Is Medical Boarding OK?

[bfls]

One of my cats will probably need to have surgery to remove a sequestrum from his eye. I will be taking him to a specialist to confirm the diagnosis and arrange treatment. If surgery is required my problem is how to look after him post-surgery. He does not like being handled at the best of times. If I can grab him, he will freeze so I can make him into a kitty burrito and can cope with dosing him. However, step one of that process is grabbing your cat. I only succeed about 50% of the time with that step. I'm single and live alone, so I don't have anyone to help me on a regular basis.

My only practical options that I can see are the following.

1. Find a cattery attached to a vet clinic that will do medical boarding. He will hate it and hate them, but the staff will be able to provide him with the necessary medical care. It also means he won't get scared of me.
2. Bring him home and keep him confined to the spare room and hire a pet sitter to come around twice a day to help me corner him. I can't see him enjoying this option much either and I'll be the bad guy.

Option 1 would be best for my stress levels but is Option 2 kinder for my cat?

 

[DorasCats]

I would choose the first option.

 

[silent meowlook]

Keep him in a large cage. Ask your vet for pain meds and Gabapentin. Keep him sedated and treat him yourself.

 

[Peaceandcats]

I like Silent Meowlooks's idea. If that does not work, then ask them if option #1 can be done. I do not like option #2 at all (unless the sitter is also a licensed vet tech).

 

[neely]

Keep him in a large cage. Ask your vet for pain meds and Gabapentin. Keep him sedated and treat him yourself.

I agree. The longer he's away from home the more stressed out he will be. Since cats are territorial they do better in familiar surroundings, i.e. your home. Good luck with the upcoming eye surgery, please keep us posted on his progress.

 

[fionasmom]

My cats are all rescued ferals. While they have become pets, they do not want to be handled for any medical reason, even those who will come and curl up in my lap and ask for affection.

I would go with some variation of S silent meowlook 's suggestion. Adapt it to your house and lifestyle. In my case, I use a small bathroom where they cat cannot escape, but which I can set up with everything that the need.

 

[treeclimber]

It is OK to choose either option. You do not have to be the patron saint of idealized self-sacrificing cat parenthood - it is OK to let your own stress factor into the decision too. Cats spend time in vet clinics all the time for things like ICU care, and if you do use medical boarding his stress from that will be temporary and eventually forgotten when he settles in back at home.

There are some advantages of option 1 for him too - not missing a treatment from getting out of his confinement room and being uncatchable, and not potentially losing trust in his human over the things you’d have to do to him.

If you can afford option 1, and can find a good vet clinic (one where they won’t put him in a cage in the same room with barking dogs or send him home with a new infection) I’d say it’s OK to go with option 1. Especially if it’s a place that will let you visit regularly to give him love and reassurance while he’s there. (And if he seems too unhappy during a visit you can always change plans and bring him home early.)