Need to Get My Little Stray/Semi-Feral Cat Into a Carrier for Vet Visit...

My wonderful little semi-feral or stray cat is named Piwacket and I call him Pi for short. He started coming into my yard in June 2014 and I started feeding him in July. He is very sweet and not really feral at all. Wish I knew what his origins are. Anyway I had him go through a TNR program from my local Pet Rescue in September and he was eating in my garage and sleeping in the connecting vestibule between my kitchen and garage all through the fall. In late December he started coming into the house at night to sleep in my kitchen and when the terrible snow and cold started in January he started spending day and night inside. He gets along very well with my Shih Tzu, Happy. He would dearly love to go outside but at present I can't allow him to. We have about 1 1/2 feet of snow on the ground and it is about zero degrees today including the wind chill factor. Supposed to be the same for the next few days.

Recently he had round worms and I tried to get him into a carrier to take him to the Vet. He put up a struggle and got out of my hands after scratching me very well with his back feet while pushing away from me. That was the end of that attempt but the Vet did prescribe Panacur for the worms and he ate all 5 of his meals that had the medicine in them. I take in a second sample next week to see that he is now worm free. Problem is there is something wrong with his left eye. It may be that its just irritated by a crustiness that is in the inner corner or it could be something more serious like conjunctivitis. i know I need to get him to the Vet but still can't get him in the carrier. Here is what I have done so far:

1) left the carrier in the open where he can see it all the time

2) put treats in the carrier and he does go in and get them (but not all the way in)

3) covered him with a blanket while trying to pick him up--he pushed at me with his back legs, scratched me and got free

Any suggestions? Its just me and no one to help put him in.

Also would like to know if anyone can suggest a way that I might be able to swab his eye with a cotton ball soaked in boric acid. I think it could help during the time it takes to finally get him into the carrier. He let's me rub his face with a dry cotton ball but as soon as its wet he turns his head and ducks or pulls away.

One more thing...although he let's me pat him and rub him all over he has still not let me pick him up.

Help!!!! Please!!!!

You've done so much for this little kitty. This is probably the thing I hate the most about semi-feral cats. With the ferals, you set the trap. But it doesn't work as well with the ones who aren't completely wild.

I read somewhere that some one used the laser pointer to lure their cat into the carrier. Someone else was close enough to shut the door when he went in. That might work.

I usually end up sneaking up on them and scruffing them, then dropping them into the carrier. I need someone to hold the carrier upright and shut the door once I drop the cat in. It is always stressful for all of us.

Good luck with this!

Thanks Ondine the laser pointer is a good thought.

I started feeding my semi feral in the carrier.  I started by putting the food right in front of the carrier and each day moving it back just a bit until it was all the way in the back.  This just became the norm for him.  On the morning of the vet visit, I placed just a bit of food in the carrier, in he went.  I used a strong chair cushion to block the exit while I zipped it shut. 

I know you may not have time to do this now as you really need to get him there, but for the future, you may just want to feed him in the carrier or even use the carrier as a bed for him.

I hope you are able to get him.

Pi-Pi said:

Thanks Ondine the laser pointer is a good thought.

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Just keep it away from his eyes.

A trap may be easier if u can borrow one. Put a little food outside. And some more inside to the back get some spray catnip and spray 1-2 sprits on the food inside.

Sorry semi feral forget trap. Just try the food thing with the spray catnip. Should work.

I need to get bell also to the vet. I am trying to practice holding him every day but today he really scratched me. I am going to be o try the laser light. But pi bell had an eye infection two years ago. It was brown stuff coming out. I went on dr foster and smith and bought eye med there and it cleared it right up. It started with a t or tri something like that. I did talk to someone on the dr foster and smith web site. Try and look there.

Pipi I just found it . It is called Terramycin. Check it out. It work for bell

linda carella said:

Pipi I just found it . It is called Terramycin. Check it out. It work for bell

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Thanks Linda I will. Did you need a prescription? Was it had to give it to him? Pi's eye is looking better today--much better not all better. I've been trying to wipe it with warm water and a gauze pad each night and also boric acid solution. Not easy to do but it must be helping. He has a brownish discharge too in the inner corner of his eye.

No you don't need a prescription

It was so hard to put it on bell eye.

linda carella said:

Pipi I just found it . It is called Terramycin. Check it out. It work for bell

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You want to be very careful using this product without seeing a vet first.  My cat was prescribed this by a vet for a very bad eye infection due to the respiratory herpes virus.  He had a very bad reaction to it.  I would instead get the eye seen by a vet instead of diagnosing it yourself. 

linda carella said:

Pipi I just found it . It is called Terramycin. Check it out. It
work for bell

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Isn't that an antibiotic?

Stewball said:

Isn't that an antibiotic?

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I agree with ShadowsRescue. I wouldn't risk it. Have you spoken to the vet about his eye Judy?

@Pi-Pi   Do you know anyone that has a top loading carrier that you could borrow?  So much easier than the ones with the door in the front.  Open top door, pick up cat, drop in and close door.

I agree with you girls to take pi to a vet. It is not A antibiotic. But I know how hard it is getting a feral turned stray to a vet. If the eye is getting better with what you are doing than just do what you are doing . For me two years ago bell was a feral that I could not get to the vet. So I took a chance on getting that. I talked to someone on the phone at dr foster and smith and they told me it would be fine.

Keyes I think I will by a top carrier to get bell in the carrier. My son has one for his little dog. I will borrow that. Thanks

Stewball said:

 

linda carella said:

Pipi I just found it . It is called Terramycin. Check it out. It
work for bell

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Isn't that an antibiotic?

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Here is the description:
A topical antibiotic mix for mild bacterial eye infections in cats. Used as local treatment for conjunctivitis and secondary bacterial inflammatory conditions of the eye. This broad-spectrum defense combines the potent antibiotics Oxytetracycline and Polymyxin B in a special petroleum base. For dogs, cats, or horses.

ShadowsRescue said:

 
You want to be very careful using this product without seeing a vet first.  My cat was prescribed this by a vet for a very bad eye infection due to the respiratory herpes virus.  He had a very bad reaction to it.  I would instead get the eye seen by a vet instead of diagnosing it yourself. 

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I agree and that is why I've been wiping on warm water and mild boric acid solution which seems to be doing a good job. His eye was not blinking at all today. The problem is getting him to the Vet. I've already had to cancel one appointment because I couldn't get him in a carrier. I do have a top loading carrier. It belonged to the dog I had before my current dog. I used to take her (Tobie) on the train from NYC to where I now live to visit family in it. Its a very good Sherpa bag. But I thought that Pi would not want to go into a bag that might still have Tobie's scent on it. I'll try it soon as Pi should really have a full exam, not just the eye. The only exam he had was last September when the local Pet Rescue did TNR on him. Also my Vet did give me deworming meds for him a week ago based on a stool sample I did manage to get to him. He took his meds like a trooper and I know he feels better by the way he is acting and eating AND by the fact that he now wants to investigate EVERYTHING!