What a trying experience - lol! I just tried for about 20 minutes to get my cat, Fluffy, into her carrier to get her to the vets. No such luck, she was flat-out determined that she was not getting into that carrier for anybody. After 20 minutes of trying and getting scratched on my hand, I have rescheduled her appointment for Thursday. Hopefully I'll have better luck then, or I will be able to get somebody to help me out.

Here's what I learned:

turn the cat cage on its back, with the opening pointed up. Pick up your cat and drop him/her in feet first. They have no choice but to fall in. Sounds creul, but they're fine--it's not far to fall. And their health requires it!!

You know what, I tried that a few times, and that was when I wound up getting a big ole scratch on my hand. Thanks for the tip, guess I will need someone's help on Thursday.

This thread simply. will. not. do.

I mean honestly psychodelicide, does America care about what you do with your cats?

This thread is something I could see on any internet forum from here to Klingon territory.

Sorry. Next.

psychodelicide said:

Holding them firmly by the scruff of the neck, like their mamas used to do, can also sometimes work wonders in getting them to chill.

I feel for you.

yeah i hear you. fortunately for me, i have a net and can catch my birds when they won't go willingly into the pet carrier. they know about the vet, but don't care to go inside a small enclosed space. i use a basic cat carrier for my birds that's lined and has perches, so gettin them in that tricky little door is. .. tricky. and they bite. hard.

but a cat. hmmmm. sharp teeth and claws, intelligent and calculating. i dunno. the only time i had to deal with a cat was one that got hit by a car. when i bent to see how it was it went for me with all it's claws way out. snagged my sleeve, almost got my wrist. .. . luckily i had a big raincoat to sort of toss over the cat and get a grip. but, it wasn't pretty. can you bribe the cat into the carrier with catnip or something? or throw a blanket over it and pin it down?

Tackam will know what to do! She's a vet tech!

SimonCowell said:

Simon

AnotherLoverToo said:

I hesitate to do that, because the night that I went to pick Fluffy up, her foster mom grabbed her by the scruff of the neck, and Fluffy did not like it. She let out an angry meow.

XxAxX said:

Aww what happened to the cat who got hit by a car ? Did it survive, the poor thing.

I tried bribing Fluffy into the carrier with catnip, food, even tried to throw a towel over her and put her into the carrier, but none of those things worked.

What is even more funny about this story is that my other cat, Reebok, loves the cat carrier. As I was trying to grab Fluffy, Reebok went into the carrier and laid down in it. I wish Fluffy had the same attitude.

AnotherLoverToo said:

Thanks, I should orgnote her and ask for her advice.

That's what I'm probably gonna wind up with. This scratch on my hand is kinda nasty.

psychodelicide said:

well i believe the cat survived. not long after a couple of us bystanders rescued the cat into the raincoat, the owner came out of his townhouse across the street. he told us he'd take it to the vet, someone offered to drive and some of us chipped in $$ for the cause. i'd like to think the story had a happy ending. he had a weird vibe though, and to be truthful i had misgivings for some reason. why'd he let the cat out to begin with? he said it was his girlfriend's pet.. .. he did seem to be concerned enough to take care of it though. hope he did.

so reebok likes the carrier? maybe you just need to leave the carrier out in plain sight then pretend to ignore fluffy while she watches reebok playing in there and her curiosity gets too big then she checks out the inside. you might have to re-schedule your appointment for may of 2005 , though

SimonCowell said:

idiot

bkw said:

no, don't be mad. it's his theme. he's THE simon cowell. besides, check out what he says about america on the failed product thread

i like to think he's just kidding

XxAxX said:

How sweet of you to donate money to make sure that the cat got the care it needed. A pox on that jerk for not being concerned to take care of his girlfriend's cat.

LOL - you're right, if I have to wait for Fluffy to get into the carrier, it will be another year. I think I'm going to have to have my dad help me, since he's pretty good at getting animals in carriers.

[This message was edited Tue Apr 27 16:37:55 2004 by psychodelicide]

XxAxX said:

Same here.

Why take the cat to the vet when you can medicate the cat yourself?

