures of Milly and Izzy lately, here is a quick update and a couple of photos of them.

Milly has roundworms, she threw one up the other day after eating some grass outside. She also has gained over a pound since we got her two months ago and she eats like a little pig.
I contacted my vet today and got Drontal pills to give to both Milly and Izzy to treat the worms. When I first got Milly and Izzy in September, I took them to the vet to update their shots and get more frontline for their fleas but their fecal exam didn't show any worms at the time.
I'm really not surprised that Milly has worms because she used to be an outdoor cat at her old home and she would hunt and eat wild birds and mice.
So tonight with my husband's help we tried to pill both cats. I asked for advice when I got the pills at the vet's office and I also checked online and found tips and photos on how to give cats pills. This is something new for me, for 20 years Samantha never needed a single pill. I also wasn't sure how Milly and Izzy would react since I had never given them a pill before and I don't know if they ever had to take any pills when they lived with their old owners.

Milly was pretty good about taking her 1 1/2 pills, the first one went pretty well and she got a treat after. The 1/2 pill I didn't get far enough back in her mouth and she kept spitting it back out until it started getting slimy. Finally she got it down and we gave her a squirt of water to help.
We tried to give Izzy her pill but she is very squirmy and hard to hold on to, she struggled so much that my husband lost his grip on her and she scratched him pretty bad as she got away from him. He decided that he doesn't want to try to pill her again until tomorrow night and I guess we will try to wrap her in a heavy towel when we do it.
If anyone has any advice on how to make it easier to give Izzy her pill please let me know. I know they make pill shooters, we may try that if we can't get the pill down her throat tomorrow night. At least the vet said just the one time pill is needed and luckily we were able to get Milly to take hers so she can start feeling better soon.

Sorry I rambled on so long, here are a couple of photos of Milly and Izzy to make up for it.

I like the way Milly's shadow looks in this photo.


She has gained some weight since we got her, she was pretty sleek when she first got here.


Izzy in her cozy catbed.


Izzy looking out the window.

It is also hard to trim Izzy's nails, I was able to trim Milly's earlier today but Izzy only lets me do a couple at a time. So any advice on how to handle a squirmy little kitty like Izzy to trim nails and give pills would be appreciated.

[Moesha]

Did they say anything about trying pill pockets or smashing the pill up in some tuna juice or canned food to get her to it eat that way?

[Freedom]

I don't have a second pair of hands available and had to develop methods for one person.

1. Sit in the recliner. Wedge the cat in between me and the arm of the chair. I wedge in on MY left, as I am right handed. then I struggle to open the jaw - it is easiest if you apply pressure at the joint on either side, that is the weakest point. Then just get the pill down.

Doesn't matter how often you have to do the pilling, get the cat in this position in the recliner with you a few times a day, and have nice treat on hand. Some tuna fresh from the can works, she can smell it. That way, she never knows when it is pill time.

2. If you have a section of kitchen counter which is in an "ell" shape, that will also provide a place where the cat can't back out. Worked well in my apartment; not so good here as I would have to hold the cat with my right and use my left to get the pill in the mouth. I am right handed so it is all wrong for me. *shrugs*

I never had success with wrapping in a towel, yet I know others on here find that a good method.

Each person -- and each cat -- is different.

Cutting nails: if she lets you do a few at a time, be happy with that! Keep a trat handy, reward for what she allows you to do. If she will tolerate 4, try doing 3 and giving a treat and stop! It won't be a struggle for her and she won't fear it as much next go around. After a time you can work this through, as long as you don't really frighten her by insisting you are doing ALL of them NOW, whether she wants you to or not! It is hard to remember that they are not on our time schedule.

Even a cat who normally allows me to do all right through will once in a while show signs that "that is enough!" and I will stop, pick up where I left off another day.

[cassiesmom]

Oh, no, Milly! Roundworms are not good. And dear Izzy, I hope you and Meowmie get through the full course of medicine.

[Medusa]

I place a cat on the countertop facing right. (I'm right handed.) W/my left hand I place 4 fingers on one side of the head and my thumb on the other, tilt the head back, which automatically opens their mouth, and pop the pill in, then massage the throat. They're so accustomed to it that they don't even fight me any more. Trimming nails, well, that's another story. Some of them are docile enough to let me do all 4 paws. Some, such as my meezer Coco Puff likes to nip at my hand. He never really sinks his teeth in but it hinders me from getting a good clip. If I can do the front paws, I'm lucky. I don't think I've ever done all of Yodie's front paws, maybe 3 at a time and by the time I get to do the rest, the last 3 have grown back. Yodie's serious; she bites and swats, too! LOL Sorry that I can't be of more help w/the claw clipping.

[orangemm]

When we clip claws, it takes 2 of us. Jeff holds and clips, I hold the two paws that aren't getting clipped. Binky is a struggler, so while Jeff is clipping, I hold a troll doll and rub it on his face. It seems to calm him down a lot! Then after they are clipped, we reward with catnip party!

[sasvermont]

2 people
1 towel
1 counter top or a surface high enough for you to not have to learn over
cover cat with appendage out (head or paw) with one person holding on to that growling, squirming, furry thing that is in major league protest mode.

person #2 either works the mouth open with one hand, prying it open at the corners and back and with the other hand tossing the pill ALL the way back in the throat.....or if clipping, holding the squirming paw in one hand and clipping with the other...the angle is important...so that you can see how you are clipping. I often clip when they are napping in the sun and are relaxed.

The pill thing, well, since they catch on after pill one, I usually try to carry the pill around in my pocket and leap on them when the opportunity strikes...when they least suspect it. Then capture them in the towel and the race begins. If I can do it as one - I suspect you two can do it. Just be firm....but sweet, but IN CHARGE.. Mine are fine at the vets, because they know they cannot get away, but here, its another story.

I would also keep them apart while you are torturing the other one......they hear the howling etc. and then cat #2 is no where to be found..... I have found that hours can go by before cat #2 feels ok about coming around....and then I pounce.

It isn't pretty, but necessary. Miley, bless her heart, perfected the art of looking like she had swallowed the pill, and then would, minutes later, drop it on the floor..........little devil.

Good luck. Hehehehheheheh. Hope hubby's arm gets better soon!

[emily_the_spoiled]

The Pill Pockets are wonderful inventions (I have one cat who gets a pill every day). If that doesn't work, I have put the cat in a sweatshirt sleeve with their head out the cuff (the rest of the body is then trapped). That allows me to open their mouth and shoot the pill in.

To clip their claws I hold them between my legs and basically "sit" on them to hold them in place. Clip their front claws and then have some treats ready...(I don't normally clip the back unless necessary)