Louis Catorze went for his booster injections yesterday, and what a drama it was.
Obviously he screamed and screamed in the waiting room as usual although, luckily, the only other presence was Poppet the Airedale terrier, who didn’t care and even appeared to wag her tail in time to the screaming. And her Dog Daddy’s glasses were all steamed up after coming in, so I am hoping that he won’t recognise me if he sees me again.
However, it was a new vet administering the shot and, somehow, she wasn’t able to handle a demonically-possessed Catorze in quite the same way that our usual vet does. Every time he thrashed, hissed or screamed, she would hesitate and back off, and there was a dog going ballistic in the next room, which didn’t help. Catorze made an absolute spectacle of himself although, for once, I couldn’t fully blame him. Like a rogue ouija board, he is absolutely lethal in the wrong hands.
I was about to suggest that we abandon the whole thing and try again next week, but that would have meant going through this pain for a second time. Eventually I told the poor vet to commit to the action and see it through, and to ignore any thrashing, hissing and screaming.
She did as I asked. Job done.
Catorze is now safely home and over his trauma, and is cheering himself up by watching some football with me. However, I don’t suppose he has ruled out exacting some excruciating revenge.
jesuisleroisoleil 
What IS he standing next to in that picture ? Ceramic tiles ? Old TV dinner trays ?
The vet will soon learn that your advice is the best way to deal with difficult patients !
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No, that’s our sculpture containing the haunted bones! This is what it looks like from the top: https://louiscatorze.com/2022/07/23/lame-de-la-montagne/
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Oh yes – I do remember that post (thanks for the link).
My Mom had a medium sized dog who was a bit “iffy” to deal with and the older, more experienced , male vet she took him too was clearly afraid of him. Though why he didn’t just muzzle him I don’t know. Hopefully a newer vet will be a quick study. Though I know of one person who was told she could not bring her cat in for even a nail trim unless he was sedated first – meaning she would have to give him the meds at home first. Which, if she could do that, of course, she could also be able to trim the claws at home.
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There must be so many iffy animals. I wonder what they all do?
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The poor vet was given a good piece of advice. I do hope you were thanked after it.
As to Louis, he can be proud of you since you were able to teach the vet how to behave in front of a small hissing cat.
😺
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It’s like ripping off a plaster, isn’t it? The more you fuss and faff, the more torturous it is. You need to commit to it and just do it as quickly as possible!
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I wouldn’t like to sound mean or rude, but according to me, a vet who is afraid of a little hissing cat has to change job.
🐈⬛
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I know what you mean but I still felt bad for her. And when she asked if he was always like this, I felt awful saying, “Erm, not really.” Little shit clearly picked up on her nerves and did a number on her.
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Your reply is much kinder than mine. I would have liked to tell it to you thanks to a mere « Like » but unfortunately, as I have already told you, WP no longer allows me to act so.
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It’s also very stressful for the human too, having a cat full of stress. I made an appointment at home for the first time when Jimi needed his check up. And afterwards everybody was happy!
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I did once enquire about home appointments and the receptionist responded as if I were the first person ever to ask. It was expensive (obviously – a few hundred pounds rather than £30 just for the consultation) but they didn’t have a price ready, and they had to go away and calculate. I don’t like the thought of Catorze’s very last appointment involving dragging him kicking and screaming to the one place that he hates. 😥
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The vets in the clinic doing home appointments on a regular base. You only have to pay a little extra, depending on the distance they have to drive. I only had to pay a few extra euro’s. So next year another home appointment for Jimi.
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That’s good! I’m surprised it isn’t more of a thing for our vet. I can’t imagine Catorze is the only animal who is, erm, difficult.
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My vets told me they have a lot of…’difficult’ cats and dogs and they make no problem of making a house call.
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I bet we will never see this particular vet again, and that she will forever be “unavailable” when we book. 😬
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My mothers’ Siamese (appropriately named Prince) so frustrated his vets that they took to leaving him in his carrier and aiming the sedative filled syringe at his wide open mouth as he was hissing. The vet tech had amazingly good aim; Prince would go down in less than 2 minutes 😂 He was a very calm cat at home, although he disliked most humans. He lived to be 18.
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Good grief! Poor/naughty Prince!
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Poor thing! It’s horrible having someone who is afraid to give a shot.
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I know, I felt bad for all parties but mainly for him. Luckily he’s now forgotten it all, although the vet probably hasn’t.
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