First vet visit since I got them...

[Allergictoironing]

I have the day off, so the ex-ferals are having their annual MOT today a bit early. This will be the first time either has been out of the house since I surrendered my life to them about 10 months ago, and though I think I've done everything I can to prepare I'm wibbling a bit.

2 cat carriers have been in the middle of the living room since the weekend, doors open, their own blankets in the bottoms which have been sprayed with Feliway, and occasional Dreamies placed strategically neat the back which they have definitely Gone in to eat - yesterday evening right in front of me. Smaller Girlcat went in to the smaller (borrowed) carrier herself, Boycat chose the larger carrier that also has top door as well as the front door - all well and good, as that's the allocation I was thinking of.

My problem will be getting them BOTH into a carrier, as I reckon as soon as I shut one in the other will panic & run away. Boycat is thick & very timid, Girlcat is smarter, more agile & much bolder. I was thinking of getting at least the first one in at least half an hour or so before I need to leave, but and thoughts on which I should get in first? I should add that both are VERY treats motivated.

Thoughts?

Sorry, OP but that's hilarious! (Ok, not so much for you, but it gave me the cheer up I needed, so thank you!)

NDNS deserves a medal as well. Good on him for coming along with you, despite wearing Eau de Chat. Poor lad!

Glad they're both ok. They'll forgive you in time, don't worry. They may play the poor, hurt, unloved pusscats for a while longer, but that's cats for you.

Hope you've got a wee something to help your recovery tonight!

Oh NDNS is definitely a hero today. He was actually grieving because his ex-wife died this week, but he still dropped everything to help me. I can't even buy him a bottle of something, as he's a recovering alcoholic . I will plot with his mother for a gift to say thank you.

The scratches will heal, the pee smell will eventually be got rid of, but I don't know how long I will have to live with the guilt of putting them, especially him, through the stress. He actually hissed at me at one stage, I've never seen him hiss at anything .

But if you got a bit of a lift from my update, good for you - I did try to write it in a light hearted way

When I took my ex-stray foster to the vet we fumbled getting him in the carrier and he was hugely stressed. He was upset for a day and hiding then for a few days he seemed to know I had done something awful to him but he wasn't sure what. He was wary and regressed to being hissy, didn't want to be picked up, then he forgot and he was fine. When his adopter picked him up he went straight in the carrier with the lure of a treat stick. It is for their own good that they go to the vet, nothing to feel guilty about.

Boycat is notoriously thick, which I think is a good thing in these circumstances. I went up to my room in the evening & saw him on the bed, went over & he quite happily let me scratch his ears with him staring at me with a soft look in his eyes. Then he suddenly seemed to remember what had happened earlier, and fled under the bed!

Girlcat is smarter & more sensible, so panicked less to start with and though wary did have a tummy rub as well in the evening so I think they are recovering from their torture quite well.

Am so pleased to hear they're doing well. And you too! Hope all has been forgotten about by this morning. x

we were very impressed with Pets @ home who will do a home visit (reasonable charge) to do health checks and vaccines for our rescue twosome. It is worth it to avoid the stress of manhandling into cat carriers.

I'd still have to catch & crate them for a home visit - they tend to run & hide if I have visitors. I tend to be wary of Pets at Home, I've heard of some where the vets & clinic staff are great, and others where they are dreadful. I have signed on with my vet because he's a real "cat" person, even cuddles and kisses my DSis's evil killing machine of a cat!