Will Amad hold a grudge? (giving meds)

Well, I have to give my little boy Amad antibiotics for the next 7 days...2 x's a day. The vet said to either put it over his food or give it to him orally. Needless to say, he won't touch his food because he can smell the medicine, so I had to hold him and give it to him...I am so worried that after 7 days of this he is not going to love me anymore. The meds make him foam at the mouth, and he was spitting it everywhere (I called the vet and spoke to her and she said that was a normal reaction) Poor Amad was just looking at me like "why did you do that mummy?" And then he avoided me, didn't want me to pet him Of course that made me cry. Will he love me again after all of this is over, or will he forever hold a grudge against me and stop being my little cuddle bug??
I am so sad

Hi please don't cry, it just unfortunately adds to the stress of the animal, and it isn't a good idea. They run away from stressed out people.

It is also a typical reaction during meds for the cat to avoid you. Sometimes, without meaning to we are so intent on getting the medication into the cat, that our intensity wards them off. Try and make it as pleasant as possible, don't chase him to adminster the meds, do it gently and efficiently and follow it up with a treat you know he won't turn down.

What is he getting? If he is getting clavamox or liquid meds, make sure there is food in his system to avoid stomach upset. If you are giving a pill then the foaming is common. It is a reaction to the pill itself as it sits in the mouth before being swallowed. Talk to your vet about a pill gun.

I always give meds with the cat up high, instead of me below them towering over them. I use the washing machine or a counter. I used to give it from the floor, but have changed and found that this way, they are less prone to run away from me.

I lift the cat onto the table, gently and quietly, give her a treat while I hold her and then, with her in the crook of my arm I hold her head and open her mouth and pop the pill as far back as I can. I then hold her mouth shut while stroking her throat, which makes her swallow. Then another treat. They all react differently, some like Dushka accept it with hardly a murmur, others fight a bit, but after two or three goes they just do it.

Thanks you guys!

Don't worry...the crying was away from the kitty, he only saw the aftermath...I didn't want to upset him, either! He probably still caught on though...perceptive little devils that they are
That is a wonderful idea about giving it to him on a high-up counter. I will try that in the a.m. when he gets his next dose. His anitbiotic is a liquid, and the vet said to either put the liquid over his food or give it to him with an eye-dropper. So, as you see from my previous post, the eye-dropper is going to have to be the way it is, unless he changes his mind. Thank you again for your suggestions...and it helps to know that while I may not be his favorite person the next week, he will forgive me. I have only had him 2 weeks so I was worried that I was going to make him not trust me. I feel better now.

Sarah

Hey Sarah, just wanted to add to this...

You've had your boys for a little time but you're with them a lot so they know and love you, right? I think because of that, he won't hold a grudge. Whenever I have to do something to Baylee she doesn't like (clip her nails, give her a pill, or soak her paw) she just needs a little time to herself to recover. It's like she's offended and needs to regather her dignity. But after a little time she comes back, gives me a headbutt, and then she's off again, batting at the blinds!

Your little boy loves you and always will!

Did I miss a thread where you said why he needed meds?

My vet gives me platic syringes to use. They are a bit quicker that an eye dropper. Do you have a helper? Just think of this to cheer you up I have to treat 4 cats for ringworm-oral solution. 2 are once/day and 2 are twice/day. One cat once a day is getting eye cream 2/day and liquid wormer every 2 weeks for 3 more treatments. Plus Revolution for all once/month. I just try not to make an issue of it. The worst is 2 of them know its coming and get crabby. That's why I have some moist food or treats right there when I'm done!!

Sarah,

Don't worry and I'm glad MA responded to you. They do hold a little grudge I believe- I had to give Mama meds for over a month every day and she was grumpy towards me, but what is the alternative? Believe me, he will forget and warm up to you again!

Originally Posted by pinkdaisy226

Hey Sarah, just wanted to add to this...

You've had your boys for a little time but you're with them a lot so they know and love you, right? I think because of that, he won't hold a grudge. Whenever I have to do something to Baylee she doesn't like (clip her nails, give her a pill, or soak her paw) she just needs a little time to herself to recover. It's like she's offended and needs to regather her dignity. But after a little time she comes back, gives me a headbutt, and then she's off again, batting at the blinds!

Your little boy loves you and always will!

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Gong to the vet is such a traumatic experience for my cats that I always wonder if they'll love me again afterwards. They may be cold for an hour or two after we come back but then it's back to lovey-doviness again.

Your an excellent mommy to your boys and I know they love you!

Originally Posted by Cyclesarah

Well, I have to give my little boy Amad antibiotics for the next 7 days...2 x's a day. The vet said to either put it over his food or give it to him orally. Needless to say, he won't touch his food because he can smell the medicine, so I had to hold him and give it to him...I am so worried that after 7 days of this he is not going to love me anymore. The meds make him foam at the mouth, and he was spitting it everywhere (I called the vet and spoke to her and she said that was a normal reaction) Poor Amad was just looking at me like "why did you do that mummy?" And then he avoided me, didn't want me to pet him

Of course that made me cry. Will he love me again after all of this is over, or will he forever hold a grudge against me and stop being my little cuddle bug??
I am so sad

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Yep. My new kitty was a cuddle bug for a few days. Then he got sick, and I gave him meds for couple weeks. He hates me now.
It's been a month since he got well and he still hates me for it.

