The vet is coming and I'm scared

_

I'm currently home from work waiting for a new vet to show up at my house. I'm having to switch to a vet who does house-calls because the other vets refuse to see my cat Nacho for their own safety. He had a bad experience once and, ever since, he flips out when I take him to the vet. They won't even weigh him without him being under general anesthesia, but they can't/shouldn't put him under general anesthesia without lab work, but they can't get the lab work unless he's under anesthesia. It's a catch-22. So he hasn't been examined by the vet in 5 years or so.

But he's on a prescription food and the vet from whom I buy the food won't sell me any more without a new prescription. But the vet who initially gave me the prescription won't give me a new one without examining him. But then we're back to the whole won't-examine-him-for-their-own-safety problem. Even regardless of the food, though, I need to solve this problem of not being able to have him seen by the vet.

Anyway, I figured I'd see if he does better with a vet coming to the house. I'm hoping he won't snap that the guy's a vet and he's being examined. But if he does snap, it's all over. And Nacho never loses a fight.

So I'm sitting here getting increasingly nervous as I wait for the vet. I'm scared of upsetting Nacho. I'm scared of receiving bodily harm from Nacho. And I'm nervous about how to deal with a vet I've never met who I think may have different ideas than I do about how this process should go down.

Sorry for rambling. Gives me something to do, at least. The vet should be here anywhere from 5 to 35 minutes from now. Wish us luck!

soulsinging

At least it's a cat, not a chimp.

Too soon?

_

soulsinging wrote:

At least it's a cat, not a chimp.

Too soon?

Thanks for the words of encouragement.

DeLukin

Good luck! And Nacho is a GREAT name for a cat...

Sian-of-the-dead

scb wrote:

I'm currently home from work waiting for a new vet to show up at my house. I'm having to switch to a vet who does house-calls because the other vets refuse to see my cat Nacho for their own safety. He had a bad experience once and, ever since, he flips out when I take him to the vet. They won't even weigh him without him being under general anesthesia, but they can't/shouldn't put him under general anesthesia without lab work, but they can't get the lab work unless he's under anesthesia. It's a catch-22. So he hasn't been examined by the vet in 5 years or so.

But he's on a prescription food and the vet from whom I buy the food won't sell me any more without a new prescription. But the vet who initially gave me the prescription won't give me a new one without examining him. But then we're back to the whole won't-examine-him-for-their-own-safety problem. Even regardless of the food, though, I need to solve this problem of not being able to have him seen by the vet.

Anyway, I figured I'd see if he does better with a vet coming to the house. I'm hoping he won't snap that the guy's a vet and he's being examined. But if he does snap, it's all over. And Nacho never loses a fight.

So I'm sitting here getting increasingly nervous as I wait for the vet. I'm scared of upsetting Nacho. I'm scared of receiving bodily harm from Nacho. And I'm nervous about how to deal with a vet I've never met who I think may have different ideas than I do about how this process should go down.

Sorry for rambling. Gives me something to do, at least. The vet should be here anywhere from 5 to 35 minutes from now. Wish us luck!

Oh eek... :?

Can you approach Nacho or is he picking up on your nerves?

As he's in his own home and surrounded by familiar smells he SHOULD (in theory) be ok. Don't let him see how nervous you are or he'll know there's something going down; something he should be wary of.

Keep encouraging him and letting him know that no one will hurt him. Keep us updated and let us know who wins... Nacho or vet

iluvcats

I had a biter for about 2 years in the eighties and I could not take him to the vet either or pick him up.
When I moved to a different apt, I had to get rid of him. They did not allow pets.

good luck.

flywallyfly

iluvcats wrote:

I had a biter for about 2 years in the eighties and I could not take him to the vet either or pick him up.
When I moved to a different apt, I had to get rid of him. They did not allow pets.

good luck.

Maybe you should change ur name to "Ileavecats" :?: then.

_

He's really upset but not being as fierce as he can be - I think because he's at home & he trusted me. We were able to get a shot in him to sedate him (not general anesthesia) and now the vet is having his way with him out in the mobile clinic. He's really unhappy & I feel like I betrayed him. I hope all is going well out there. I was too stressed to go watch. God forbid I ever have real kids some day...

flywallyfly

You are doing what is best for him and he'll be back to normal before ya know it !

