Topic: Getting Effie to the vet - any tips (Read 4433 times)

tab · « **Reply #23 on:** March 08, 2011, 15:08:30 PM »

Im glad the visit is over and hope she calms down now (and you heal soon)
love
Tab

Steff - Petsearch Bedford HQ · « **Reply #22 on:** March 05, 2011, 18:42:16 PM »

I was given Kalm Aid for Marble and it worked wonders. So was so stressed out by Soap that she was weeing on stuff (dogs bed, bottom of the stairs). The vets ruled out cystitis and any other medical problem and put it down to stress. Kalm Aid, Feliway and an extra tray sorted her out but we were also lucky to have an in house behaviourist on hand at our vets if we needed.

I also used Kalm Aid with the feral kittens and it did help

Teresa Pawcats · « **Reply #21 on:** March 05, 2011, 13:24:12 PM »

Delighted to hear that Effie is well. Have you thought about using Kalm Aid or similar to see if it will help make her sweeter? Did vet have good look in her mouth ?
Hope your war wounds soon recover

perhaps a hair of the ~~dog~~ cat.

Tan · « **Reply #20 on:** March 04, 2011, 18:32:05 PM »

No worries hun. Glad ya may get an idea of whats causing it

It just seems funny that her personality has changed to such a diff cat. There is def a reason for it and ys need to find out what it is. Aggression can easily be other cats coming in to their core home and the diff in one cat to another in the home can be redirected aggression which is when any cat is in a state of fight / protective mode (ie when another unknow cat is about) and in such in that state can be aggressive to the other cats in the home. Once out of that state they are ok but it can have an effect on the relationship between cats in the home. I have had this here with Garf & Marl with a stray tom. My two boys are not so close anymore since Andy the stray used to come in the garden. (Andy is now in a loving family vis CP

)

Think if there is anything that has changed in the home - diff working hours, new furniture, anything that might of changed when you started to notice her change in behaviour. Find the reason and we know how to (try to) get her back to her old self by solving that reason.

I think cause Effie is also being so different with you as well it could be pain related aggression. But it's only a thought hun, but best to get this checked out. If you say to vets how she was, when she changed. Do you notice if she licks anywhere more? Is she hotter than norm?

Just some ideas to try and help

Liz · « **Reply #19 on:** March 04, 2011, 10:36:48 AM »

Just to say we had our 8 at the vet and no blood apart from mine where Raven got me above the welding guantlet and the vet where he stuck himslef with a needle

They did however howl for 10 miles and the all the time in the surgery!

Tan · « **Reply #18 on:** March 03, 2011, 23:14:01 PM »

Also check out this thread http://www.purrsinourhearts.co.uk/index.php/topic,14320.0.html

Tan · « **Reply #17 on:** March 03, 2011, 23:03:28 PM »

Si

I emailing ya some text on feline Aggression. The diff types cat s can have. Have a good read and see which type you think it might be.

madamcat (Edd) · « **Reply #16 on:** March 03, 2011, 22:39:57 PM »

Quote from: Liz on March 03, 2011, 20:30:22 PM

Perhaps some Zylkene may help it would take the edge of any nastiness - we use it on the ferals one capsule a day on wet food wortha try and some Rescue remedy in the water bowl

I used Zylkene and Feliway for quite a while after Chelsea got attacked by the dog (she managed to escape and was missing 13 hours). It did help calm her down a lot. She is still nervous when she ventures out the front and soon scoots back in and the attack was 8 months ago. If she gets upset she tends to take it out on Sam (paws at dawn commences

)

Hope all goes well on getting Effie to the vets - Find the top loaders the best.

If the health check comes back all clear that may mean behavioural. Wonder if something has happened outside or could another cat get into the house and what she is doing to Ella is redirected aggression.
But you are doing the right thing by getting her checked by the vet.

puggy1975 Zoe · « **Reply #15 on:** March 03, 2011, 21:59:41 PM »

Zyklene is good I use it with Tyler before a vet visit and used it for sometime with Ollie when he was stressed and had his skin problems

Zoe

Liz · « **Reply #14 on:** March 03, 2011, 20:30:22 PM »

Perhaps some Zylkene may help it would take the edge of any nastiness - we use it on the ferals one capule a day on wet food wortha try and some Rescue remedy in the water bowl

Tan · « **Reply #13 on:** March 03, 2011, 19:30:48 PM »

Si when did you notice this change in her behaviour hun?

Pain related aggression?
I learnt from my bridge babe Ben that cats hide illness soo soo well. He had oral cancer and i never knew, he acted so normal, playing , eating etc . It was only when i noticed one night he was warmer than normal that i took him to the vet.

Leighs Gang · « **Reply #12 on:** March 03, 2011, 19:29:56 PM »

Oh i'm so sorry to hear of the sad situation with Effie not being happy. Sorry I can't be of help with this, even though Sparkle was very unhappy when we first brought Dora home (to the point of attacking me and andy poor Arnie) she soon settled thank god - I just made sure she got extra special attention to the point of shutting the others out so it was just me and her in a room having a nice bonding session.

With regard to getting her in the carrier, I get my carriers ready in a room where the cats have not got wind of it being out pick the kits up with my spare hand covering their eyes pop em in and quickly shut the door. Seems to work for me.

Good luck and fingers crossed that there is soon harmony in your home x

Ellen2010 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 03, 2011, 19:21:31 PM »

I would do and Tan says and have a carrier out at all times and this means year round as it gets them used to the carrier and they do not see it as a threat.

