Getting a cat in the box to go to the V.E.T.

[ShutUpLegs]

Newcat is a rescue and was on the streets for a long time. He is VERY savvy and wary.

He's been vomitting for 36 hours now so made an appt for this morning.

I missed my one window to grab him - he really clawed me and escaped from the towel. He is now under the farthest reaches of the bad and I can't get him out. We are both stressed.

Any tips for handling a big strong cat who won't be handled into a small box?! Other than not screwing up the one and only valuable first attempt that you get?

I have tried a trail of Dreamies and he'll only take the one that is furthest from the box and ignores any of them that are within 50cm of it.

[BatFacedGirl]

I think you've probably missed your chance for this morning unfortunately.

I always hide the cat box and ensure it's on its side, so the hole facing up. I then crouch down and feed Dreamies and then I pounce with a large towel. Bundle up and drop her in the standing up cat basket . It's not very comfortable for either of us but easiest way.

You could try calling in reinforcements? If there's a couple of you, you could block him off maybe and throw big towel over him

[howrudeforme]

I have this. My box is large with opening at top.

I stick in bedding and catnip. I then use this cat calm spray (smells foul).

Entice cat to bathroom - she likes the bath then grab her with huge towell from there stick her in box complete with towel over her head.

Not nice but it’s the only way for us.

Good luck.

[catmummy1]

No advice but it takes 3 people to get my cat into ones of those boxes. To say cats love boxes they don't half hate the ones they are meant to go in!

[Magpiefeather]

Maybe try buttering a piece of toast or opening a tin of tuna? Might be so irresistible that you suddenly find your cat round your ankles then, bam, pick them up and into basket. (I know it won’t be that easy really but just trying to think of what gets my cat out of hiding). Good luck

[Fluffycloudland77]

I trap mine in the en-suite then back him into a corner and scoop him in using the opening to the box and use the door in my other hand to guide him in.

Tip the bed on its side so he can’t get beneath it and start again.

[HardAsSnails]

I think all the cajoling and encouraging just makes it worse. A top loading box or a standard one tipped up so you can drop the cat in back legs first is easiest. Pick up from behind with your hands under cat's 'armpits', hold firmly and cat will usually just go extra long, then lower into box, close lid poking in any escaping limbs as you go.

[viccat]

My tricky cats need to be shut into the smallest room (ideally the bathroom) with no furniture to hide under so I can corner them. Otherwise they will run and hide out of reach.

[Allergictoironing]

I can usually trick Boycat (thick as shit), but if I miss the first go with Girlcat she dives under the bed. Last time she did this, I used the hairdryer to get her out of there so I could grab her.

[Jocasta2018]

I think you may have missed today's window unfortunately - they wise up pretty quickly. Is there any way you can trap him in a room and cover him with a towel - maybe tomorrow? Another 24hrs might calm him down again.

I have a hell's own job getting my cat to the vets. She was a rescue and has a severe phobia being picked up.

The last time I took her to the vets was 15mths ago. She was asleep on our bed so I shut the door and grabbed her. She peed everywhere - I ended buying new pillows & duvet.
Since then she has not gone into our bedroom which was her favourite place to spend an afternoon roasting in the sun and she avoids going upstairs where there are rooms in which I could trap her.
Downstairs is pretty much open plan so even if you shut a few doors, the space is still too big to easily grab her.

We just can't pick her up. She's now dozing & purring gently behind me on the sofa, with her tail around my neck, yet you try to put your hands around her or grab her by the scruff of her neck and she goes nuts. Throwing a towel on her makes it even worse. One time she bit me so bad I needed a tetanus injection and antibiotics - obviously we took her to the vet first then I went to my local Walk-in centre for treatment!

I once tried to trap her in the garage but she managed to smash her way out of the (admittedly quite old) cat flap. I have used a cat trap that I borrowed from Cats Protection but she's wise to that.

My vet is brilliant - it's written on the cat's notes that if there is a problem and we manage to trap her, they have to fit her in even if the surgery is full. It's embarrassing as once she's in there, she's docile as she's terrified so the vets have never seen the whirling dervish she becomes - although they did see the bite on my hand!

I wish you lots of luck & hope your cat gets better.

[Ellabella989]

When my cat was alive I had to trap him In a small room like the bathroom where there was nowhere to hide. I’d wear something live a dressing gown to protect my arms and chest from him scratching. I’d then grab him and shove him into the box whilst closing the lid down on his head at the same time. I would have to be incredibly firm as he would be wriggling to get out of my arms. So stressful!

[HellInAHandCartThatsWhat]

I put the box with the door open in front of the catflap, and usher him into it - works every time. He's a very stupid cat.

