New cat owner

[Rael]

We never had one before, as I'm allergic to many. But this one came around a lot from next door, very friendly, and I found I wasn't allergic to him. The owners are moving soon, and couldn't take him with them, so there's the situation. Happy to have him, and discovering our new responsibilities.

I took him to the vet just for an initial "how's he doing", and all is generally well. One thing (which didn't surprise me with all of his scratching) was he has ear mites. So, 2x a day for the next 10 days he needs 6 drops in both ears. After watching his first dose of it at the vet's office, I'm thinking "holy crap, how am I going to hold him down?". He was NOT easy with getting these drops even with both the Dr. and the technician doing this. Never seen such a peaceful, friendly cat suddenly become such an inflamed savage beast!

I read a few articles about this, and understood a 'kitty burrito'. We'll most likely give it a try, I imagine refrigerated ear drops are probably real uncomfortable, so we'll do the best we can to get this ear mites thing under wraps.

Maybe some of you smart cat people have some good words to minimize the cat's discomfort with all of this, as well as advice for me so I don't bleed to death in the next ten days.

Wish us luck.

 

[Rael]

Crap, did I say "new cat owner"? Sorry, I meant, new human owner in northern Calvert.

 

[desertrat]

We never had one before, as I'm allergic to many. But this one came around a lot from next door, very friendly, and I found I wasn't allergic to him. The owners are moving soon, and couldn't take him with them, so there's the situation. Happy to have him, and discovering our new responsibilities.

I took him to the vet just for an initial "how's he doing", and all is generally well. One thing (which didn't surprise me with all of his scratching) was he has ear mites. So, 2x a day for the next 10 days he needs 6 drops in both ears. After watching his first dose of it at the vet's office, I'm thinking "holy crap, how am I going to hold him down?". He was NOT easy with getting these drops even with both the Dr. and the technician doing this. Never seen such a peaceful, friendly cat suddenly become such an inflamed savage beast!

I read a few articles about this, and understood a 'kitty burrito'. We'll most likely give it a try, I imagine refrigerated ear drops are probably real uncomfortable, so we'll do the best we can to get this ear mites thing under wraps.

Maybe some of you smart cat people have some good words to minimize the cat's discomfort with all of this, as well as advice for me so I don't bleed to death in the next ten days.

Wish us luck.

Maybe warm up the stuff before you drop it in? Wear welder type gloves and one person hold while other does the dropping.

 

[Bann]

We never had one before, as I'm allergic to many. But this one came around a lot from next door, very friendly, and I found I wasn't allergic to him. The owners are moving soon, and couldn't take him with them, so there's the situation. Happy to have him, and discovering our new responsibilities.

I took him to the vet just for an initial "how's he doing", and all is generally well. One thing (which didn't surprise me with all of his scratching) was he has ear mites. So, 2x a day for the next 10 days he needs 6 drops in both ears. After watching his first dose of it at the vet's office, I'm thinking "holy crap, how am I going to hold him down?". He was NOT easy with getting these drops even with both the Dr. and the technician doing this. Never seen such a peaceful, friendly cat suddenly become such an inflamed savage beast!

I read a few articles about this, and understood a 'kitty burrito'. We'll most likely give it a try, I imagine refrigerated ear drops are probably real uncomfortable, so we'll do the best we can to get this ear mites thing under wraps.

Maybe some of you smart cat people have some good words to minimize the cat's discomfort with all of this, as well as advice for me so I don't bleed to death in the next ten days.

Wish us luck.

Wrapping the kitty in the towel burrito is definitely a good idea to keep him under wraps (hah!) until you give the meds. A big beach towel will work great, I think. I wonder if you can put the bottle of drops in warm water for a minute to let them come to room temp first?

Good luck! I know my cat doesn't like it when I have to do stuff to him. I still have to wrap him up to save my skin - and he's 11! He's quite the porker, so I need a BIG towel, too!

