Why I Love my cat Bag - video

carolina

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you guys probably see me talking about my cat bag quite a bit, and recommending it too... In fact, if you ask me today, what is one material item I can NOT live without it, that is probably it
.
Usually Bugsy takes one medicine a day, but now with his diarrhea issue, he is taking one pill in the morning, and 2 or 3 at night (3 every other night). No doubt, he is a calm cat - but he is also an impossible cat to pill without the bag - he is strong and has a will of a mini bull.
I remember hyperventilating at the vet when I was told I would need to give him daily meds for life - this was about a week after 3 vet techs tried to give him a dewormer pill without success - he had to take profender because nobody was able to pill Bugsy.
Yet, it is a breeze to pill him in the bag... a non-issue, 0-stress "operation" that we both do it every day...
So, without further ado, here is a quick video -
Sorry about the quality, about the clothes, etc - I just wanted to show how he is a good boy taking his meds

http://s404.photobucket.com/albums/pp127/carolinalima_album/?action=view&current=givingbugsymeds.mp4
 

natalie_ca

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What a handsome boy!
And big!!! He has such a kissable face!


Thank you for the video. You and Bugsy make it look effortless.

Abby would never let me put her into a bag. I'd be shredded to pieces. I have a hard enough time getting her into a carrier to go to the vet. And once she's in the carrier, she howls and screams and literally throws herself against the sides of the crate.
 

hillbillywoman

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What a beautiful boy!
My Booger does not like to be picked up, much less stuffed into a bag. And he is a big cat too, I'd be torn to bits.
At least your Bugsy is tolerant..(or long suffering, given the look on his face)
 

my4llma

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Bugsy really is a big cat!!!!

You made that look easy. Something tells me, if we tried the cat bag with Midnight, he still would find a way to stop us from giving him a pill.
 

mrsgreenjeens

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You certainly did make it look easy. But I have to agree with everyone else, getting them into the bag seems like it would be difficult, at best. What's the secret to THAT?
 
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carolina

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Originally Posted by Natalie_ca

What a handsome boy!
And big!!! He has such a kissable face!


Thank you for the video. You and Bugsy make it look effortless.

Abby would never let me put her into a bag. I'd be shredded to pieces. I have a hard enough time getting her into a carrier to go to the vet. And once she's in the carrier, she howls and screams and literally throws herself against the sides of the crate.
I don't know Abby, so I can't say... What I can say, is that there are different techniques to put her in the bag, where you do not need to place her into it get her to lay on it. You place it backwards on her back, close the collar first, then fold her legs with your arms into it. This is usually how vets do for cats like her... And she doesn't have enough space to be throwing herself around like inside of a carrier...

Originally Posted by hillbillywoman

What a beautiful boy!
My Booger does not like to be picked up, much less stuffed into a bag. And he is a big cat too, I'd be torn to bits.
At least your Bugsy is tolerant..(or long suffering, given the look on his face)
Yes, Bugsy is tolerant... He is a huge cat too... 18lbs... As I told Natalie, there is different ways to do it...

Originally Posted by My4LLMA

Bugsy really is a big cat!!!!

You made that look easy. Something tells me, if we tried the cat bag with Midnight, he still would find a way to stop us from giving him a pill.
No, you would be able to give Midnight a pill... once in the bag there isn't much he can do about it
He can't move, he can't claw, he is 100% contained and both your hands are free.

The bag doesn't work for all cats, of course.... But it works for many, many cats... Bugsy is one that is impossible to pill without it...
The way I got him used to it at first was giving him treats (Z/D, of course) after every time he went in the bag. Now I just calm him down with a combing session and lots of love and soft talk before every time he goes in, and he is fine. He knows the drill by now.
 

jcat

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What a good boy he is!!!! I think it would be near impossible to get Jamie into such a bag without being bitten, but I might have to try it if he has to take more medicine in the future. He's good about his chewable heart tablet now, but anything added to that would probably be too much for him to tolerate.
 

momto4kitties

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aww what a cutie he is and I have to say that bag is great. Thank God my Lucas is very easy to pill, he takes prednisolone everyday, he is taking 2.5 mg a day now. he is used to it and I have no problem giving it to him. But recently he had an ear infection and it was a nightmare for me to give him his drops, it was a mess. I would have loved to have that bag for that.

