One person putting in eye ointment - any ideas?

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

I'm a great fan of the 'between the legs' method. I use it whenever I need to clip claws, put eye drops in or Frontline my one cat who can sense it coming (the others let me sneak up and do it while I'm fussing them).  I've always put ointment on carefully washed hands to put in, as trying to do it from the tube never seems to work for me and I feel like I'm risking poking them in the eye with the nozzle as I carefully try to squeeze.

I can wedge them between my knees and hold them in place, leaving both hands free. I do have a husband but he's useless at pinning them down or doing anything to them, sometimes you need a woman's bravery!

That's how I do it too.  Sometimes I manage to catch Jaffa unawares and stick drops or ointment in his eye before he realises what I've done, but not very often.

[tiga]

Thanks for the hints. He was actually really easy. Doesn't like it though. I sat on the floor with him between my legs and held with one hand and opened the eye, then put the ointment in. He does give me a wide berth for an hour or so. I'm very lucky with both Digby and Riley as they are very easy going about stuff like that and seem to forget it pretty quickly. For tablets I just put them on the floor and they eat them like treats.

Both Digby and Riley had the flu but they are both doing much better. Back to playing and they were even playing chase and wrestle this morning so all is well thankfully.

[swampmaxmum]

I had to do Swampy every day for ages with fucithalmic, which is the best stuff because as long as you get in the general area of the eye, it seems to be absorbed. I tried the method you all suggest and also pinning him on a bed on his back, tickling his tum etc, then holding his front paws with one hand and taking him by surprise. It did not always work! Once I slightly touched his eye with the nozzle which was scary, so I'd just say don't try if he's fighting you hard at the time. Perhaps when he's asleep or has just woken up and is still a bit drowsy, catch him by surprise.

[mitch]

I'm a great fan of the 'between the legs' method. I use it whenever I need to clip claws, put eye drops in or Frontline my one cat who can sense it coming (the others let me sneak up and do it while I'm fussing them).  I've always put ointment on carefully washed hands to put in, as trying to do it from the tube never seems to work for me and I feel like I'm risking poking them in the eye with the nozzle as I carefully try to squeeze.

I can wedge them between my knees and hold them in place, leaving both hands free. I do have a husband but he's useless at pinning them down or doing anything to them, sometimes you need a woman's bravery!

[kp76]

I had this problem with one of my cats. I found the element of surprise & confining him to one room so he couldn't scarper worked. I used to hold his behind between my feet/legs, hold his chin with my fingers of one hand, tilt his head back & gently ease his top eyelid open, with my other hand i'd ease down his bottom eyelid & squeeze the ointment in then gently rub his eyelid to make sure the majority went in. Thats the way my vets nurse showed me & it works very well but you have to be quick. I hope your cat feels better soon.

[Tiggy's Mum]

Poor Riley  Hope the ointment does it's job 

[tiga]

I can't remember what it is. I'm at work now. But it is an ointment and not drops. He has the cat flu and his eye is bunged up and the glands on that side of his face are really swollen. It isn't an eye ulcer thankfully.

[Leanne]

When Milo has Fucithalmic it was really difficult when I was home alone.

I used to put him between my legs and try and hold him in with one arm and put the cream in with the other, I think he struggled to get away more because it stung when it went in.

Sam's idea sounds great though I'd try that if I had to do it again.

Good luck

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

Which ointment is it? The easiest one to use is Fulm.......cide, cant remeber how you spell it but its viscious drops so you can sorta get close aim and press and a big drop will adhear to the eye and as they blink it goes in..........its not easy but I managed a few treatments with Kocka despite her being near impossible to treat and only having one fully working hand!

[Sam (Fussy_Furball)]

If it's really a struggle you could try this method ... this was suggested to me by my vet.

Wash you hands. Squeeze a line of ointment onto either your forefinger or thumb (whichever is easiest for you) and then transfer direct to kitties eye.  This way you don't have the problem of sticking the tube into Riley's eye.

It does work.

Just wanted to add you need to wash you hands between applications if you are doing both eyes so you don't end up transfering any germs.

I found it's best to do all this in the bathroom ... with the door shut so kitty can't escape.

[tiga]

I thought that or maybe putting him a pillowcase, with him on my lap and leaning over him. I will have a try and see how it goes. I may have to call in help from a cat friendly neighbour.

[Dawn F]

can you wrap him in a towel?

[tiga]

I have to put ointment in Riley's eye and I live on my own. (I knew a man would have come in handy for something!) Has anyone got any tips to make this easier? Riley won't scratch but he'll just struggle and leg it.

Thanks
Anne