How do I get my 7yo Bengal to accept being prodded at the vets?

[Imissmy0ldusername]

We adopted her about 18 months ago - she's used to being prodded & poked at cat shows (not by us - we adopted her when she retired, as she was bullying the new queen in the family). But at the vets, it's a different story - she's not having it, not one iota. Poor thing is due her annual injections and MOT next week, and whilst the vet and I have our kevlar to hand, it doesn't seem fair on the poor old girl. DH did the honours last year, and has still got the scars from where she exited the crate, and landed on his shoulders, via his stomach, and all of her claws. Poor thing sounds terrified.

I know that it's for her own good, but her distress can't be good for her in the short term. This is the cat that managed to give herself a nosebleed when someone (not sure if it was her old owners or the vet) tried to give her a tablet.

Should I change vets? I've got one nearer that have their own cat area. Or should I be doing something to make her time at the vets less stressfull? The rest of the time, she's either a cockwomble, or the biggest lap monster you have ever met. It's an hour, once a year, but it's awful.

[whatsthatnow]

Can your vet do a house visit? Might be the smell of the surgery and she will be more relaxed at home

[Imissmy0ldusername]

That's what I was thinking - I'll give them a call in the morning. I don't want to keep doing this to her - it's not fair. She's got a happy retirement here. Vets surgeries do not help with her happy retirement. She's supposed to just be a mog now. But we understand that she (like all our other adoptees) have issues that we couldn't have sorted when they were young, as we only take on grownups. The other one is a puke monster. That's fun :)

[cozietoesie]

Seniorboy's vet gets a funny sort of.......faraway and thoughtful look on her face if you say the B word to her.

[Jayne266]

You need to take the cat for regular visits so your not just taking for uncomfortable things. You can ask for a visit but it will be very costly and most practices will do this for a emergency only.

[yougotitdude]

Maybe wrap yourself in bubble wrap for starters?

[Fluffycloudland77]

Crush crate?.

[Foxyspook]

Abyssinians don't like having their temps taken!

[Qwebec]

If I were you I would talk to the vet about options. Maybe there are light sedatives you could mix with your cat's favorite food before the trip at the vet? Something that could relax her?

[Imissmy0ldusername]

Update - it wasn't as bad as last year by a long chalk. I was expecting the shoulder routine, so wore a thick jacket. The vet had her best kevlar top on, as she'd read her notes . Weighing her was problematic, but it got done in the end. The vet couldn't check her teeth, but that was the only thing we couldn't get done between us. I think that we're only really going to have problems when her health starts declining and she needs meds.

[MaddyHatter]

Bengals are quite clever, i would have a chat to your vet and perhaps try some clicker training/positive reinforcement over the next few months and see if that helps.