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Would you do this at the vets?

post #1 of 29
12/4/10 at 4:05pm
Thread Starter 
We took Midnight to the vet today. While in the waiting room we were talking to this old woman and her daughter. They were both very interested in Midnight saying how cute he was. How much he reminded them of their cat. I wasn't really clear about what happened to their cat either he ran away, or was catnapped off their front porch.

The old woman just reached into Midnight's carrier and pulled him out holding him and patting him. She didn't even ask first. Her daughter yelled at her. She didn't hurt him. She just looked him over, then hugged and patted him, and put him back.

Would you do that? I wouldn't without asking first. Second if the cat is at the vet, the cat probably isn't healthy. I'd be afraid my cat would catch something.

They let us see their cat, he had the hugest yellow eyes. He was beautiful.
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post #2 of 29
12/4/10 at 4:21pm
Ah, wow no I wouldn't! Having said that though, I have talked to dog owners and patted their dogs at the vet. I would never grab a cat out of a carrier, who knows what could happen? And you don't want to further stress out a potentially sick or injured animal.
Sounds like she was a nice lady just being friendly though.
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post #3 of 29
12/4/10 at 4:22pm
Definitely not something I would do...and not something someone could do to most of my cats and still walk away uninjured.

If nothing else, I would be worried about the cats' reaction. Cotton's probably the only cat I've ever had that wouldn't have fought that. I know she probably meant well, but it seems really impulsive and unsafe.
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post #4 of 29
12/4/10 at 4:24pm
Wow, that's just weird. I agree, it sounds like she was just being friendly and is a cat lover - but it's also stupid! What if the cat isn't OK out of the carrier? I know one of ours would FREAK OUT and be windmill claws - and if there were dogs in the waiting room, all hell would break out!
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post #5 of 29
12/4/10 at 4:35pm
That is really weird that she just took him out! I have had people reach in through the little holes when the kittens were little, but never try to take them OUT... very odd. At least she was friendly and nice and what not!
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post #6 of 29
12/4/10 at 4:36pm
Ummm...NO! That's just crazy! I'd never do that since most animals are nervous at the vet's. I'd certainly not do it in the waiting room where anything could happen.
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post #7 of 29
12/4/10 at 4:43pm
I would never do that to someone's cat. First of all, you don't know if that cat will get frightened and run away, possibly through an open clinic door and onto the street, or he may bite or scratch you. Even then, indoor cats are always screened in the people they interact with (whoever you trust enough to let in your home) and you're given the chance to explain any triggers for aggression (I always remind people Memphis hates to be picked up by anyone but me, and WILL scratch and bite if that is attempted). Also, the vet is a stressful place for lots of cats, and adding unknown people trying to pick you up, it becomes even more stressful. Plus, possession is 9/10 of the law, and the cat I have inside a carrier is my personal property as far as anyone else is concerned.

It's different for dogs. I can understand petting someone's dog that is sniffing you in the waiting room, because that's really the cross you bear when you own a dog and bring it in a public domain (especially one you know is full of animal lovers like the vet).
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post #8 of 29
12/4/10 at 4:45pm
I would stop anyone attempting to open my carriers. I have taken kittens out to show off on request, would never dream of touching anyone else cats or carry box without permission.

Quote:
Originally Posted by My4LLMA View Post
Second if the cat is at the vet, the cat probably isn't healthy.
I wouldn't assume cats at the vet are unhealthy, they could just be there for an annual checkup or vaccination. I'm frequently at the vets and not with sick animals.
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post #9 of 29
12/4/10 at 6:07pm
Thread Starter 
I was to surprised to say anything. Her daughter yelled at her. I've looked into peoples cat carriers before in the waiting rooms and commented on how cute their kitties were. I've had people look in and comment on my cats, but never seen anyone do that before.

Being in the waiting room with dogs is a new experience for me. I used to go to a cat hospital which only had cats. I think it's neat seeing all the different dogs. I saw one beautiful malamute, I wanted him! I love how the dogs great each other, it's cute watching them. It's also funny watching the owners trying to get their giant dogs to go to the exam rooms. The big dogs will drag their legs, while their owners (who are smaller and weigh less) try to pull them along

Lynxx used to sit in the back of his carrier and not want to come out for the vet. Luna loves watching the other animals and people walk by. Midnight sits in the back of the carrier and shivers. I'm surprised Midnight didn't bite the old lady. Lynxx would have, he hated being picked up by the back of his neck.
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post #10 of 29
12/5/10 at 12:25am
Quote:
Originally Posted by LDG View Post
Wow, that's just weird. I agree, it sounds like she was just being friendly and is a cat lover - but it's also stupid! What if the cat isn't OK out of the carrier? I know one of ours would FREAK OUT and be windmill claws - and if there were dogs in the waiting room, all hell would break out!
I agree with this.

I've been at the vets and have seen kitties in carriers. I've never reached in and pulled them out to hug them, but after talking to the person, and asking permission, I have poked my fingers into the carrier to rub their chins. But I'd never do that without asking if it was ok first!
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post #11 of 29
12/5/10 at 4:20am
Well, it certainly was not a good thing. But, you never know what people are thinking.

