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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

How does your cat behave at the vets?

84 replies

GalileoHumpkins · 17/07/2023 17:41

I took my cat to the vet on Friday for his yearly check-up, he got weighed had his vaccinations etc. I gave him Gabapentin beforehand at the vet's request because he gets extremely stressed and can be a bit hissy.
I felt afterwards that the vet made a lot of snarky comments about what a horrible cat he is, asking if we dared to touch him at home, how lovely and sweet other people's cats are, does he terrorise us etc. He's a lovely little lad, he loves a cuddle and smooshes his head in our faces to get kisses. He sleeps on my pillow at night and purrs so loud.
Is everyone else's cat a perfect angel at the vet or is it natural for them to be a bit scared and defensive? I should add he's never physically injured the vet, just hissed and tried to get away from her.

OP posts:
FrivolousTreeDuck · 17/07/2023 17:44

One of them presses himself as flat as he can on the table and will not move.

The other tries to wander all over the place and get into cupboards.

My sister's cat sounds like yours - lashes out, hisses, scratches everyone.

All cats are different!

Bumcake · 17/07/2023 17:44

Your vet sounds like an arsehole. I have a standard black cat, plump and 15 years old. Our new vet said he was a handsome gentleman in his golden years, and I was chuffed to bits. 😄

As for behaviour, mine is very timid and scared at his check ups. Nothing like the confident shouty fellow I am used to at home.

StMarysTrainee · 17/07/2023 17:44

Mine sits still and purrs. We can stay chatting about our gardens etc and she just enjoys a stroke…even now when he’s treating an infection she has. They are all different. I’m also sure your vet was just making small talk that was maybe clumsy.

Pixiedust1234 · 17/07/2023 17:48

You need a new vet.

Multiple vets called my girl feisty, or with character. They also mentioned she could give one hell of a donkey kick. There was always a nurse (with a massive towel) as backup. However they were also upset when she eventually passed away. That is the kind of vet you need.

CoffeeNCroissants · 17/07/2023 17:53

My cat wants to murder the vet. The vet is scared of her.

RandomMess · 17/07/2023 17:54

Awful awful vet Angry

All my cats have been ok to down right trying to seduce the staff at the vets.

However many cats are very frightened and it's natural behaviour that they should know how to deal and cope with.

hartof · 17/07/2023 17:54

Mine is usually okay, my mums cat is banned from the vets for bad behaviour 😂

I genuinely think there are vets that don't like cats and are scared of them, ours recently needed admitting and at the first vet they just didn't seem to handle him. He had to be sedated to have bloods because he got "angry" and he was supposed to have fluids and didn't because of the "anger" - what animal is going to tolerate being prodded without sedation, they were supposed to sedate him from the start. The second vets was much nicer and hands on, and even commented on what a nice cat he is (at this point he was very poorly so was likely too ill to fight back)

EmeraldFox · 17/07/2023 17:58

One of my cats was absolutely terrified. Panting and trembling on the way there, tail against his body on the table, acting like a frightened prey animal. It was so unlike him, he can hold his own with unfriendly cats and is an efficient rat killer. A previous cat jumped off the table and walked around casually like she owned the place.

AnnaMagnani · 17/07/2023 17:59

Cat 1: Like he owns the place. Jumps everywhere, reasonably behaved and lets the vet handle him a lot more than he lets us.

Having said that a vet has given up before when he was getting a bit scary and they tried to restrain him in the smallest towel you have ever seen

Cat 2: Refuses to come out of carrier. Turns into a heavy lump.

Worst experience was with a previous cat who we would just turn up and ask them to put her straight in the bag and muzzle as it saved everyone, especially the cat, a lot of stress and time.

Retrievemysanity · 17/07/2023 18:04

I’m glad you’ve asked this as with our first cat, I’m always made to feel like she’s abnormal/ I’m a bad owner as she jumps off the table, doesn’t stay still etc but if you try and hold her, she tries to scratch and get away! But she was a rescue cat and we don’t know her background.

Cat 2 is also a rescue but from a home where he lived for his first 5 years and was very well cared for. He is a dream at the vet, all purrs and cooperation!

Vinorosso74 · 17/07/2023 18:05

Ours is pretty good. He likes a good nose around the consulting room. Last visit for all done and he decided to curl up on one of the chairs in the room!
Our old cat was fine too,until her latter days when she'd been too often. One time the vet popped out the room to get something and she was wandering about the desk and walked across the keyboard "updating" her records!