Fifthelement

scb wrote:

. . . the vet is having his way with him out in the mobile clinic.

:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

That just sounds so wrong

I hope you and Nacho are doing okay and that the visit goes well.

_

Thanks for all the words of encouragement. You guys are the best!

The vet is gone now and Nacho is doing relatively well. He's still pissed and somewhat sedated. He won't come sit with me anymore and I'm not allowed to give him any food/treats yet. I'm gonna stay home with him for another hour or so while he comes out of the sedation. (It's really weird, but my other cat is freaking out on Nacho. He can tell something's wrong.)

I got my prescription for the food but was told to switch to wet instead of dry food. Nacho officially weighs 21.3 lbs now, and he's about 10 years old, so he's at risk for diabetes. They were able to draw labs, though, so I'll have those results back in a couple of days. Here's hoping for good results!

Travelar

Good luck with Nacho. He will forgive you in time...

He's seems like my kind of cat... scrappy and not afraid to engage larger opponents.

_

Travelar wrote:

Good luck with Nacho. He will forgive you in time...

He's seems like my kind of cat... scrappy and not afraid to engage larger opponents.

Yeah, he's my cholo cat. He's originally from East L.A.

AmentsChick

That's why I'm a dog person.

norm

AmentsChick wrote:

That's why I'm a dog person.

+1

AmentsChick

norm wrote:

AmentsChick wrote:

That's why I'm a dog person.

+1

How is Mr. Norm?

norm

AmentsChick wrote:

norm wrote:

AmentsChick wrote:

That's why I'm a dog person.

+1

How is Mr. Norm?

as norm as ever

iluvcats

That is a big cat. My mom's used to weigh 22 lbs. She is all trim now, she went on a diet.

I sent you a pic of my kitty that I told you about (the 2007 one). He weighed 16 lbs at his heaviest and had kidney failure besides other things. When he weighed 12 lbs, our previous vet YELLED at me, that he was obese and that this was getting out of hand. (He had a gut himself.) A nicer vet told me that obese cats get health problems just like we do (she was enormous, but she was a very sweet and caring vet.)

Kiss Nacho for me when he calms down.

Heatherj43

DeLukin wrote:

Good luck! And Nacho is a GREAT name for a cat...

I know someone who's cat's name is "Blur". Don't you just love that.
Okay, I have a cat that is like that! She is now 14 and we avoid taking her to the vet at all costs. It upsets her so much that any health issues she needs treated isn't as bad as what taking her to the vet would do. I think it would kill her at this point.
Good luck. I wonder why they don't muzzle them and then put them in one of those sling things, like at the groomers, to treat them? That way they can't bite or scratch. I know they can still wiggle a lot, but its safer.
Again, I wouldn't do any of that, cuz my cat would likely die, but I think many cats could be treated that way.

Who Princess

Fifthelement wrote:

scb wrote:

. . . the vet is having his way with him out in the mobile clinic.

:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

That just sounds so wrong

Glad to know I'm not the only one whose mind works that way!

You did the right thing for Nacho's health. I'm sure he'll be fine.
I'm a dog person but we like kitties too. Unfortunately my husband is very allergic to them.
I was wondering if there wasn't a way to sedate Nacho before the vet sees him. You can give dogs a dose of Benadryl (the vet can tell you how much depending on their size) and they will be somewhat sedated.

_

iluvcats wrote:

That is a big cat. My mom's used to weigh 22 lbs. She is all trim now, she went on a diet.

I sent you a pic of my kitty that I told you about (the 2007 one). He weighed 16 lbs at his heaviest and had kidney failure besides other things. When he weighed 12 lbs, our previous vet YELLED at me, that he was obese and that this was getting out of hand. (He had a gut himself.) A nicer vet told me that obese cats get health problems just like we do (she was enormous, but she was a very sweet and caring vet.)

Kiss Nacho for me when he calms down.

Aw... thanks! I'll go kiss him right now.

Yeah, he is huge, and I know it's a problem. (Kind of ironic for a fat vet to actually yell at you about your overweight cat though.) I only feed him measured amounts of food, but he doesn't go out at all to get any exercise. The vet today told me to switch him to canned food and to give him only half a can per day. (We'll see how that goes.) I've had him on diet food before, but he has to eat special prescription food now because of bladder issues and it doesn't have a diet version. How did your mom's cat lose so much weight?