The video is great and i love how you love him and how sweet you are with him while giving him his meds, it is not easy for them. I do the same with my Lucas, they feel better if we give them love.
 

bastetservant

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Interesting to see. But like most have posted, I can't imagine my crew being so willing. But it sounds like you trained Bugsy to do it. He's a lovely, sweet cat.

At least 3 of mine wouldn't hold still for it. Actually, Ariel would have a conniption fit if I just came near her with it.

Luckily, so far, the only one of my current 5 I've had to give medication to was Lily - over the last week since she had oral surgery. It was liquid - 2 meds. I could just hold her in my lap, and she'd hardly struggled. I'd kiss her on the head and say, "Open up Sweetie." She wouldn't, but I could pry her mouth open a bit with my thumb (of the hand I was holding her with) to do the job. She didn't even try to escape when she know another dropper full was coming.

But for at least 2 of my cats, well, they better never get sick because giving them meds is just hopeless.

Still, I think I'll get one of those bags just in case something happens. However, Claude weighs nearly 18 lbs. and Lily and Tonya weigh about 8 lbs. And the other 2 are in between. So, I'm wondering if I should have different sizes on hand. It's something I'd have to order on line as I don't think I can pick one up at Petsmart or Petco. I want to be prepared.

Thanks for posting the clip.

Robin
 

myfamiliars

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Bugsy is just so handsome. I like the look of stoic resignation on his face as he waits for his pills. I could get my boys in the bag, I think, but at least one of them would still refuse the pills.
 

stephanietx

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Okay, I put off opening this thread because I thought it was about a cat named "Bag"!


You're pretty good with that pill popper thing! Bugsy looks less than thrilled about the cat bag, though.
 
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carolina

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Originally Posted by myfamiliars

Bugsy is just so handsome. I like the look of stoic resignation on his face as he waits for his pills. I could get my boys in the bag, I think, but at least one of them would still refuse the pills.
How? Once you put the pill on the back of their throats with the pill popper, they can not do a thing about it, the only possible thing is to swallow it... So... No, IMHO, he couldn't refuse the pill, not using the pill popper with it...
 

darlili

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Ok, I'm seriously impressed - and you yourself are a wonderful teacher in showing how to be calm and express affection before and after the dreaded pills. I can't imagine myself being so calm, but I guess you learn what you have to do.

Do you think it'd be a good idea to get a couple of bags (Dharma's about 7 pounds, Dante's about 12) and just get them used to the bags with treats, just in case? I've had luck with Pill Pockets with Dante (even with Baytril), but Dharma's a wild woman - I know I'd be begging a vet tech to come over and help me. I'm too tense myself, which doesn't help.

That's one beautiful cat!
 

otto

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Hey, you guys that say it wouldn't work for your cats, I have to disagree.

Things like this take practice to build skill, for both you and the cat. The human needs practice in the holding and pilling methods, and the cat needs practice in accepting.

Cats are adaptable and can learn to accept any kind of messing about, given the opportunity to get used to it. ANY cat can learn to accept medicating, sub q fluids and so on, if it's done right (and by right I mean, whatever method works for both cat and person, whether it's using a cat bag, my holding method or whatever).

It's all the the approach and training...and practice, of course. You approach with confidence, and as Carolina demonstrated, with soft voice and constant reassurance and many kisses. I always tell the cat what I am doing and why, too. And the more you do it, the better you get at it.

I can wrap a cat with some skill, and have needed to,(and have wished I had a cat-bag) but with time all my cats, past and current, have learned to accept messing about such as medicating, nail trimming etc.

And it's not because they were acquiescent in the first place. Some have been yes, but Mazy cat, in particular...it took a good three years before I was able to medicate her with ease and no wrappings and no getting torn up.