 

[Pete]

Grabbing them by the scruff triggers a "stop fighting" instinct in most cats. They wont go limp but they typically will let you tend to them.

 

[Rael]

Maybe warm up the stuff before you drop it in? Wear welder type gloves and one person hold while other does the dropping.

Wrapping the kitty in the towel burrito is definitely a good idea to keep him under wraps (hah!) until you give the meds. A big beach towel will work great, I think. I wonder if you can put the bottle of drops in warm water for a minute to let them come to room temp first?

Good luck! I know my cat doesn't like it when I have to do stuff to him. I still have to wrap him up to save my skin - and he's 11! He's quite the porker, so I need a BIG towel, too!

Grabbing them by the scruff triggers a "stop fighting" instinct in most cats. They wont go limp but they typically will let you tend to them.

Thanks, they all seem like good suggestions and definitely worth trying. Warm it up, cover me up, wrap him up, and scruff him up. We're minutes away from trying this for the first time.
Tomorrow morning (if I still have eyeballs) when he sees me with a towel, heavy gloves, and hiding a bottle I'm sure he's gonna make a run for it.

 

[desertrat]

Thanks, they all seem like good suggestions and definitely worth trying. Warm it up, cover me up, wrap him up, and scruff him up. We're minutes away from trying this for the first time.
Tomorrow morning (if I still have eyeballs) when he sees me with a towel, heavy gloves, and hiding a bottle I'm sure he's gonna make a run for it.

Oh, I forgot, tranquilizer gun.

 

[Rael]

Oh, I forgot, tranquilizer gun.

Well, we got the drops in, but damn. Impossible to keep him still. Yet, a few minutes later he was purring...go figure.

18 more to go.

 

[desertrat]

Well, we got the drops in, but damn. Impossible to keep him still. Yet, a few minutes later he was purring...go figure.

18 more to go.

They do forgive quickly. Or maybe just wait till the right time for revenge.

 

[Katelin]

We never had one before, as I'm allergic to many. But this one came around a lot from next door, very friendly, and I found I wasn't allergic to him. The owners are moving soon, and couldn't take him with them, so there's the situation. Happy to have him, and discovering our new responsibilities.

I took him to the vet just for an initial "how's he doing", and all is generally well. One thing (which didn't surprise me with all of his scratching) was he has ear mites. So, 2x a day for the next 10 days he needs 6 drops in both ears. After watching his first dose of it at the vet's office, I'm thinking "holy crap, how am I going to hold him down?". He was NOT easy with getting these drops even with both the Dr. and the technician doing this. Never seen such a peaceful, friendly cat suddenly become such an inflamed savage beast!

I read a few articles about this, and understood a 'kitty burrito'. We'll most likely give it a try, I imagine refrigerated ear drops are probably real uncomfortable, so we'll do the best we can to get this ear mites thing under wraps.

Maybe some of you smart cat people have some good words to minimize the cat's discomfort with all of this, as well as advice for me so I don't bleed to death in the next ten days.

Wish us luck.

I use Revolution on all my cats and rescues, one reason: it kills ear mites..no need for oily ear drops 2x a day x 10 days. Check it out.
Buy it from Dr. Brown, Calvert Animal Hospital.

Congratulations on taking in this cat and for giving it a new home!



I have some nice new cat cubes and the fake sheep skin if you want them.(free) Let me know..as they were donated for the wildlife and I have way too many of them to be used by critters anytime soon!!

 

[Bann]

Grabbing them by the scruff triggers a "stop fighting" instinct in most cats. They wont go limp but they typically will let you tend to them.

Mine always starts the worm squirm in mid-air and then I have to let him go!

Oh, I forgot, tranquilizer gun.

They do forgive quickly. Or maybe just wait till the right time for revenge.

 

[Rael]

They do forgive quickly. Or maybe just wait till the right time for revenge.

And this definitely could be the case someday.

