Giving medicine to sick cats

For anyone who has read my thread over in Health & Nutrition ("Recently found very sick cat (kitten?)"), you will know that I recently took in a stray with a URI and a missing eye. He's tested negative for FeLV/FIV.

Anyhow, I'm having a hard time putting ointment on his missing eye. He doesn't like to be held because (I think) it makes it harder for him to breathe. When I wrap him in a towel he does this scary Excorcist head shaking movement while trying with all his might to get out - he's pretty strong for a kitty that only weighs 2.7 lbs!

Today I tried to hold him and pet him sans towel while trying to sneak the eye ointment onto his missing eye. The firmer my grip got the more he struggled and he ended up biting me very hard . I just released him (after screaming in pain - he drew blood) and he escaped from me though he didn't go far.. I could still pick him up and pet him so his trust in me is not completely gone. But I need to put this ointment on him. Does anyone have any creative suggestions? Should I try putting it on him while he's sleeping?

Please help

i wonder if you should try some rescue remedy on his tongue first and give him a few minutes to cool out, then put the ointment in. I know with my ferals, it is easier to wash my hands really well and put the ointment on the tip of my little finger. I tuck the cat (while I am in a kneeling position) between my legs, crossing my ankles behind me, and scruff gently, take my finger and rub along the eye, open the lid and rub gently.

it is hard to do eye treatments with cats! What I normally do is put them on the table and get behind them. That way when they try to back up the can't go anywhere. I put my on arm in a towel and get them into almost a head lock. I put the gel on my clean hands and wipe it quickly that way and then let them go. If it is drops I just do one drop let them go and then catch them again for the second drop. It is quite a project! Luckly my friendlier cats are the ones that are getting eye drops.

My vet showed me this past weekend and I thought why did I not think of this. Grab them like their mother did when she picks them up, by the scruf of the neck. It kinda paralizes them and they do not move. Try it, it works. It helped me give two cat baths this weekend.
Clara

I tried some of the suggestions but not with much luck. He absolutely HATES being held in anyway. If I didn't have to put the ointment on his eye, I'd probably wear welding gloves.

Holding him by his scruff doesn't work too well because he is still free to move his arms and legs around. The only solution I've found so far is to have someone help me - they hold him in a towel while I give him the Clavamox and put the Terramycin on his eye. I feel so bad for him because he starts snorting. It's like he needs a kitty nebulizer. He even starts snorting the Clavamox out of his nose!!

hissy, I'll try your idea tomorrow. It's mostly a problem when no one else is around to help. I hope it works

I can only imagine it will get more difficult as time goes on. Eventually he'll figure that every time I pick him up I'm going to "hurt" him. Luckily, he doesn't try to run away afterwards. He's just happy to be let go. Sigh. Thanks for the suggestions. I'll keep you all updated if I figure anything out.

hissy - your idea works REALLY well. Thanks!

Can you give him a little treat afterwards? Maybe he will calm down in the future if he knows he will get a treat

Zoey paralyzes when I grab her by the scruff of her neck.. I'm surprised all cats dont !

I scruff cats a lot, BUT I only scruff them if they are on the ground and staying on the ground. To scruff them and raise them off the ground (especially full grown cats) means you run the risk of injuring them. The scruffing of the neck is a way to numb them yes, but that being said, please don't raise your cat off the ground just by the scruff of the neck, unless you are also supporting their belly or rear. In small kittens, momcats can do this easily because the kitten has a lot of loose skin it has not yet grown into, but a full grown cat, has very little loose skin and it is not a good idea to get into the habit of handling a cat that way.

MissAtoms, I am glad my method works. I also when I have to do this routinely to one of my crew, I do this type of method and I don't have anything in my hands other than a favorite treat, so the cat doesn't feel like I am punishing him everytime I settle down with him. I just use the same type of procedure, and feed him the treat then release. Makes it easier to catch him because he never knows- treat?pill?treat?pill?