Rough Vet Visit, Aloof Cat

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Noreen Cooper - 15 Aug 2003 23:43 GMT

I took my three cats to the vet last week and the vet who usually sees
our animals had left the practice so I was assigned a new vet. She
was young and could even have been a resident in training. I had posted
earlier how she decided to inject all three cats to kill roundworms
rather than pill the cats.

My biggest concern is she scruffed one of the cats who has never scratched
or bitten anyone ever, even though she's skittish at the vet's. The fact
this cat was trying to jump off the table was all it took for this vet to
order the tech to scruff her, even though the tech questioned the need to
do so.

The next day, this cat was being quite neurotic, going to the litter pan
every 30 minutes and sitting there with little coming out. She's an
indoor only cat but the vet gave her a rabies shot along with the
roundworm shot. We have an outdoor-indoor cat but he is up to date on his
rabies shots.

The traumatized cat will no longer sit on my lap and runs away any time I
try and pet her. She would come and jump on my lap each day and always
came in the morning for extra attention and purr-time. This has been
going on for a week and now she's bolting towards the door as if she's
wanting to run away.

We have introduced a new kitten to the house two weeks ago but the two of
them seem to be getting along well, sitting on the same perch together,
and she's taken to grooming the kitten. I don't know if that is weighing
in on the problem or not.

Really, this is unusual behavior for her. She's no longer going to the
litter box every half-hour but she's uncharacteristically stand-offish and
this has been going on for over a week. Will she ever get over this
incompetent vet visit? Sure, I'll never use that vet again but what else
can I do to help her through this trauma?

Noreen

Reply to this Message

MacCandace - 16 Aug 2003 09:18 GMT

<< Will she ever get over this
incompetent vet visit? Sure, I'll never use that vet again but what else
can I do to help her through this trauma?

Noreen >>

How sad. I think she'll be okay in a few more days or so. Just be extra nice
to her and treats can never hurt.

Candace
(take the litter out before replying by e-mail)

See my cats:
http://photos.yahoo.com/maccandace

Reply to this Message

Mr B - 16 Aug 2003 14:53 GMT

You should have stepped in and said No when she called for the cat to be scruffed. And if you
didn't want toe cat to get the shot and preferred the pills, you also should have said something.

Your cats can't help themselves, you have to help them. There are many vets out there that are
great and love animals and etc, etc... But there are also those like you had experience with who do
not. I would find a new vet immediately, or find if your previous vet just moved to a new location.

>I took my three cats to the vet last week and the vet who usually sees
>our animals had left the practice so I was assigned a new vet. She
[quoted text clipped - 32 lines]
>
>Noreen

Reply to this Message

cmtowle - 17 Aug 2003 19:23 GMT

...snipped...

> My biggest concern is she scruffed one of the cats who has never scratched
> or bitten anyone ever, even though she's skittish at the vet's. The fact
> this cat was trying to jump off the table was all it took for this vet to
> order the tech to scruff her, even though the tech questioned the need to
> do so.

> The next day, this cat was being quite neurotic, going to the litter pan
> every 30 minutes and sitting there with little coming out. She's an
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> going on for a week and now she's bolting towards the door as if she's
> wanting to run away.

There are two possibilities I can think of. One, your kitty associates you
with the traumatic experience since you were there with her. So, when you
come close she might simply still be afraid. I would not approach her or
pick her up, but let her come to you on her own time. Spend a lot of time
with her in a favourite room, perch, area and simply "be" with her without
expectations. Give her favourite treats. Speak gently with her, tell her
stories, sing to her, sit at her level, but without "handling" her. If she
starts relaxing, you can try to stroke her where she likes to be stroked,
but only for short times. It may take some time for her to trust you again,
so don't rush it. My take on it is that she will come around, but may have
been scared enough by the experience, smells, vet, so as to not forget it
all too quickly.

The other possibility I thought of, although probably more remote, is that
she was hurt physically when scruffed or injected since it sounds like she
was handled roughly. When she seems relaxed with you (perhaps when snoozing)
while you gently speak to her, see if you can determine if there are any
areas that are tender and hurt her. She will let you know.

> We have introduced a new kitten to the house two weeks ago but the two of
> them seem to be getting along well, sitting on the same perch together,
> and she's taken to grooming the kitten. I don't know if that is weighing
> in on the problem or not.

If they were carefully introduced and your traumatized kitty is grooming the
kitten, she might actually be a good buddy for her while she gets over her
fear. Just make sure you watch the two together and observe whether your
traumatized kitty's behaviour has changed toward the kitten since the vet
visit.

> Really, this is unusual behavior for her. She's no longer going to the
> litter box every half-hour but she's uncharacteristically stand-offish and
> this has been going on for over a week. Will she ever get over this
> incompetent vet visit? Sure, I'll never use that vet again but what else
> can I do to help her through this trauma?

See above. Be her gentlest guardian, try to keep your home as stress-free as
possible, and be patient. It might be wise to get a "Feliway" diffuser. Here
is some general info on how it works: http://www.feliway.com . The info here
is on the diffuser specifically:
http://www.medivet.com/info/feliwaydiffuser.asp

Good luck and please keep us posted,

M.

> Noreen

Reply to this Message

Noreen Cooper - 18 Aug 2003 03:06 GMT

: There are two possibilities I can think of. One, your kitty associates you
: with the traumatic experience since you were there with her. So, when you
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
: been scared enough by the experience, smells, vet, so as to not forget it
: all too quickly.

This is probably what's going on. I feel so bad that I didn't know enough
to stand up to the vet and insist the cat not be scruffed. I also should
have insisted on a pill rather than an injection. It's one thing to learn
lessons and you're the recipient but I feel so bad I had to learn a lesson
yet the cat had to suffer.

: The other possibility I thought of, although probably more remote, is that
: she was hurt physically when scruffed or injected since it sounds like she
: was handled roughly. When she seems relaxed with you (perhaps when snoozing)
: while you gently speak to her, see if you can determine if there are any
: areas that are tender and hurt her. She will let you know.

Will do. Thanks for the tip.

: If they were carefully introduced and your traumatized kitty is grooming the
: kitten, she might actually be a good buddy for her while she gets over her
: fear. Just make sure you watch the two together and observe whether your
: traumatized kitty's behaviour has changed toward the kitten since the vet
: visit.

No, the traumatized cat has a very sweet personality. She's already
grooming the kitten as if it were her own. They're sleeping together on
the perch now, they wrestle, so at least she's occupied with a new friend
to help her get over this bad experience.

What worries me is if she really does become a problem cat when she has to
go back for a check-up. But I guess we'll cross that bridge when we come
to it. I'll make sure an inform the new vet of the problem beforehand.

Thanks for all the tips.

Noreen

Reply to this Message

MaryL - 18 Aug 2003 06:16 GMT

> What worries me is if she really does become a problem cat when she has to
> go back for a check-up. But I guess we'll cross that bridge when we come
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> Noreen

In addition to the other suggestions that have already been made (but
especially, a new vet), I would like to add this: it would be a good idea
to get some Feliway. Feliway is used for behavior modification and can be
very useful in reducing stress. Get one or two plug-in diffusers and place
them in the locations most used by your cat. In addition, get one of the
Feliway spray-on containers and spray that in the pet carrier before going
to the vet.

Good luck! This has been a very stressful experience for you and your cat.

MaryL

Reply to this Message