Original poster
GalileoHumpkins · 17/07/2023 18:07

However many cats are very frightened and it's natural behaviour that they should know how to deal and cope with

That's my main issue with them, they're a cat hospital, they literally specialise in cat care. They should be experts at handling frightened cats.

OP posts:
Roselilly36 · 17/07/2023 18:08

Most of our cats were ok at the vets, our last cat was such an embarrassment, he had quite a reputation (for being a proper cat 😂) gauntlets on, the noise was unbelievable!

Original poster
GalileoHumpkins · 17/07/2023 18:10

I’m glad you’ve asked this as with our first cat, I’m always made to feel like she’s abnormal/ I’m a bad owner

I felt like the worst cat owner to ever live when I left, I stupidly had a cry when I got home for doing everything wrong. What a muppet.

OP posts:
PurpleSky300 · 17/07/2023 18:12

Quiet and wary. Avoidant (eg. trying to get back in the carrier) but not aggressive or visibly scared. Just wary and wondering what it's all about. Always happy to go home!

AllTheWatersTurnedToClouds · 17/07/2023 18:13

Our old cat gets a bit growly and unco-operative. Vet thinks it quite funny.

One of the others shat on the examining table once. That was a real low...

AnnaMagnani · 17/07/2023 18:14

CoffeeNCroissants · 17/07/2023 17:53

My cat wants to murder the vet. The vet is scared of her.

The first day I met Cat 1 he bit and scratched me so hard I needed iv antibiotics, a week off work and still have the scars.

He is now a great softy and loves his mummy but I do warn the vets that if you upset him, he retaliates hard.

I don't blame the vets for being scared, TBH I'm scared and he's my baby.

mondaytosunday · 17/07/2023 18:16

Chilled, but don't like being in the cat carrier much and one escaped outside when being carried from car to building. which was hugely embarrassing and inconvenient. This is in London too!

Findyourneutralspace · 17/07/2023 18:18

Mine has a note on his file saying ‘aggressive’. He’s the least aggressive cat you could meet outside of that room. He’s only ever managed to hunt a marshmallow. But once they open the carrier, he gets bitey and has been known to take a swipe.

Babdoc · 17/07/2023 18:18

During Covid, we all had to hand over the cats in the car park, and the vets took them inside without their owners.
My vet came out afterwards to hand over Madam, and he laughingly said that she had “sung” throughout! I can believe it, she’s quite feisty, but usually ok if I am with her.
We did once have to get the male nurse with gauntlets to hold her, but normally she behaves quite well and doesn’t complain about booster shots.

Nellieinthebarn · 17/07/2023 18:20

My dearly departed Main Coon cross was lovely affectionate darling at home. And an absolute nightmare at the vets, hissy, scratchy and even a bit bitey, and that was just getting her out of the carrier. My Vet was very stoic, and never let her bad behaviour affect his caring attitude, he just wrapped her in a towel and got one with whatever needed doing. Luckily apart from being spayed and her her vaccinations she only needed to see him once or twice.

Glamrockgoddess · 17/07/2023 18:22

OP, your vet sounds like they don't even like cats !

My cats have always been very good, but then I have always handled them a lot when kittens/young.
Or maybe I have been lucky in getting cats with a "bombproof" personality !

YesItsMeIDontCare · 17/07/2023 18:22

New vet required. Leroy is an absolute arsehole but is described as "spicy", "feisty", "vocal", "a real character", you get the picture 😁

(He's also been referred to as "a bit overweight" so I reckon that's enough to make anyone spicy and vocal 😂)

TakeMe2Insanity · 17/07/2023 18:23

Our 14 year old who like us but not other people (fighter until he became diabetic) generally takes a swipe at the vet. He has previously bitten and scratched the vet. He sweats profusely so I feel he is very stressed about the process.

Our 11 month super friendly one basically turns into a pancake and freezes almost with fear.

Agree with pp your vet is a twat.

Randallthecat · 17/07/2023 18:29

Ours is a bosscat at home, shouty and vocal, likes everyone to know he’s in charge - arrogant af. Hates other cats, other people outside the family and hisses and growls at them if they so much as cast the wrong eye in his direction.

Once he’s at the vets he’s as meek as can be, turns into a dead weight and lets the vet pick him up all floppy and submits to whatever examining the vet decides.

All mouth and no trousers…