Isis, my long-haired Tabby, detests baths. If I attempted to bathe her I
would end up with multiple lacerations and shredded flesh.

However, she requires a bath every so often because she gets nats on her
flanks, gets oily and dirty, and eventually starts gakking up little
hairballs from swallowing all the loose hair she grows.

The cat bathers at my vets told me they wouldn't touch her anymore because
the last time they bathed her it took four grown adults to handle the job.
(Isis is well known at my vets'. She has developed a terrifying reputation
around these baths). My vet said they could it but it would require a $32.00
sedation.

So, I asked my vet if there wasn't some other way to sedate Isis prior to
bringing her in for a $20.00 bath. Voila!

The magic substance is called acepromazine. It appears to be a widely used
sedative for dogs and cats. This stuff is powerful. I gave Isis 2.5 mg an
hour before her vet trip. I mistakenly gave her another 2.5 mg prior to the
trip there and she was heavily sedated all day. I learned that 2.5 mg is all
she needs to be cooperative during a bath. Three little pills, enough for 12
bath trips since Isis only requires one-fourth of a tablet, cost $11.00.

I'm not into doping my cat up, but she HAS to have a bathe every 6 weeks or
so and there is just no other reasonable way to calm her do before this
ordeal. It's ok with my vet so it's ok with me.

The results are wonderful! She smells great, her fur is clean, and she is
very relaxed since she spents much less time grooming herself. In short,
she's more relaxed and the cat bathers are happy as clams!

So, if you have a similar problem ask your vet about acepromazine.

Mike in Illinois