My mom had Alzheimers and was doing strange things even before she was diagnosed. She was the sweetest person in the world, and I can actually see her doing something like that in the early stages of it.

It's too bad her daughter got mad at her. She sounds like a dear lady who loves her kitties. The daughter should have gently told her, "mom, we don't know how sick this kitty is...maybe we shouldn't take her out".

I bet it was scary for you...thank goodness nothing bad happened.
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post #12 of 29
12/5/10 at 4:50am
Wow, I'd never do this either. All the kitties we've had hated carriers, disliked car journeys and didn't like being at the vets either. Of course people peer in and comment on eachother's animals being beautiful, but I'd never open the carrier and grab them out. She does sound like just a sweet, kitty loving lady, but I guess she just didn't think
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post #13 of 29
12/5/10 at 9:31am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by farleyv View Post
Well, it certainly was not a good thing. But, you never know what people are thinking.

My mom had Alzheimers and was doing strange things even before she was diagnosed. She was the sweetest person in the world, and I can actually see her doing something like that in the early stages of it.

It's too bad her daughter got mad at her. She sounds like a dear lady who loves her kitties. The daughter should have gently told her, "mom, we don't know how sick this kitty is...maybe we shouldn't take her out".

I bet it was scary for you...thank goodness nothing bad happened.
It was scary, I got worried because I didn't know what she was doing. I'd have been more worried if she was younger and capable of actually getting away with Midnight. My father thinks she was confused and thought Midnight was her lost cat. Checking him over to make sure he wasn't. Her daughter didn't really have to yell at her like that.

We talked with them until they got called in. The older one has done a lot for cats, she worked at an ASPCA shelter. She took in cats that were abused. She clearly is a cat lover. She said, just like me, she wishes she could have taken all of them home.
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post #14 of 29
12/5/10 at 10:05am
I definitely wouldn't do something like that for all the reasons already stated. But, since she was an older woman she could have some form of dementia and just didn't realize. Or maybe she got Midnight confused with her cat. I'm glad no harm came from it and Midnight was cool with everything.
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post #15 of 29
12/5/10 at 10:41am
Never would I presume to pick up somebody's cat. You just don't know what that cat would do.

We had a similar situation with Banshee one time. I had taken her to my Public Speaking class; my instructional speech was on grooming a cat. I will say that Banshee was the purrfect student. She sat there with me and paid attention to everything. And she won all the students over, even some of the guys.

After class was over, I put Banshee on my desk and reached down for her pet carrier. One of the girls came over and started oohing over Banshee. She asked me if she could pick her up and I said I'd rather she didn't, that Banshee had a nasty habit of slapping people on the cheek with her front paw. She leaned down to Banshee and cooed, "Oh she wouldn't do that to......!" And crack! Right across the cheek! She was OK, but she said it did hurt. I tried to tell her.

So no, I'd never even touch somebody's kitty without permission.
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post #16 of 29
12/5/10 at 12:02pm
Perhaps if she thought Midnight looked like her cat who was lost or stolen, she was checking to make sure you didn't have her cat?

If anybody tried taking one of my cats out of their carrier, they wouldn't get far enough to actually get them out, especially if DH was with me like he always is when we go to the vet. That's just beyond rude.
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post #17 of 29
12/5/10 at 12:39pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by calico2222 View Post
I definitely wouldn't do something like that for all the reasons already stated. But, since she was an older woman she could have some form of dementia and just didn't realize. Or maybe she got Midnight confused with her cat. I'm glad no harm came from it and Midnight was cool with everything.
Midnight's an interesting kitten. He's friendly with my parents, but it's me he goes to. He is shy around other people. He'll climb my neck to stop me from handing him over to friends or family. He'll run if he can get away. Midnight was just so upset being at the vet, that he didn't know how to react. He did keep his eyes on me the whole time, and he stayed still. So far he's only hissed and growled at his toys. He growled at Luna once. He's never growled at us or at any other person that I'm aware of.
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post #18 of 29
12/5/10 at 12:42pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Misty8723 View Post
Perhaps if she thought Midnight looked like her cat who was lost or stolen, she was checking to make sure you didn't have her cat?

If anybody tried taking one of my cats out of their carrier, they wouldn't get far enough to actually get them out, especially if DH was with me like he always is when we go to the vet. That's just beyond rude.
That's what my father thinks she was doing, making sure we didn't have her cat. She was old and really confused because her cat is either 7, or vanished 7 years ago (her daughter was clear on that). Either way Midnight is 4 months old, can't possibly be hers. He is a very good sized kitten, so to her he may have looked like a full grown cat.

