I'm In the D*ghouse annexe

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Shiral - 16 May 2007 19:56 GMT

I made an appointment for both cats at the vet this morning for their
yearly checkup and vaccinations. Only one cat actually WENT. Francesca
was very unhappy, and made her opinion about this injustice known all
the way there and all the way back. For all her unhappiness, she was a
perfect lady at TED's office, and never so much as growled, or tried
to scratch or bite. She got a clean bill of health, other than a
warning that her teeth needed cleaning and that her weight was up by
half a pound. Since that puts her at eight and a half pounds though,
Dr. Mell was not overly concerned.

So... what happened to Nina, you ask? Well, she's one strong little
devil. Agile, too. A good twister/scratcher and struggler. I think my
mistake was in trying to put her in the front-loading plastic cat
carrier, which she hates. I mean, REALLY hates. At first I tried to
be gentle and coaxing, then as it got closer and closer to appointment
time, I made numerous attempts to cram her in there by physical force.
Note to self: It is impossible to propel a struggling cat forward when
she has every claw she owns embedded in the carpet. She made several
escapes, and twice ran and hid under the comforter on my bed which is
her refuge in times of stress. While she's strong, she's not much of
a strategist. but I did close the bedroom door completely after her
second under the quilt escapade. (She was able to push the bedroom
door open because it hadn't closed completely.)

Finally after attempt no. 5 failed at ten to eleven, I shouted
"OKay you DON'T have to go to the vet you little 76$#@!" and left
with Francesca, slamming the front door behind me. Now I'm back home,
the carrying cases are back in the closet, and there are no little
whiskery faces in sight. That's quite an accomplishment in an
apartment as small as this one. =o) I'm not just in Nina's dog house--
I think I'm in the doghouse Annexe. She doesn't know yet that I made
another appointment for her on Monday morning. But since she'll
tolerate the top-loading cardboard cat carrier however reluctantly,
that will be the receptacle of choice.

Eventually I think she'll forgive me for this morning. But she sure
doesn't right now. =o(

Melissa

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jXwXeXrXmXoXnXt@sonic.net - 16 May 2007 20:30 GMT

> So... what happened to Nina, you ask? Well, she's one strong little
> devil. Agile, too. A good twister/scratcher and struggler. I think my
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> Note to self: It is impossible to propel a struggling cat forward when
> she has every claw she owns embedded in the carpet.

One way I deal with this is, I stand the carrier on its *end*, with
the open end facing up (obviously), and then I lower the cat down into
the carrier. Gravity helps with this, and scruffing kitty's neck with
one hand (while freeing front and back paws/claws from the edges of
the opening with the other) helps to keep the cat more docile. And then
there's no carpet for her to grab onto.

Good luck on Monday!

Joyce

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Nik Simpson - 16 May 2007 22:08 GMT

> So... what happened to Nina, you ask? Well, she's one strong little
> devil. Agile, too. A good twister/scratcher and struggler. I think my
> mistake was in trying to put her in the front-loading plastic cat
> carrier, which she hates.

I have the exact same problem, coupled with the cat's almost telepathic
ability to detect if I'm thinking of taking one of them to the vet! I've
found that turning the front loading cat basket on it's end then
lowering them through the hole works pretty well, that way the only
thing they have to grab hold of to prevent entry into the evil cat
basket is my arm, doh! But seriously, it works well as a method.

I also considered using the gfact that when strangers arrive all three
of the cats disappear through the cat door in rapid succession. My idea
was to put the open cat basket directly against the outside entrance of
the cat door, then just ring the front door bell and get all three of
them in one movement :-)

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Nik Simpson

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EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) - 17 May 2007 00:25 GMT

> So... what happened to Nina, you ask? Well, she's one strong little
> devil. Agile, too. A good twister/scratcher and struggler. I think my
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> second under the quilt escapade. (She was able to push the bedroom
> door open because it hadn't closed completely.)

With that kind of carrier, the only way I could get one of
my cats into it was to set the carrier on end (with the door
wide open), pick up the cat, and drop her in, hind legs
first. (She still fought it, but at least that way it was
POSSIBLE to get her in and close the door before she popped
out again.)

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