I know what you mean, but honestly, I think in the long run it's better for
them to be this still.

Oscar forgave me for the vet visit the very same day, so I guess it wasn't
*too* traumatic.

LOL! Yep, my little Nikki, too. That cat knows some impressive swear words.

I brought my two in this morning. They hadn't been in a couple of years,
and at approximately 15, I thought they could do with a checkup. In an
effort to make this process less traumatic for all concerned, some years
back I switched from a large clinic (with a large waiting room with both
cats and dogs) to a cats-only practice started by a vet who had formerly
worked at the larger practice. I'm pleased with the care they get from
this vet, but I am convinced that nothing will make vet visits easy for
Mandy. Mandy, as I have frequently assured various vets and assistants, is
a pleasant friendly unaggressive cat at home. Unfortunately, this is only
because at home everything goes her way, and no one makes her do anything
she doesn't want to do. Underneath that nice surface, she's aggressive,
territorial and violent when things don't go her way. A vet described her
as a 'biker cat'. She doesn't like cars or vets. She yowls in the car and
pees in her carrier. She fights, no holds barred, at attempts to examine
her, even if the vet has soothed and distracted her first. And she really
outdid herself this morning. Somehow, the vet managed to examine a lot of
her.

Then it was quiet Betsy's turn. Although she readily produces growls and
hisses when she's uneasy, her usual reaction when she's nervous isn't to
launch WW III, but, if she can't run and hide, to get very quiet and very
watchful.

She managed to bite the vet's hand deeply enough to draw blood! Quiet
Betsy! Now Mandy, given half a chance, would take the hand off at the
wrist, but Betsy???  Vets certainly earn their pay! Nice quiet animal
sitting on the table, and what happens? A bite!

They are fortunately both in very good condition for their ages. Their
reaction times are especially good. The vet told me about some changes to
watch for that might indicate problems, and added that if Mandy ever
developed a condition that required regular medication and medical
intervention.....well, we'd just hope that never happened!