Question for Cat Owner's with skittish cats

How do you handle vet trips?
My cat is very skittish- almost acts feral at times though we've had her since she was a kitten and she's now 5.

Because of this she has never been to the vet other than for her initial shots and that was a MAJOR orderal.

She is an indoor cat and has never really had any issues so I never took her- the emotional trauma to her would do more harm than good.

But I worry that if she were to get sick or just start acting off and I had to take her that she would freak out and bite them and claw them and not let them touch her.

Does anyone have a cat like this? Do they sedate them at the vet?

Re: Question for Cat Owner's with skittish cats

My mom has a skittish cat, and going to the vet is traumatic for her. But the vets and techs are specially trained to deal with animals like that, so I wouldn't worry about it so much.

They have to bring out the elbow-length gloves every time my mom brings her cat in.

Re: Question for Cat Owner's with skittish cats

Jack HATES the vet. The vet has me hold Jack using Welding Gloves () so Jack doesn't claw the bejesus out of my arms. I have a mobile vet cause Jack and Anabelle HATE the car, so there is no vet tech to assist.

Good luck!

Re: Question for Cat Owner's with skittish cats

Thanks for the responses guys.
It's just so upsetting to me when she acts like that.
When we took her for her intial shots she was making such a scene and screaming like they were cutting her throat! I was hysterically crying and probably making matters worse but I get very emotional about my baby.
I swear even after we got home and she was fine I couldn't stop sobbing.
(I think it took more of a toll on me than her! )

Re: Question for Cat Owner's with skittish cats

The cat I got last year was traumatized from his old owners- who left him in a crate over night!!!!!!!!! It took us hours to get him in the carrier , and we had to put him in a dog carrier, because it was impossible to get him in the cat one. He got so scared he had diarrhea all over himself. the poor thing. he got his shots and the vet and the techs handled him very well. It took him almost 1 year to come out of my room, and now he is a perfectly normal loving cat, who rubs his face on my head and rests his check against mine and purrs all day. He is an indoor cat only. I asked if it was necassary to bring him every year and they said off the record if he is indoors only , it is not necessary.

Re: Question for Cat Owner's with skittish cats

They can't even get my cat out of the carrier at the vet. They give her a sedation shot thru the holes in her carrier. And as soon as she is done with whatever procedure they put her back in the carrier for her to wake up.

We tried giving her sedation pills at home, but by the time we got the vet she was back to her old self.

It got really bad after she had an overnight stay due to dehydration, I always wonder why it tramutized her so much. Last time she was there it was an anal gland infection, which I basically diagnosed myself, and then called the vet, and we made an appt for the sedation, checkup and 'operation' to fix all at once.

It worries me, a lot. If she gets really sick we will have big big problem.

Re: Question for Cat Owner's with skittish cats

Posted by Blazesyth

They can't even get my cat out of the carrier at the vet. They give her a sedation shot thru the holes in her carrier. And as soon as she is done with whatever procedure they put her back in the carrier for her to wake up.

We tried giving her sedation pills at home, but by the time we got the vet she was back to her old self.

It got really bad after she had an overnight stay due to dehydration, I always wonder why it tramutized her so much. Last time she was there it was an anal gland infection, which I basically diagnosed myself, and then called the vet, and we made an appt for the sedation, checkup and 'operation' to fix all at once.

It worries me, a lot. If she gets really sick we will have big big problem.

Re: Question for Cat Owner's with skittish cats

Posted by anonttcer
Yes! This is exactly my issue. I just know that this will be the case with my cat- I'm scared they won't even be able to treat her...

Can anyone give me info on that mobile vet?? That might be an option...

Re: Question for Cat Owner's with skittish cats

Posted by Blazesyth

Posted by anonttcer
Yes! This is exactly my issue. I just know that this will be the case with my cat- I'm scared they won't even be able to treat her...

Can anyone give me info on that mobile vet?? That might be an option...

Hopefully the mobile vet works for you. I know there are ads in my local pennysaver for a mobile vet. What town are you in, if the babylon/lindy area I could look for you.

I dont know how my cat would do with the mobile vet either. It's not the carrier or the ride that is causing her to get skiddish, I think. I think its more of someone touching and doing things to her that she doesnt know. (She's not very sociable with anyone besides us, really...)

Re: Question for Cat Owner's with skittish cats