But previous cat it was towel and box stood up on end when he was trapped in room with little to hide under or behind - like the bathroom.

Or got him when asleep.

[ShutUpLegs]

Thank you so much for the moral support. DH's Dad died unexpectedly at the weekend so he is away and the one and only time we got Newcat in the box, it needed us both. When I failed this morning, I just sat and howled.

Tipping the box up and dropping him in is genius - I think that might work. He's been thrwing up between Mon pm and last night so the vet wanted to see him. No go today. However, I have been feeding him scraps of chicken at spaced out intervals and he hasn't been sick today so far. Although I caught him retching for an agonisingly long period before he seemed to swallow and conquer it.

We have had him 6 weeks with no issues like this at all. HIs frst vomit was defiantely hairballs but the following 4 episodes all rbought up food. I wonder if his stomach is just irritated and we should keep going with a little chicken for another 2 hours and see where we get to. I can't see me getting him to the vet on my own unless he worsens and goes lethargic. Which he isn't right now.

I am just so sad that all our careful trust-building work feels completely undone - he flees when I come near him. Idiot cat doesn't understand that we CARE about him.

[ShutUpLegs]

24 hours - not 2 hours. Fat fingered typing.

[titchy]

We have the same with one of ours. Basically we shut her and dh into the kitchen. Cat goes mad and runs around hysterically for 20 mins. Utterly exhausts herself then when she can physically run no more dh, clad in leather, grabs her and shoves her in.

[Veterinari]

In an emergency situation:
Consider buying a new box - fabric ones or rucksacks are often better tolerated. Keep it out and open. Get cat nice and relaxed - stroking, dreamies etc. Turn to face you so bum is towards the box and quick shove/drop in.

In the longer term leave the bag/box out and open - put a bed and bowls of wet food. Dreamies etc inside and generally just treat the box as a cosy hideout. This counterconditioning to acclimatise cats to their bags/boxes is super helpful as they age and need more doing.

Also top tip - get a bag/box where the top can be completely unzipped/Unclipped easily. This means that your cat can be examined inside the box which is often much less stressful and means test results are more accurate especially if they already have positive association with it.

[UnderPompeii]

Backwards. Sounds mad but works. Hope DCat is OK, and you

[Veterinari]

Backwards. Sounds mad but works.
Yes bum-first is essential to avoid the 4-footed-starfish-with-claws

[UnderPompeii]

Ha great image! And quickly, before they know what's happening

[myusernameisnotmyusername]

Last time my cat hid under the bed I kept trying to move it. In the end I gave up and she sauntered out!

[Judystilldreamsofhorses]

We have a top-loading box (Also has a front door) and a sheepskin pad thing that goes inside it. Cat loves the pad, and if it’s out will lie in it - the whole lot can then be picked up and put in the box. We tend to bring the box out 24 hours or so before the vet - she loves a box, and will often go in it voluntarily, or at least doesn’t see it as a threat. (But she will still howl all the way there and back - fortunately DP takes her so I remain her favourite!)

[LizB62A]

Was he in a foster home in between being rescued and coming to you?
If so, are you feeding him the same food he had there? (and was he ok on that food at the foster home?)

[MiniMum97]

Don't ask me. Last time we took my cat to the vet we failed twice and eventually had to sedate her to get her there.

[TroysMammy]

When is he being sick? All the time or after food? I had a cat who I gave Dreamies to and I've never seen so much vomit after he ate about 5. Dreamies were then banned. Lick-e-lik was a hit though.

[TheBrockmans]

It might be worth googling mobile vets in your area. They are often more newly qualified vets who can't afford premises but as long as you can shut him in the room they can examine him. They might not be able to offer the more complex treatments. Likewise getting cat sitters rather than a cattery. Not figured out how to move house without a box but hopefully won't do that too often. One of our cats prefers to be on a harness in the car, but she still has to go into the box to go into the vets. If he is that nervous he probably won't appreciate a harness either.

[ShutUpLegs]

Thank you so much for the tips. The long vertical drop approach worked and he was most put out. But we got him to the V.E.T. who suspects an allergy. He is now to embark on an expensive hypoallergenic diet for the next 6-8 weeks to see if that improves his general health. If it does, the plan is to put him back on normal food and see if he ails again. If he does, it'll be back to the hypoallergenic food and then a controlled reintroduction of other things to see what he and can't tolerate. Sigh.



He's turning into our most expensive stray ever. Oh - and V.E.T. thinks he is older than we have been told so far - probably 8 years old. ANd is going to need some extensive tarter teeth treatment once the diet has been sorted. The kids' uni fund is stuffed.