Is it necessary to take them to the vet?

[Sunshine49]

Hello everyone! I've had my super timid rescue cats for about 3.5 months now. In February I popped into the vet to get some worming tablets and they gave me one dose of Drontal. The vet said that it would be fine as an interim measure but that it doesn't work with all the different types of worms, and that they'd need to see the cats before giving me their standard pill, which does cover all types.

The cats are now due another worming tablet, which means I will have to take them in to see the vet. I'm just really worried about it as they're such nervous cats - they're pretty relaxed with me and DH now, but terrified of new people and visitors. As such I'm reluctant to disrupt their routine with a stressful car journey etc.

Are there any worming tablets you can buy them online or do I really have to take them in? I should add that I am hoping to get a different flea treatment as I was hopeless at applying the spot-on - so I guess I would need to take them to the vet for that anyway. Their yearly jabs aren't due till October.

Thanks!

They need to weigh the cats to know what dose to give them e.g. my cats have Advocate spot on (worms and fleas & everything basically) and it comes in < 4 kg and > 4 kg doses, and I know a lot of animal medicine is the same. The last thing the vet wants is to sell you something that will either not work as too small a dose, or even worse harm your cats by giving them a dose that's too high for their body weight.

You can buy cat wormers on line, and I think Drontal is available without prescription. However again you would need to know the weight to get the correct dosage.

Whatever you do, avoid Bob Martin products. They have been selling flea treatments for years that can harm or even kill cats, so I wouldn't trust them with ANY medication!

Thanks Allergic - yes, I've seen the warnings about Bob Martin on here before. Very worrying!

I know the boy cat weighs 7lbs as he happened to sit on the bathroom scales the other day and I caught a glimpse. Not sure about the girl cat but they appear to be roughly the same size. They're both quite small for adult cats.

It sounds like I might need to bite the bullet and take them to the vet, as I do want them to have the right medication...

Have you got big carriers for them? I bought a new one with wheels and it has made things much less stressful. I dont kniw if it would hold two. Tbh i take mine on separate appointments i find it easier. My vet is two buses away but i just put them on my knee in the carrier. The more nervouse one i have covered it with a blanket before and that calms her.

I used to take both my cats in one carrier. It was a squeeze but a very short journey and the girl felt safer that way (boy not that bothered). These days I take them separately as they are a bit more used to it.

Thanks everyone! I have two separate carriers with plastic doors. The shelter said metal doors are far preferable as they're more secure, but I bought these before I realised! Do you think plastic doors are ok? I'm dreading getting them into the carriers - I'm fully expecting to get scratched and bitten!

I put oven gloves on to get them in the cage. I'm sure plastic will be fine. Maybe place them facing each other so that they can see each other. And lots of dreamies when they get home!

If you have feliway spray, put some of that in the carriers. Ideally you should have an old blanket or towel in there for both comfort & soaking up any panic pee (Boycat has previous for this) so spray that with the Feliway if you have it. A few Dreamies or treats in the carriers may be a good idea, though mine are too stressed to eat them it may help with yours.

A couple of the things I did when mine had their MoTs this year seemed to help (mine really don't like being picked up, confined, moved about etc).

Firstly I took them about 10 days apart, so I didn't have to catch them both on the same day. Took the smarter one first, so the incredibly thick one had a chance to forget what had happened to her.

Secondly I put the carrier in the living room about 2 weeks before they were due to go, I had the door open and a towel in there that they like to sleep on. I would put Dreamies scattered in there every day so they would explore it and associate it with Good Things.

Oh, and I put them on Zylkene for a few days before and after, magic de-stressing capsules that you can scatter on their food and mine actually love the taste!

This is the type of carrier i have and i love it. We even went and sat outside costa today! Shes broken her leg so i took her out for a change of scene. Can you not ask the vet to give you the three it one drops and get him to do it for you there and then? I get six months supply at a time i coukdnt be doing with three different things.