Teaching cat to use an inhaler

[farawayplanet]

Hannah definitely has asthma and is on oral steroids until I teach her to use her inhaler through a kitty spacer thing.

Any tips on how to do this? It's currently in her feeding area so she gets used to it being around. She has sniffed it a couple of times. I don't want to frighten her or put her off using it.

A vet once said to me that they take it quite well , as they realise it's helping them. Not sure how true it is. But After wrestling with many toddlers to give them their inhalers, I imagine a cat would be easier. Although toddlers don't have claws.

Do you have the mask as well? Then it’s a case of learning to hold cat with one hand whilst also using the inhaler connected to the spacer and mask simultaneously.
Use as directed by the vet. There are you tube videos.
Suspect you may have the harder end of the job.

The spacer came with two little masks, I guess I have to choose the right size. I'll take a look at the YouTube videos.

@Toddlerteaplease

A vet once said to me that they take it quite well , as they realise it's helping them. Not sure how true it is. But After wrestling with many toddlers to give them their inhalers, I imagine a cat would be easier. Although toddlers don't have claws.

Have you tried wrapping them in a blanket or is that frowned upon 😃

@Fluffycloudland77
Mandatory - along with gauntlets 🤣

Good grief, I didn't even know cat inhalers were a thing.

Goodness. I didn't know cat inhalers were a thing!

RIP @farawayplanet your DCat will most certainly be plotting your untimely demise.

@Fluffycloudland77 sometimes it's the only way if parents are wet and won't pin them down.

Haha. I wouldn’t have dared played up for my dm. Even as an adult she had a “grow up” gaze that could stop you in your tracks.

Which is better than the “there there, mommy make it better” attitude shown to some 50yo 🤦🏻‍♀️ who are still having tantrums.

One thing that helps is doing the puff then gently holding the mask to the cat's face so she can inhale from the chamber. A lot of cats find the puffing aversive so will object if you hold the mask to them then puff the inhaler

I would think the shape of a normal cats face makes it easier to keep the mask in place.

The vast majority of cats adapted to it really quickly even with just jumping straight in. On average at the start with an asthmatic cat it takes around 10 seconds for them to take the right breaths needed then job is done. I have taught people to use it on their cats and I used to medicate my colleague's very asthmatic cat when they were away.

Thanks everyone 😃

Training starts today, I am going to get some liquid treat to spread on the outside of the mask. She's got a tiny face, so I'll use the smaller mask.

Please can you post about how you get on? It might well help someone else in the future.
Hope dcat adapts and realises its benefits. Cat is lucky to have you as her slave.

Update: I am smearing lickylix onto the inside of the face mask and she's licking it off now.

This is the best training video I managed to find. I'm following this lady's guidance.

Well I hope it’s easier than trying to get a pony to take an inhaler , when ours needed one I took 3 of us and I still don’t think she got that much .

Nice update!!