Another suggestion is have the front of the carrier near an edge so when they want to put their feet down they have to in the carrier and a gentle shove gets them in the rest of the way and shut the door quickly. I use this method with all my cats, especially fosters and my 2 ferals.

I am sure that Effie is picking up on your stress and is wondering what is going on. Also what you described about the attacking when you went to stroke her when you came in I experienced that with my old cat and took her straight to the vets, who diagnosed a FLUTD and ran blood tests, hence how I found out 2 years ago she was at the early stages of CRF. All I am saying she could be lashing out and being aloof as she is feeling off colour so is best to get it checked out to be on the safe side.

maryas · « **Reply #10 on:** March 03, 2011, 18:49:58 PM »

OMG you poor thing. Not experienced anything like this before so I am no help I'm afraid.

How about posting this thread in the health and behaviour part of Purrs to see if anyone there can help.

I do hope the vet can sort Effie out for you for everyones sake.

Wishing you the very best of luck.

Mary

Guest · « **Reply #9 on:** March 03, 2011, 18:38:18 PM »

Thanks guys. I think the problem is a bit more deep routed than I will admit, I am really worried about Effie to the point where I don't know what to do. She hates Ella and is wailing at her if she even comes into the room and actually seems to now not even enjoy the company of me or Sean. She appears to be well but I want to get her checked over as something is not right.

If it is possible for a cat to be depressed, I think Effie is. She has gone from the most loving cat to one that is quite spiteful and hateful. She obiously doesn't enjoy living with Ella and I am not sure she enjoys living with us anymore, the change in her is distressing and I find myself really upset! If she gets a clean bill of health at the weekend, I am not sure what to do (feliway doesn't work, nothing does). She is not happy.

I feel for Ella too as all she wants is a friend and she is being bulled at the mo. Effie just attacked her quite savagely
I came home tonight and went to stroke Effie and she lashed out at me.

I have to take her to the vet on Saturday but I am really worried how she is going to respond.

Dawn F · « **Reply #8 on:** March 03, 2011, 08:10:34 AM »

my vet always says put them in the box backwards so they don't see it coming, it seems to help for my lot

maryas · « **Reply #7 on:** March 03, 2011, 00:17:44 AM »

Poor effie and poor you.

Even though when I first got Bonnie I had to take her to the vet every 6 weeks for a year she stil,l never got used to it.

Must admit, Tan is right, Bonnie is better if I don't talk to her when she is meowing all the way there. I make sure I have a window open and the radio on.

I put her carrier in the front porch and pick her up and shut the door behind me and then place her in front of the open carrier door bum first and push her in with her chest - a lot easier than face first. Then I put some Dreamies in the carrier and sorted!

Good luck.

Mary

Liz · « **Reply #6 on:** March 02, 2011, 23:29:51 PM »

We have 8 going on Friday including the cardio vascular work out of getting 2 ferals in to crush cages

I have to say on the n ice Clanc ats we use the scruff and push technique of putting in to a cat box , the ferals on the other hand are a chase session then corner and pop in to crusher which can be fun and mean welding gauntlets and a lot of closed doors to get them in to the cat room!

Tan · « **Reply #5 on:** March 02, 2011, 23:07:33 PM »

The other thing i have really noticed is that when you are playing with them if you are not enjoying it yourself, they also get that feeling and don't play very well. If you are actually enjoying the game they enjoy it alot more as well

It's one of the reasons i "EEEEE" "EEEE" alot when playing it's the sound my lads make when in a playing mood

told ya i was mad!!

Tan · « **Reply #4 on:** March 02, 2011, 23:03:08 PM »

Hi Si hun

One thing cats are brill at and that's picking up your own stress. They have the ability to seance what you are feeling the same as dogs can so if you can try and not worry or panic yourself it will help.
I have read in Vicky Halls excellent behaviour books that if a cat is scared of something, trying to comfort them actually reinforces the fear and basically says to them they are right to be scared.
I have found this actually works!

My two lads hate the car and hate the vets,all my cats have done. My bridge babes used to be scared of the box as well but with my lads now the box has always been out for them to sleep in so Garf & Marl are not worried about the basket.

I used to sit in the back with them with my hand in the basket stroking them and they cried all the way, ears back and wide eyes. After reading that i was actually reinforcing their fear and saying to them Yes you have a reason to be scared by fussing them. i now sit in the front of the car and act completely at ease (need to feel this from inside) and ignore them and it works!

They are not so scared and don't cry even in the vets any more! It's like a kid being scared of a ghost or something you say to them na don't be silly

So a huge key is actually completely relaxing yourself, being positive, and dominant in a calm way and getting the job done with as little fuss as poss.

Tiggy's Mum · « **Reply #3 on:** March 02, 2011, 22:27:14 PM »

I think you have to be cruel to be kind and be quite forceful to get her in the box

In the past when I've pussyfooted around with the boys (no pun intended!) trying to get them in the carriers they get stressed out with me chasing them or trying to put them in gently and then the paws start to flail. I now just grab them and quite firmly shove them in - much less stress for all involved. She'll soon forget about it when she's home and being hand-fed Dreamies

Rosella moggy · « **Reply #2 on:** March 02, 2011, 22:17:41 PM »

You got any Feliway spray? Squirt in carriers each day up to Saturday.

I go through this with Billy Whiz. I'm almost sure it's worse for me than him tho

He looks like he's gonna go mental on the way there and hops out of carrier when he arrives home like he hasn't a care in the world while I flop in a heap of nervous exhaustion .....

Guest · « **Reply #1 on:** March 02, 2011, 22:12:14 PM »

Author Topic: Getting Effie to the vet - any tips (Read 4433 times)