Here are some simple instructions on administering a pill to a cat:

1.Pick cat up and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby. Position right fore finger and thumb on either of side of cat’s mouth and gently apply pressure to cheek while holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth, pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.
2.Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process.
Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw soggy pill away.
3.Take new pill from foil wrapper, cradle cat in left arm holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right fore finger. Hold mouth shut for a count of ten.
4.Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe. Pull spouse from garden.
Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees, holding front and rear paws. Ignore low growl emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold cat’s head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into mouth. Drop pill down ruler and rub cats throat vigorously.
5.Retrieve cat from curtain rail, get another pill from foil wrapper. Make note to buy new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep shattered figures from hearth and set to one side for gluing later.
6.Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with its head just visible from below spouse’s armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw; force cat’s mouth open with pencil and blow down drinking straw
7.Check label to make sure pill not harmful to humans, drink glass of water to take taste away. Apply bandage to spouses forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap
8.Retrieve cat from neighbor's shed. Get another pill. Place cat in cupboard and close door on to neck to leave head showing. Force mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down throat with elastic band.
9.Fetch screwdriver from garage and put door back on hinges. Apply cold compress to cheek and check records for date of last tetanus shot. Throw T-shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom.
10.Ring fire brigade to retrieve cat from tree across the road. Apologize to neighbor who crashed into fence whilst swerving to avoid cat. Take last pill from foil wrap.
11.Tie cat’s front paws to rear paws with garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining table. Find heavy duty pruning gloves from shed. Force cat’s mouth open with small spanner. Push pill into mouth followed by large piece of fillet steak. Hold head vertically and pour pint of water down throat to wash pill down.
12.Get spouse to drive you to hospital; sit quietly while doctor stitches finger and forearm and removes pill remnants from right eye. Stop by furniture shop on way home to order new table.
13.Arrange for SPCA to collect cat.

That is hilarious, because that's exactly what happens when you try to medicate a cat (or put it in the carrier to go to the vets).

psychodelicide said:

you and your dad huh? maybe two people would be better than one. or, some neighbors too. fluffy can't escape a whole crowd of people, right?

but about the car accident cat. ..,i guess i wish i'd been firmer about going with the cat to the vet. but dude across the street claimed the cat as his girlfriend's so hopefully, kitty survived till the GF got home..

bkw said:

wow. are cats really so independent? i mean don't they at some point give in to the inevitable? my birds put up a bit of a fight. in fact my vet jokes about that because theirwings aren't clipped. but they know we're not going to hurt them (i think) and they don't hold grudges once we release them. mostly. well, except for my oldest male cockatiel. come to think of it he does hold a grudge for the times i tried to medicate him. fortunately few and far between. maybe you could sneak up on fluffy when she's asleep? just scoop her up and pop her in?

My cat is a little devil when i have to take her to the vet, this is what i do.
Get a old towel, pick up cat with the towel (wrap it around her with head popping out if need be) place cat it animal carrier and quickly lock the door, if you can’t get the towel out with ought the cat escaping leave it there with him/her. When you get to the vet let him/her take the cat out and place back into the carrier
I hope this help's psychodelicide

.
[This message was edited Tue Apr 27 17:00:58 2004 by katt]

AnotherLoverToo said:

getting a firm grip on the scruff will turn a cat into putty. if you do it right, the cat will literally do anything you want. i'm dead serious.

JasmineFire said:

I done that to my cat a few times and she went nuts, the vet done it and she clawed his arm and my cats a big softy, some kittys just dont like it, well mines dont.

I'm gonna be a follower here and suggest turning the cage on its back, getting a big handful of scruff (holding the back feet with the other hand if your cat is light/flexible), and dropping into the carrier. Sometimes you can also get away with backing the cat against a wall with the open end of the carrier, so they are smushed in throught he door.

Alternatively, don't feed the kitty for 12-24 hours beforehand, put something delicious in the cage before the appointment, and hope (s)he'll be hungry enough to go in.

And remember: have fun!

Also remember that cat bites are serious and require prompt medical attention.


[This message was edited Tue Apr 27 18:18:53 2004 by tackam]

XxAxX said:

Depends on the kitty. My kitty doesn't put up much of a fight. She doesn't like her carrier, but I usually get her in within a minute or 2. She used to hold grudges when I'd go on vacation. She'd ignore me when I first got back. She doesn't even really do that anymore. She's just such a sweet and lovey kitty.