I've posted news of our grey kitty Emily's annual visit to the vets in
this newsgroup before. She's an extrovert. She loves attention. If she
were human she'd be chosen prom queen. At the vet's she always makes a
dramatic entrance from the carry-cage onto the examining table. She
looks around to see who her audience is this year, then begins to purr
when she sees that the spotlight is on her. This contented rumble
gives Dr. Beck her only problem with Emily - she can't hear her
heartbeat through the stethoscope.
Last year Dr. Beck stopped the purr by suddenly clamping her hand over
Emily's face, startling her just long enough to get a reading.

This year, Dr. Beck tried a different tactic. She had the stethoscope
ready before I opened the carry-cage door. As soon as Emily emerged,
Dr. Beck clamped it onto her chest while Emily was still looking
around and orienting herself. Success! Her heart was strong.

Emily endured the rectal thermometer and the needles with her usual
aplomb. Then, the exam completed, she stepped back into her carry-cage
for a graceful exit, with no curtain calls. And she enjoyed another
victory. She's overweight, and has managed to lose a pound since last
year!