Like I said the woman was old, I think I'd have looked pretty bad if I punched her out Believe me if she wasn't old I would have.
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post #19 of 29
12/5/10 at 1:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by My4LLMA View Post
Midnight's an interesting kitten. He's friendly with my parents, but it's me he goes to. He is shy around other people. He'll climb my neck to stop me from handing him over to friends or family. He'll run if he can get away. Midnight was just so upset being at the vet, that he didn't know how to react. He did keep his eyes on me the whole time, and he stayed still. So far he's only hissed and growled at his toys. He growled at Luna once. He's never growled at us or at any other person that I'm aware of.
Sounds like Midnight may have known something you didn't at the time....
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post #20 of 29
12/5/10 at 1:50pm
WOW! I would never ever take another persons animal out of their carrier! I rarely even pet a persons dog in the pet store without asking them if it is okay.
Yesterday we had a family friend over for the day. Her husband is a truck driver and was passing through town so he stopped at our house also. We always warn people about our certain kitties....some of them LOVE people and others are skittish. Our cat Punky is not a fan of being picked up and held. He likes to cuddle next to people to be petted but not actually held. The husband was told this, and he picked Punky up anyway. Tried to pet him as Punk was pushing his paws against the guy and trying to push himself out of his arms. The man kept patting his head and talking softly to him, as if he could calm Punky by speaking softly to him. We kept telling him to be careful bc if Punk got mad he would scratch him to get away...and sure enough after about 3 minutes of being held, Punky was mad and howled and scratched his arms to jump down....The man looked at his arm like he was surprised the cat scratched him!! I think that people don't think sometimes about how a cat might feel?
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post #21 of 29
12/5/10 at 1:59pm
No way, no how. That's very presumptuous and dangerous!
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post #22 of 29
12/5/10 at 2:03pm
No I would never do that. In fact I would never pick up a strange cat period, until I knew the cat was somewhat comfortable around me.
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post #23 of 29
12/5/10 at 6:21pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by frankthetank View Post
WOW! I would never ever take another persons animal out of their carrier! I rarely even pet a persons dog in the pet store without asking them if it is okay.
Yesterday we had a family friend over for the day. Her husband is a truck driver and was passing through town so he stopped at our house also. We always warn people about our certain kitties....some of them LOVE people and others are skittish. Our cat Punky is not a fan of being picked up and held. He likes to cuddle next to people to be petted but not actually held. The husband was told this, and he picked Punky up anyway. Tried to pet him as Punk was pushing his paws against the guy and trying to push himself out of his arms. The man kept patting his head and talking softly to him, as if he could calm Punky by speaking softly to him. We kept telling him to be careful bc if Punk got mad he would scratch him to get away...and sure enough after about 3 minutes of being held, Punky was mad and howled and scratched his arms to jump down....The man looked at his arm like he was surprised the cat scratched him!! I think that people don't think sometimes about how a cat might feel?
Yeah I don't know why people will go over to the pet, they were just told doesn't like to be bothered, and bother it anyway, then act shocked when the animal attacks them. Either they think their being funny when they do it, or they want to prove the owner wrong, or they think the animal might really respond good to them.
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post #24 of 29
12/5/10 at 6:25pm
No, I can't say I'd take a cat out of a carrier.... at least she ment well, but your right it could have ended badly. she's very fortunate that Midnight didn't claw her into kibble.

Meeko probably would have. he has to walk out of the carrier on his own terms. any hand that enters is his new favorite scratching post.
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post #25 of 29
12/6/10 at 9:53am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Noisette View Post
No, I can't say I'd take a cat out of a carrier.... at least she ment well, but your right it could have ended badly. she's very fortunate that Midnight didn't claw her into kibble.

Meeko probably would have. he has to walk out of the carrier on his own terms. any hand that enters is his new favorite scratching post.
If he has to walk out of his carrier on his own, you must have interesting vet visits! Lynxx we had to pull out at the vets. Midnight we have to really pull out, because he'll hang on to his blankets even with soft paws on! Luna comes right out and doesn't mind the vet.
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post #26 of 29
12/6/10 at 10:13am
Not a very good idea if you ask me!! She probably just didn't think before she did it though. That's a good way to get bitten or scratched, isn't it. I'm always so protective of any cat I've taken to the vet and hug the carrier in my lap. My body language eells people to leave me alone
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post #27 of 29
12/6/10 at 11:57am
This was a good thread to read. I always expect anything from kids but even kids at vets' clinics have always asked for permission to look and pet my cats. Now I am reminded that you better always remember that as a pet owner you are responsible for the safety of your furbabies, and you should always expect the unexpected - even from little old ladies

Gee, I would never go groping other people's pets without asking - even though it can be so tempting. But some people just aren't thinking straight and it's good to remember because I sure would have been taken by surprise in this situation too!
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post #28 of 29
12/6/10 at 1:26pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bellaandme View Post
I'm always so protective of any cat I've taken to the vet and hug the carrier in my lap. My body language eells people to leave me alone
That's a good idea. I'm going to start doing that from now on.
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post #29 of 29
12/6/10 at 1:29pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by piikki View Post
This was a good thread to read. I always expect anything from kids but even kids at vets' clinics have always asked for permission to look and pet my cats. Now I am reminded that you better always remember that as a pet owner you are responsible for the safety of your furbabies, and you should always expect the unexpected - even from little old ladies

Gee, I would never go groping other people's pets without asking - even though it can be so tempting. But some people just aren't thinking straight and it's good to remember because I sure would have been taken by surprise in this situation too!
Yes now I'll always be more suspicious of people when they take to much of an interest in my cats at the vet or anywhere else (not that they go anywhere else).
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