I may need to take my semi feral to vet...how do I do that?

fishtreatsmom

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Sep 24, 2006
Messages
90
Purraise
1
Location
Chicago
I've had Harley for almost 3 months. In the 3 months he's progressed beautifully from a hissing spitting feral to one where I can pet now with my bare hands and today I looked into his mouth and at his teeth. I noticed his gums are rather pale and I'm wondering if he's anemic. He does seem to get tired easily also. I also noticed recently he has fleas again and ordered some Frontline I'm waiting for the shipment to arrive. I'll proably have to put this on my two other cats as well.
Anyway, I wonder how I can take him to the vet for a check up? I'm working on picking him up, he's not used to it right now and putting him in a carrier would freak him out. To make matters worse, he's only bonded to me, he probably would attack the vet. How can a vet treat a feral or an ex feral who can revert to feral when frightened?
 

tnr1

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Oct 5, 2003
Messages
7,980
Purraise
13
Location
Northern Virginia
Originally Posted by FishTreatsMom

I've had Harley for almost 3 months. In the 3 months he's progressed beautifully from a hissing spitting feral to one where I can pet now with my bare hands and today I looked into his mouth and at his teeth. I noticed his gums are rather pale and I'm wondering if he's anemic. He does seem to get tired easily also. I also noticed recently he has fleas again and ordered some Frontline I'm waiting for the shipment to arrive. I'll proably have to put this on my two other cats as well.
Anyway, I wonder how I can take him to the vet for a check up? I'm working on picking him up, he's not used to it right now and putting him in a carrier would freak him out. To make matters worse, he's only bonded to me, he probably would attack the vet. How can a vet treat a feral or an ex feral who can revert to feral when frightened?
You need to treat him as a feral cat and trap him in a humane trap. The humane trap allows vets to administer a sedative through the cage and once he is sleeping, the vet can check him over.

Katie
 

StefanZ

Advisor
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Sep 18, 2005
Messages
25,999
Purraise
10,648
Location
Sweden
And if YOU must do something less pleasant, like doing his nails, you may try to wrap him in a thick towel like a poncho-toga.

When they feel they are helpless they dont fight against, or even dont try to climb out, and you dont need to held him by force or anything such.

this is good not only for semiferals. There are homecats who find this useful.
 

momofmany

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jul 15, 2003
Messages
16,249
Purraise
70
Location
There's no place like home
All of my cats were born feral and some of them I still consider semi-feral. I find that the ones that are semi-feral tend to be far more scared than the ones that are fully social and will freeze in fear at the vets. Even with that advantage, I warn the vet in advance what she is dealing with. I also demand that the exam doors remain closed while the cats are out of the carriers.

If it is a simple vaccination/exam, I ask the vet to give shots first and exam second, and if they get to that stage that they can't deal with being handled by a stranger, it's back in the carrier before the exam is complete (happened with my Eightball yesterday and he lost it after she picked some tarter out of his back teeth).

For more complicated procedures where they need to draw blood, depending on how well the cat is handling it, I will either hold them while the vet draws blood or they will sedate them then take the blood later. I have left some of the ferals at the vet while they do their work and they call when they finish. Also, sometimes they are more cooperative when they are sick. My Tigger couldn't be handled when healthy and always needed to be sedated. But the time he was sick we were able to simply hold him and draw 2 full vials of blood.

I did use a humane trap with Tigger one time and we found that he actually did better when I was able to hold and comfort him during the exam. Ever cat is different and you won't be sure how they are going to react until you get them to the vets.

And if its any consolation, my last vet who had to treat Tigger, claimed that he was actually better behaved than some fully socialized cats that he treated. It's the fear factor that allows them to be behaved at the vets.

If you have problems getting him into the carrier: Open the carrier and face the opening towards the ceiling. Hold Harley firmly by the scruff while also supporting underneath him (never pick up a cat by the scruff). His legs and tail will curl up if done correctly and you can drop him into the carrier. He will reach out with his front legs and you can simply peel his claws from the top of the carrier and close the door behind him. This was the only way I could get Tigger into a carrier - he was 18 pounds and a real fighter.
 

gingersmom

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
May 11, 2006
Messages
8,028
Purraise
22
I have a carrier that opens from the top so I can drop Ferris in and hold him there with one hand while I zip it shut with the other. I took him to the vet even before we'd had a chance to bond, and yes, I got a bit scratched up, but it was more important that he be seen by the vet.

In the vets office, Ferris turned to me for safety and comfort, and that was the ONLY time he has ever let me hold him. If we are at home and I try to hold him, I get wounded for my efforts. It's funny how meek he became at the vets office, and how crazy wildcat he can be at home, in "his" territory.

A trip to the vets WILL freak him out a bit, but he'll get over it within a couple of weeks and forgive you. Trust me.
I've had Ferris for 4 months now, he is just 7 months old, and he is JUST starting to let me pet him.

Just stay calm, no matter what, and he'll be fine. And so will you.
 

2dogmom

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Aug 12, 2006
Messages
2,208
Purraise
1
Location
among the moose and the deer
I got myself worked up into a tizzy over getting Brady to the vet - as it turns out he was very mellow about it.
But what I did was to have the carrier ready, then I got a pillowcase ready too. Brady was in the habit of brushing against my legs to be petted while I was sitting. So I had my foot holding the pillowcase on the floor and my left hand nonchalantly holding the top of the pillowcase open. When Brady came by, I grabbed him right behind his front legs and pushed him into the pillowcase. Once he was at the vet it was a piece of cake. They are pros and do it all the time. Brady froze and let them clip his nails, check his rear, give him a pill.
Good luck!!
 

StefanZ

Advisor
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Sep 18, 2005
Messages
25,999
Purraise
10,648
Location
Sweden
One more tip.

Feliway is as known good to get cats to take it feel more secure, not so stressed by distractions.

There is a similiar preparat, Felifriend, good to use when handling the nervous cat. Ie doing things with them.
Excellent for vets, judges and similiar.


I have always though this was same but different tradesbrands, firms only. But they arent the same thing - although similiar, and it is the same firm who produces them.
 

prettyboy

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
May 18, 2004
Messages
290
Purraise
10
Location
Long Island NY
wow you've done alot in 3 months !!! that is amazing !!

first check with your vet to make sure him and his staff have handled
feral or semi feral cats before. if not find a vet who has. explain to them
what You are able to do but that you are not sure how the cat will react
to strangers as he is a work in progress.

i agree that the cats that can be considered semi-feral or ex-feral do freeze
up at the vets office. but i always warn them that all of my cats were
born outside and although i don't think they would get bitten i am not sure.
so far its never happened.

is the cat up to date on his rabies shot ? you will want to let them know that.

every single person or vet or vet staff i have ever used that was used to
feral cats are able to handle them from a carrier as long as you go to a
vet that has experience with ferals.

i personally like using the carriers that not only have a door but the ones
that have a top loading door too. its way easier for everyone.

make sure the top part is locked on the carrier. open the regular door.
put the wet food in the carrier and close door while cat is eating.

this time of year i line the carrier with one of my cheap cut down rugs
i have for this purpose. they stay in place and keep the cat comfortable.

if the cat will not go in the carrier just leave it out so he will get used to it.
tie the door open so he does not accidentally get shut inside when you
are not around.

you can feed him in the carrier every day up to the day of your appt with
the vet and on that day make sure you untie the carrier before you put
the food inside.

good luck !!! i'm sure you and kitty will do great !
 
Top