Could you get someone else to do it? This way he will think that other person is mean and not you. If I knew my kitty would hate me, I would have gotten someone else to do it. But I had no clue it will upset him so much. He is coming around slowly, but he is still scared of me, but it's improving somewhat.

Originally Posted by GailC

My vet gives me platic syringes to use. They are a bit quicker that an eye dropper.

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i agree, it is easier and quicker, although, when i had to give sara clavamox while she was sick she definetly wasnt to happy with me, but i think she was too sick to put up a fight.... dont worry, your baby will love you even more in the end for making him all better! i just gave sara a tiny bit at a time and then i would pet her and hug her and talk real softly and gently to her and tell her i love her and its okay and then do a little bit more... she didnt get as worked up as if i tried to get her to drink it all at once... plus if you push it all in there at once there is a better chance that he will not swallow it all(had that problem a couple times at first with her trying to get away and it falling out of the sides of her mouth) and then he wont get his full dose

Originally Posted by mferr84

i agree, it is easier and quicker, although, when i had to give sara clavamox while she was sick she definetly wasnt to happy with me, but i think she was too sick to put up a fight.... dont worry, your baby will love you even more in the end for making him all better!

i just gave sara a tiny bit at a time and then i would pet her and hug her and talk real softly and gently to her and tell her i love her and its okay and then do a little bit more... she didnt get as worked up as if i tried to get her to drink it all at once... plus if you push it all in there at once there is a better chance that he will not swallow it all(had that problem a couple times at first with her trying to get away and it falling out of the sides of her mouth) and then he wont get his full dose

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The problem is, they don't understand you are trying to make them better. They think you are mean and trying to hurt them. But of course you gotta do what you gotta do, but it really affected my poor kitty. He is scared of me and runs away when he sees me and hides. And it's been a month since I stopped giving him his meds.

Originally Posted by allissa

The problem is, they don't understand you are trying to make them better. They think you are mean and trying to hurt them. But of course you gotta do what you gotta do, but it really affected my poor kitty. He is scared of me and runs away when he sees me and hides. And it's been a month since I stopped giving him his meds.

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i know that, i was just trying to say something nice...
but my point was, when they are better and running around again, they are usually just as playful and lovey with you as they were before

Originally Posted by mferr84

i know that, i was just trying to say something nice...

but my point was, when they are better and running around again, they are usually just as playful and lovey with you as they were before

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Not mine. Part of the problem is I just got him and he got sick.
So, he thinks I am just plain mean.
And giving him rectal termometer to measure his temperature didn't help either.
So, as soon as he would see me, he would hide under the sofa and wouldn't come out. He is slowly improving but it's taking a lot of time.
I don't know if he will ever get back to his old cuddly self that I only had for 2 days.

Originally Posted by allissa

Yep. My new kitty was a cuddle bug for a few days. Then he got sick, and I gave him meds for couple weeks. He hates me now.

It's been a month since he got well and he still hates me for it.

Could you get someone else to do it? This way he will think that other person is mean and not you. If I knew my kitty would hate me, I would have gotten someone else to do it. But I had no clue it will upset him so much. He is coming around slowly, but he is still scared of me, but it's improving somewhat.

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Your's is a tragic situation.. your poor kitty got sick after only being with you for a few days, which probably wasn't enough for him to develop a real bond... and I feel so sad for you because you did what was best for him and he can't understand that, all he sees is what you did. You know?

I'm sorry he's still mad... I still have faith that he'll realize that you love him and he'll show you how much he loves you by turning into that cuddle bug again!

Originally Posted by allissa

Yep. My new kitty was a cuddle bug for a few days. Then he got sick, and I gave him meds for couple weeks. He hates me now.

It's been a month since he got well and he still hates me for it.

Could you get someone else to do it? This way he will think that other person is mean and not you. If I knew my kitty would hate me, I would have gotten someone else to do it. But I had no clue it will upset him so much. He is coming around slowly, but he is still scared of me, but it's improving somewhat.

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He'll come round in the end. Like i told Sarah on the phone last night i had to give Sophie meds through a syringe because of a tummy bug and i gave her cuddles and extra attention afterwards and she's no different.

The only time when i don't touch them is at the vets when their having their checkups and shots.

Hi all!

Well, I am feeling MUCH better this morning. (The chat helped a lot, Susan! ) I got up this morning and Amad was his lovey self...I fed them breakfast, played with them, and then Brian helped me give him his meds. I took your advice and put him up on the washing machine, so he felt more secure, and Bri gently held him while I gave him his meds. He was not a happy camper, but there was no foaming, and he immediately came to me for a treat (after a very dirty look) and then he was off playing with his brother. So I would say it went VERY well! Thanks everyone!

I was just going to pm you!!.

Awwww thats great to hear Sarah! He's a baby so he'll forget things like that easily

Yay! See, he loves you!