I use Revolution on all my cats and rescues, one reason: it kills ear mites..no need for oily ear drops 2x a day x 10 days. Check it out.
Buy it from Dr. Brown, Calvert Animal Hospital.

Congratulations on taking in this cat and for giving it a new home!



I have some nice new cat cubes and the fake sheep skin if you want them.(free) Let me know..as they were donated for the wildlife and I have way too many of them to be used by critters anytime soon!!

Funny you mention Dr. Brown, I've heard some very good things about him. And I did buy some revolution to use, glad to hear your endorsement for that as well. And thanks for that offer.

Mine always starts the worm squirm in mid-air and then I have to let him go!

After doing the meds today, I went and looked at some youtubes on cat burritos, because I wasn't doing it the right way (it was more like how you're describing - how he was able to squirm around). The other other thing I noticed when I came back into this thread was your mention of a large beach towel. Very noted. I'll use one next time for sure.

 

[Bann]

The other other thing I noticed when I came back into this thread was your mention of a large beach towel. Very noted. I'll use one next time for sure.

I wouldn't really call it a burrito. I would call it a papoose or strait jacket.

But seriously, of course they will want to fight against it - that's just their survival instinct kicking in. However, you have to give the meds.

Lay the cat down on the center of the towel. Fold up one end and then one side at a time, wrapping firmly around him, making sure that he is completely wrapped up & can't move inside or else he will squirm out!

 

[Rael]

I wouldn't really call it a burrito. I would call it a papoose or strait jacket.

But seriously, of course they will want to fight against it - that's just their survival instinct kicking in. However, you have to give the meds.

Lay the cat down on the center of the towel. Fold up one end and then one side at a time, wrapping firmly around him, making sure that he is completely wrapped up & can't move inside or else he will squirm out!

Like this?








This was one of the pics I saw when I was looking it up.

 

[Bann]

Like this?




View attachment 82979



This was one of the pics I saw when I was looking it up.

Yeah, but that's a little kitty! My cat is a lot bigger, so his bundle is much larger!

 

[cattitude]

Congrats and thanks for taking him in.

I'd be happy to come up and give you some help/pointers. What works on one cat isn't necessarily good on another. Will he be a housecat?

 

[Rael]

Yeah, but that's a little kitty! My cat is a lot bigger, so his bundle is much larger!

Blanket party! And this little guy is around 2 yrs old, weighing in at around 10.5 lbs. And has muscle.

Congrats and thanks for taking him in.

I'd be happy to come up and give you some help/pointers. What works on one cat isn't necessarily good on another. Will he be a housecat?

stranger! And thanks for that offer, too! We'd be glad to take any advice you have as well as getting to see you. He's a very good, friendly cat (former rescue). It's what drew us to him from the beginning. He's an indoor/outdoor cat. One lady at the vet looked at me funny when I said that.

 

[Roman]

Blanket party! And this little guy is around 2 yrs old, weighing in at around 10.5 lbs. And has muscle.


stranger! And thanks for that offer, too! We'd be glad to take any advice you have as well as getting to see you. He's a very good, friendly cat (former rescue). It's what drew us to him from the beginning. He's an indoor/outdoor cat. One lady at the vet looked at me funny when I said that.

How is the little guy today? He is very lucky to have you to take care of him. Cats are fun!

 

[vraiblonde]

I've never had any luck wrapping a cat. They don't like it and they will make sure that you don't like it, either.

The best technique I've ever found is the one Catt taught me: sit on the cat.

When they're laying down on their stomach, sit on them - be careful not to squarsh them - with knees on either side, and medicate them quickly. This works like a charm.

 

[Bann]

I've never had any luck wrapping a cat. They don't like it and they will make sure that you don't like it, either.

The best technique I've ever found is the one Catt taught me: sit on the cat.

When they're laying down on their stomach, sit on them - be careful not to squarsh them - with knees on either side, and medicate them quickly. This works like a charm.

Actually, I do this, too! I just didn't want the cat peeps to flame me!