Queen Eva also had to learn to accept messing about, she also had to be wrapped initially.

I can pill ANY cat, because I have practice and skill and method. I bet you could too, Carolina, even without the cat-bag.
(I know I'm bragging. But I have some friends who have cats who they claim are "impossible" to medicate. Well, I don't have any trouble at all pilling their cats. Or splitting the mats on their cats. Or putting the spot on on their cats. All things they've insisted their cats will not accept
)

I truly and honestly think anyone can learn to pill any cat...even the cats many of you say would never learn to accept it.
 

februa

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See, there is no way my cats would behave so nicely to be put in said bag! Especially after being pilled in it


Lobe the video though, hes a great guy and you are so tender with him
 

otto

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Originally Posted by Februa

See, there is no way my cats would behave so nicely to be put in said bag! Especially after being pilled in it


Lobe the video though, hes a great guy and you are so tender with him
Really it really is just a matter of teaching and training the cat, and practice. Bugsy is an old pro at being bagged and medicated, and Carolina is practiced and skilled, so makes it all look easy, but I bet it wasn't easy at first (though some cats do accept things like that easier than others.)

Maybee your cats wouldn't behave so nicely right away, you teach and train them how.
 
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carolina

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Originally Posted by otto

Really it really is just a matter of teaching and training the cat, and practice. Bugsy is an old pro at being bagged and medicated, and Carolina is practiced and skilled, so makes it all look easy, but I bet it wasn't easy at first (though some cats do accept things like that easier than others.)

Maybee your cats wouldn't behave so nicely right away, you teach and train them how.

Yes, we are both well trained in the process, no doubt about it. Bugsy has been taking meds inside of the bag, daily for the last year, at least once a day. But I can say I was successful using it since the first day. Did it look like this? Probably not, of course. But is worked like a charm making my life easier from day one.
The secret for pilling a cat, with or without the bag, as otto said, is confidence, calm, and to add to that, I always have a routine with him. I seat down, talk to him softly, sometimes I comb him, love him, and explain to him that I am doing that to him to make him feel better. Give him lots and lots of kisses, make him feel really relaxed before pulling the bag. By the time he is going into the bag he is a relaxed little kitty...
Like anything you do to a cat, if you are stressed out, he will feel your stress...
When I was pilling him without the bag, with a towel, sure, it was possible, it could be done, but the process took much longer, and was very stressful. Bugsy is a hard cat to pill. And since I was doing that daily for life, it was damaging my relationship with him, and that is far too precious for me... Also Bugsy often takes more then one pill at time, as you saw on the video, sometimes even 3 at a time... If it was only one pill or another at an occasional disease, but we are talking at least one daily for life...
The bag allows me to completely remove the stress from medicating him, and it has saved our relationship. For that, it has been priceless for me.
For those saying that the bag wouldn't work... Sorry, but I have to disagree. It does work. You have to understand, that the bag is a way to completely and securely restrain you cat leaving both your hands free.. Your cat can not move, claw, turn, run... Add that to a pill popper, and it simply doesn't have a choice.
The first bag I used, is called "Klaw Kontrol" it is in my honest opinion, the best bag out there as far as "cat friendliness"... It has a calming effect that no other bag I ever used has... It is really great.
There are several techniques on how to put the cat inside of the bag as well, to work with different cats... The Klaw Kontrol is more flexible (the material itself), making that easier. The one I use is an excellent bag as well as it is tough - thick nylon, but it is easier to use if you can hold the cat... It is so tough I think will last a lifetime... No claws can get through that thick nylon.
 

otto

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Carolina your comments about using the cat bags make a lot of sense and are very helpful, and I agree with you that all cats can be taught to accept them, the bag, or some other method of being handled, cats are trainable.

Now, I hope you don't mind if I drift your thread a little. The thing to do, in general, is get your cats used to being handled. A lot of cats hate to be picked up,though they may be wonderful lap cats. But this works for non lap cats too.

