Abcess Makes The Heart Grow Fonder

[Messalina]

Sorry, for the title, couldn't resist. Anyway, Smoke the Mog had to go to the vets yesterday for an abcess on the back of his head lancing. He now looks like a monk with the bald patch. He's got to have tablets for 4 days (oh, the deep joy of getting them down him) & a liquid med on his food & have his wound bathed with warm water & gently squeezed to make sure there's no more pus (eewww).

What I want to know is, why is he a little lamb at the vet's? Staying still, taking tablets, being examined without a problem & a Tasmanian Devil at home if I even look like I might be thinking about trying to give him a tablet. I can't put them in his food as I swear he knows they're in there & refuses to eat it. ANy tips?

[keithlbw]

I posted this a couple of weeks ago in jokes.......yo could give it a try..
http://www.mamarocks....e_your_cat_a_pill.htm

[starone]

I had a lttle blanket which I used to wrap the cat in tightly so that he could not use his claws. It definitely takes two people to do this. Next step is to open his mouth and throw the tablet down his throat, then close his mouth and smooth his throat so that he has to swallow. Giving a cat a pill is horrendous as well you know.

[keithlbw]

Sorry that link doesn't seem to work...try this...
http://www.mamarocks....e_your_cat_a_pill.htm

[saxy_jag]

Love the title. Actually, it's probably a good thing he doesn't have an anal abscess. Apparently when they're lanced they cause extreme and very loud flatulence akin to the sound of a motorcycle. In which case you'd have needed to use the title, 'Abscess makes the f*rt go Honda'. ;-)

Sorry. Hope little Smoke's feeling better very soon.

[Messalina]

I'll give the blanket a try - if I have any fingers left I'll let you know if it worked. As for the link, keithlbw, - have you been spying?
Thanks to you both for the advice & laughs.

[wolf63]

My vet told me that the reason cats tend to 'behave' at the vet is that they are scared/terrified/traumatised and not in control of the situation.

Frankie has asthma and he has to get check-ups at the vet. The minute the vet gets the stethoscope out the thug starts purring. I basically pay the vet to check his purr output.

I hope Smoke feels better soon - if he got the wound in a fight it is a good sign that he got the wound on his head. The coward cats usually get wounds on their rear end as they run for cover. ;-)

[Messalina]

Wolf, interesting point about the vets - hadn't thought of that. When I took him for his MOT a few months back he slide of the table, slithered across the floor & crawled back into his box & turned round & shut the door behind him. Vet said he'd never seen a cat do that before!

Funny thing is that he's usually quite a cowardly lion - someone he doesn't know comes in & he hides, sudden noises make him jump (I got a Feliway diffuser which seems to help) but another cat on his turf? Not having that.

He's quite well in himself - the abcess doesn't seem to have bothered him at all but he was milking it for all he was worth last night, pitiful mewing & showing off of wound whilst standing right by his treats box.....

I didn't know cats could have asthma - I hope it doesn't cause him too much trouble.

[Messalina]

Sexy_jag, just seen your post. Have spat coffee all over desk & colleague is crying with laughter. Very good :)

[wolf63]

Asthmatic cats get an inhaler (just the same as a human and 'only £75 each' and he has to get it via a thing called an Aerokat twice a day. Thankfully he is greedy and easy going so a combination of food and coaxing (and pinning him to the floor/bed or scruffing him) and it is almost simple to administer.

If it had been his sister I would be shredded on a daily basis. She is a frightening mix of stupid and fierce - but she has a pretty face!