So sorry the experience was so bad, can the shelter recommend a vet with more experience dealing with difficult kittys?Yes that's the one, they gave us Gabapentin! haha it's hard to image Alba being a "wet purring noodle" but it definitely sounds like it will be less stressful for both of us if I give her the drugs. they also told me to give her one the night before and another one a couple of hours before the visit.
Thanks A LOT for the step-by-step guide. It is so useful to get this kind of guidance, being a first time cat owner I don't have that much experience! We actually talked to the shelter too (not to give Alba up - would never do that) to hear if they have tips on vets that are good with really scared cats, and they gave us a few tips. They also offered us to borrow one of their squeeze cages - I don't know if I will do that but I think I will get Alba a slightly bigger carrier, with a larger opening.
It seems like Alba has recovered fine from the vet visit, she is a little shittish but other than that back to normal. This makes it a lot easier to even think about taking her to the vet again
Sometimes fingers are scary, maybe see if she will give a head bump to the knuckles. Gypsy loves knuckle jowl rubs.
She will forgive, see if you can find a treat she is especially crazy for and use as positive reinforcement. I use the Churu to mix with Gypsys probiotics every night
I order them both online although Walmart does carry the Sheba.
You may want to practice giving the gabapentin prior to the night before the vet visit in case she doesn't want to take it. If it's a pill using a pill pocket may work.
The first time I had to take Gypsy to the vet solo I was terrified and the more I googled carrier loading techniques the more afraid I got! Until I ran across a video on youtube showing the technique called 'Blind Superman' It sounds a lot like what Tobermory described. After fretting so bad it worked so well that it was over before I knew what happened.
You are doing a great job, keep up the good work and keep us updated and photos, we love lots of photos
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