Start by just picking the cat(s) up once a day, at the same time every day. Carolina, your point about routine is very important. You can turn any training into a routine, cats thrive on routine. They want things to happen in the same way every day.

Just pick Kitty up, and put her/him back down every day at the same time, trying to extend the period s/he allows you to hold him as time goes on. Kiss him and praise him as you put him back down.

And every time you pick Kitty up and put him back down you teach him that it is okay for you to do that. It doesn't have to be a long hold. At first it may only be a one second hold. But with time, for some cats LOTS of time, Kitty will be able to handle it better.

You can then take it a step further and do something purposeful when you pick him up.

Pick him up, and sit down and hold him on your lap for a moment before you release him. Kiss him and praise him of course.

Or, if you think he's ready, kneel on the floor and hold him between your knees facing out (the method I use and recommend for medicating) and touch his paws, to get him use to that, or (while still holding him there) rub his face with your finger, in anticipation that he may need pilling some day (or to train him to having his teeth brushed), and he will already be used to you touching his face, and opening his mouth. Stuff like that.

As you get to more ..invasive (from his point of view) training, offer a treat before and after the activity.

All this pays off and can save you and your cat a lot of stress if your cat ever needs some kind of medicating or other handling.

PS Carolina the way you kiss and praise Bugsy is EXACTLY the way I kiss and praise my cats when I medicate them or brush their teeth and stuff. I always say thank you to them too. GMTA
 

bastetservant

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But one of my cats can't be picked up. Not by anyone, unless one scuffs her. Just walking over to her gets her riled up. And I mean riled up that she scares people - cat people. She's the one (Ariel) that my vet suggested declawing because he is worried about how anyone will ever get a pill in her (but I'm not doing that). They were quite cautious with her there as she was seriously peeved. And at the shelter where she came from and lived for 3+ years, she had an outstanding (not in a good way) reputation as a very difficult cat.

However, my vet said he sees about a dozen cats a year that are so bad that they can't take them out of the carrier for examination without being given gas. That's really scary. And it made me feel better about how awful Ariel was (which is why he told me this).

I would say any "normal" domesticated cat could be pilled, and I have given pills to many. But if one is living with a semi-feral cat, trying to tame her, it's another story. I'm working on her. But it's going to take an awful lot of desensitizing to get her to the point of one person being able to medicate her.


Robin
 

otto

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Originally Posted by bastetservant

But one of my cats can't be picked up. Not by anyone, unless one scuffs her. Just walking over to her gets her riled up. And I mean riled up that she scares people - cat people. She's the one (Ariel) that my vet suggested declawing because he is worried about how anyone will ever get a pill in her (but I'm not doing that). They were quite cautious with her there as she was seriously peeved. And at the shelter where she came from and lived for 3+ years, she had an outstanding (not in a good way) reputation as a very difficult cat.

However, my vet said he sees about a dozen cats a year that are so bad that they can't take them out of the carrier for examination without being given gas. That's really scary. And it made me feel better about how awful Ariel was (which is why he told me this).

I would say any "normal" domesticated cat could be pilled, and I have given pills to many. But if one is living with a semi-feral cat, trying to tame her, it's another story. I'm working on her. But it's going to take an awful lot of desensitizing to get her to the point of one person being able to medicate her.


Robin
Yes it will take a lot from you, and it will take a lot of time. But with patience and love and effort, it will happen. The fact that it may take years for Ariel to allow you to hold her is immaterial, the important part is that you won't ever give up trying.


And perhaps ten years from now we will all be celebrating with you that Ariel let you pick her up. Or maybe it will only take a year, who knows? There is no expiration date on cat training.

My suggestions are not meant to change a cat in a day or a week or even a month. Training a cat, some cats anyway, is a life long project. It takes work and patience and consistency and effort and love.

You start at a level the cat will tolerate, and work forward. For some cats that's just...sitting in the same room with the cat, to start. For others they are instant rugs when you pick them up, and everything in between.

Robin, I know you know that already, I'm speaking in general terms.
 
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