Cat behavior at the vet

CatLover49

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Hey
I took Fudgey to the vet today
But unfortunately he couldn't get checked out..cause he was hissing..trying to bite nurses
But he cleaned himself out both ways in his carrier

So vet gave me gababentin to give him night before and the day off vet visit
To make him drowsy ..to where he can get checked out

Anyone else having this or had this problem??

Any advice
And does it stop???
 

Kieka

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Some cats are just terrors at the vet. My Moms cat, I can't take him to the vet because he is just a nightmare for me but if my Mom is there he is a sweet kitten. Also the crate accidents can be a lifelong thing for some cats. I had one cat that I brought a second carrier for the trip home along with extra towels and a bottle of water (and trash bag to throw the soiled carrier in).

You might be able to desensitize to the carrier by leaving it around your house and even feeding your cat in it. That would make it so your cat doesn't immediately panic at the sight of the crate or being in it. Jackson Galaxy has a really good My Cat from Hell episode that details the whole process (sorry I don't remember which episode, it was one with an owner who lost a cat to a house fire if I remember right and wanted to be able to evacuate them). The vet madness though is not something you can really train around. With frequent visits and more exposure to strangers, maybe. But I think the mild sedative might be a better choice.
 

rubysmama

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A friend of mine had a cat that would have "both end" crate accidents on the way to the vet. They eventually changed to a vet closer to home, and that helped a lot. Their cat was also a biter, and even had a notation on his file. Vets and vet techs expect to get bitten though, and are always up-to-date on their shots. Hopefully the gabapentin will help calm your kitty next time.

Here's a link that might be helpful: Study: Gabapentin Reduces Stress in Cats Before Veterinary Visits

I also did a site search on "gabapentin" and these are the threads it found, if you are interested in checking them out.
Search Results for Query: gabapentin
 

Mamanyt1953

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I'd start with leaving the crate opened, and putting treats in there, or feeding in there until your cat is comfortable. If he has a really bad issue with the carrier, take the top off of it at first, so that it looks totally unthreatening. I'd also suggest that once he is comfy with being in the carrier, closing the door briefly, then opening it again...extend the closed time gradually. Once you have a calm cat with the door closed, begin to carry it around the house for a few minutes. When you're good with that, take SHORT rides in the car, again, gradually extending the times. I think that it may be he's so panicked (the elimination in the carrier tells me that) by the carrier itself that he has no chance of not fighting at the vet's office.
 

maggie101

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Some cats are just terrors at the vet. My Moms cat, I can't take him to the vet because he is just a nightmare for me but if my Mom is there he is a sweet kitten. Also the crate accidents can be a lifelong thing for some cats. I had one cat that I brought a second carrier for the trip home along with extra towels and a bottle of water (and trash bag to throw the soiled carrier in).

You might be able to desensitize to the carrier by leaving it around your house and even feeding your cat in it. That would make it so your cat doesn't immediately panic at the sight of the crate or being in it. Jackson Galaxy has a really good My Cat from Hell episode that details the whole process (sorry I don't remember which episode, it was one with an owner who lost a cat to a house fire if I remember right and wanted to be able to evacuate them). The vet madness though is not something you can really train around. With frequent visits and more exposure to strangers, maybe. But I think the mild sedative might be a better choice.
What calms my cat is music,not loud. If you have a portable cd player,see if that works. My cat has a preference. Not deep voices
 

danteshuman

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Some cats turn into hell cats at the vets! The horror stories I could tell you about Sarah! 🤣 This 12 pound declawed cat was so bad at the vet they used a loop thing on a stick around hee neck & back legs. Despite that she still bit the vet! 🤣🤣🤣 This sweet little bottle baby was a terror at the vet until my mom started boarding her at the vet a lot. That finally calmed her down about the vet. My stepdad never took her to the vet without her mom for the rest of that cat’s life! 🤣

So now there is Cami who gets really scared m, hissy & bites at the vet (also my mom’s cat.) The vet & I both talked to my mom about giving her gabapentin. Plus we learned we need go keep her separate from her brothers because she works them up.

