Nightmare taking my cat to the vet each time

ferry

Hi all 
I have a real tough time taking our cat to the vets each time he needs to go as he acts like a wild animal when we get there. He wont let the vet handle him, hissing and scratching when he tries to touch him. It ends in him havng to be restrianed in a towel in order to get him to have his jabs etc..luckily we only take him there when they are due to the point there is a note on their system to be extra careful handling him.
At home he is perfectly fine with the family, does not act this wild and is always calm! He just seems to have a phobia of going to the vet.
Does this seem normal?  
Any advice on how I can make the trip a bit more bearable for all concerned is appreciated !
Thank you 

Robin9

Mine has been ASBO'd by my Vet !    Even the towel technique doesn't work.  On one visit it was me that that ended up at the Doctors when he dug his teeth into me !

At home he can be soppy when it suits him, he will sleep on my lap and bed but when he's in a bad mood watch out ................

KxMx

I had a cat who was similar. She would allow basic touching but would growl the whole time, then often didn't even hiss upon injections! But went so crazy when they cut claws (I think they managed two) I never asked them to again. 

Turned into a very stressful time when we had to travel to a specialist Vet and she had to stay 36 hours. I gave them strict instructions to administer the sedative while she was still confined in the carrier and to consider her as semi feral. 

They were very embarrassed to have to send her home with the IV bandage on, as she tried to bite when an attempt was made to take it off. 

Tried Feliway etc, ultimately I'm afraid nothing helped it was just how she was. 

My suggestions would be a small towel draped over his head to see if that induces any calm, and have the Vet accept they need to be as quick as possible and probably less through than they'd like, and/or for you to handle him while he is on the table instead of the Vet. 

donnac2558

One of my cat's turned into a total psyco at the vet's growlled like a lion.

sarahandme

Its because they got used to realising the vets is the place where they get injections which are painful. A bit like some people dread the dentist. I was wondering is there something you can put in their food prior to going to the vets to calm them down, if not there should be. 

Montysmam

My cat litteraly soils himself in fear when we go to the vets! Fortunately in our area there is a new vet service - the travelling vet - who only does house visits, they are competitively priced and a real must for nervous pets. Perhaps you have something similar near you - less stressful for the cat and you! 

hb2

Montysmam said:

My cat litteraly soils himself in fear when we go to the vets! Fortunately in our area there is a new vet service - the travelling vet - who only does house visits, they are competitively priced and a real must for nervous pets. Perhaps you have something similar near you - less stressful for the cat and you! 

I have a very nervous cat (abused by former owner, eventually removed by RSPCA) and discussed this with our vet. The advice was that cat might feel that her 'safe place' had been taken away, so best avoided. I'm not saying this is the case for everyone but it should be taken into consideration.

KimBaumgart

Unfortunately, my cat is the same and I am sure she is going to be like that until her last breath. I don't have advice but I want you to know ou are not alone.

fletch2ndTime

I too have a feisty cat. I was at the vet just last night. I think I put my neck out with stress and trying to control her. Vet was around her bottom so the howling and scratching was warranted. I just prepare for injury because somehow Lily wellbeing comes first.  The fear they must feel .......

GN2020

ferry said:

Hi all 
I have a real tough time taking our cat to the vets each time he needs to go as he acts like a wild animal when we get there. He wont let the vet handle him, hissing and scratching when he tries to touch him. It ends in him havng to be restrianed in a towel in order to get him to have his jabs etc..luckily we only take him there when they are due to the point there is a note on their system to be extra careful handling him.
At home he is perfectly fine with the family, does not act this wild and is always calm! He just seems to have a phobia of going to the vet.
Does this seem normal?  
Any advice on how I can make the trip a bit more bearable for all concerned is appreciated !
Thank you 

Hiya, I’ve only just seen this. 

I’m in the same position as you.
Our oldest cat, she’s 9, will bite and claw us both if we try to get her into the cat carrier. 

Our youngest, he’s 5, unfortunately soils himself if we actually manage to get him in. It’s awful seeing them like that. 

Our solution was to find a vet that do home visits, they can be a bit more expensive and they’re heavily regulated as to what drugs they can take out of the surgeries. 

But definitely worth a shot if it’s just for his jabs and even if he just needs a check up.
Good luck!  

Silvertabby

Our first cat was a real feisty madam, and I dreaded taking her to the vets mostly because of the battle to get her into her cage!  It was a top opener, and as soon as she realised what was happening she would make like a starfish, so it took a second pair of hands to fold her legs together.

Strangely enough, once on the examination table she turned into a right wimp.  She would ram her head into my armpit, and hum to herself - the feline equivalent of ' I can't see you, so I'm not really here - la la la la !