I thought my boy trying to climb the blinds was bad but at least he didn’t try to bite the vet like his sister Cami did!
 

Tik cat's mum

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My Patches will go into the carrier no problem, but by the time we are at the vet he's like he's possessed. I don't mean aggressive but he'll throw up all over himself and possibly pee he just hates the vet's office. He complaines all the way there and all the way home. The last time I took him as I pulled him out of the carrier the vet looked at him in horror, he was forming at the mouth and wet through. His check was very quick believe me she couldn't wait to tell me you can put him back now. My other cat is fantastic at the vet but he spent a lot of time when he was younger there. I think for Patches it's not the carrier it the smell and sound of the vets he is a shy cat and runs when we have visitors even at 4 years old. I am working on getting him used to others handling him but lockdown has put a stop to it for now.
 

Mamanyt1953

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My vet now has "Team Hekitty." Our appointments are on days when at least three team members are there, the vet and two techs. My favorite tech is the one who actually attended a seminar on safe and effective scruffing techniques. Yes, it can be safe when done properly, and Hek has given her the vote of confidence. Now mind you, Hek has never tried to hurt anyone there, but she's very strong, and she struggles wildly. They've been clawed pretty good by her attempts to get away. Nell just scruffs her gently, and everything is done in two minutes.
 
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CatLover49

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My Patches will go into the carrier no problem, but by the time we are at the vet he's like he's possessed. I don't mean aggressive but he'll throw up all over himself and possibly pee he just hates the vet's office. He complaines all the way there and all the way home. The last time I took him as I pulled him out of the carrier the vet looked at him in horror, he was forming at the mouth and wet through. His check was very quick believe me she couldn't wait to tell me you can put him back now. My other cat is fantastic at the vet but he spent a lot of time when he was younger there. I think for Patches it's not the carrier it the smell and sound of the vets he is a shy cat and runs when we have visitors even at 4 years old. I am working on getting him used to others handling him but lockdown has put a stop to it for now.
My vet isnt letting me in the building cause of covid
Nurse comes out to vehicles and take pets in and the pet parents wait in the car
And the vet calls and talks to the pet parent

That isnt helping the issue
But covid is messed up alot of things
 

Tik cat's mum

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My vet isnt letting me in the building cause of covid
Nurse comes out to vehicles and take pets in and the pet parents wait in the car
And the vet calls and talks to the pet parent

That isnt helping the issue
But covid is messed up alot of things
I completely understand where you are coming from luckily we are can go inside at my vets one person at a time. When I had to take Bandit the kitten to the emergency vet they didn't let me in, I don't drive so me and my son ended up waiting outside on the car park at 10 o'clock at night for a hour. If I would of had to do that with Patches he would of completely gone into meltdown. I know the vet has to protect themselves but the stress it puts on the cat's isn't good it doesn't help us either to be worried outside about them.
 

jessteroni

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I actually have the same problem with my little guy. It isn’t a crate issue for him, he slept in his crate(door open) for months until he realized my bed was better. He’s the sweetest thing, very cuddly, never hisses, rarely bites unless it’s play time. But as soon as he enters through the doors to the vet, he apparently becomes a cat from hell.

The vet asks me if he’s this much of a feisty menace at home, and usually always this mean. We also can’t go into the vet here, so I get so confused on what they’re talking about. Nugget doesn’t have a mean bone in his body, until he gets to the vet. Cats are just weirdos.
 

Mamanyt1953

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jessteroni jessteroni , I'm betting that Nugget's behavior at the vet is at least partially territorial. He is in a strange place, and smelling a LOT of cats and dogs that he doesn't know. It can be overwhelming, especially for cats, who (while they may form loose-knit clowders) are not "pack" animals the way dogs are.
 
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