Giving the kitten his ear medicine is a real battle of wills

[bicentennial_baby]

Especially doing it alone w/out Sniffa...He's eating right now, but once I get out the white towel, he'll know what's up. He's no dummy :P

:hi:

[Wcross]

1. I went through that with my two when they were kittens.

Just get him distracted somehow and sneak the drops in. I would lose the towel, its just giving him advanced warning!

[bicentennial_baby]

2. the towel is for when he wriggles free and shakes the

oily medicine all over me...sigh. Only 11 more days of this... :eyes:

:hi:

[LostinVA]

3. Are you getting his scruff?

That might help since he's still so little.

[bicentennial_baby]

4. Well, it's hard to hold him in place, turn his ear back,

hold his scruff and put the medicine in with two hands, hehe...We just did it. First ear went great, second one took a while as he was wiggling all over the damn place. Such a feisty little monster.

I have to post pics later, he was playing WWF Smackdown in Sniffa's wrestling ring last night...too cute! :rofl:

[crispini]

5. Foolproof cat medicating posture:

After you've captured the cat .... often a feat in and of itself... sort of kneel down on the floor on the cat (don't put weight on cat, obviously), the cat is between your legs. Keep your feet together or the cat will back out under you. You should be able to get a grip on the cat with your thighs, and will thus have BOTH hands free to deal with the front end of the cat. Of course, from the pictures I've seen of your little one, he might be too small to do this right now, but if kitty gets older and needs meds then, it'll be useful. :hi:

[Katina]

8. I thought I was the only one who used that posture

it works like a charm. They are totally contained and can't wriggle free. Good suggestion and well described. :hi:

[crispini]

9. I think my vet taught me that.

I had one that had a thyroid condition as an older cat, and needed to be pilled every day. Goodness, what a pain! but she lived for five years after that, so it was well worth it. :D

[Katina]

10. my cat has that

as well. He has to take tapazole everyday. I used to just push the pill down his throat, hold his snout shut and blow a puff of air on him to make him swallow, but when his dosage went up to a couple of pills/day, it got to be an ordeal, so I spend more money on canned cat food that I know he likes, and I mash the pills into the "sauce". He eats it all up.

[Gormy Cuss]

6. That's why he's called "PB" ya know.

Practice, practice, practice.
:hi:

[bicentennial_baby]

7. Indeedy!

I can't imagine what it'll be like to have a human baby....yikes! At least they don't have claws :P

[Richardo]

17. I just have to say this....please change the name of that cat.

That anyone would in any way equate caring for a kitten to having a human child speaks volumes about their qualifications for parenthood, and not in a good way. It's not a 'Practice Baby'. It's a kitten - which requires a commitment, yes, but also a whole different, one might say 'more forgiving' level of care.

Are you taking the kitten everywhere you go? Are you stopping what you're doing every time she feeds or goes to the litterbox? You would have to do that every time a baby wanted to be fed or changed. Are you setting an alarm to get up multiple times a night to check on her? I'm sure parents of actual human children can think of many other things you could be doing to enhance the simulation.

One thing is certain... one's ability to take care of a cat does NOT mean that one is capable of taking care of a child.

[bicentennial_baby]

18. Um, a need to lighten up is in order...

Did you lose your sense of humor recently? It's a temporary name that we are using until the cat's personality develops more. He's all of 8 weeks old, you know. :eyes:

As for your judgement of whether or not we are qualified or capable enough to raise a child, I find your inference to be quite offensive, and very out of line. Let's see, I helped to raise my own brother, I've taken care of children since I was 10 years old, ranging in ages from 6 months to 12 years old. For 2 years, I was a nanny for a 1.5 year old and his 4 year old brother. All of the children I have cared for are, remarkably, still alive and thriving. So frankly, you can start looking for that sense of humor that you've lost, and also take your ridiculous opinion of our capabilites elsewhere.

Have a nice day.

[LostinVA]

19. Oh brother

[Bunny]

20. So true, Richardo.

I've raised all manner of critters, human and animal, and humans are by far the most demanding! I don't think there's anyway to practice for them, either - you just get thrown to the wolves right from the start! :)

[NMMNG]

21. Aye caramba

:eyes:

[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Richardo]

29. Wow. All done without a capital 'L'

I didn't know it was you at first.

And again - I'd mind my own business if you kept it YOUR business.

[sniffa]

34. oh right

it's my fauLt.

you're my hero.

[Jamastiene]

32. Why?

It's just a name for crying out loud. And as far as changing names because others wouldn't like it, I, for one, am glad that Frank Zappa named his kids, Dweezil, Ahmet, and Moon Unit. They are interesting names and the parents have every right to name their kids or their cats whatever they wish.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

36. Oh, good grief.

:eyes:

[MonkeyFunk]

41. My sister named her oldest son after

her dead dog. He ate a plastic garbage can and died.

The boy was a little surprised to find out the truth when he was 10. I'm a bad Uncle.

[Gormy Cuss]

22. I just have to say...

please don't name your first baby "Practice Kitten." You'll never hear the end of it.
;-)









Holy Smokes Batman! It's more silly Lounge umbrage!:evilfrown:

[bicentennial_baby]

23. ....

:spray:

Gotcha! :rofl:

They can't help it...Like moths to a flame...Bitter moths, but moths all the same. :shrug:

[Richardo]

30. I get in enough trouble talking to my nieces and nephews like they're dogs...

:eyes:

Actual quote --> "Hey Jake, come here. That's a good boy."
I've been around dogs TOO long. :D

[Zuiderelle]

11. Wait until you have to pop a pill in its mouth.

:scared:

[MissMillie]

15. the pet piller

works pretty well.

[meegbear]

12. I got a kitten from the shelter and she had mites ...

so they gave me the drops. For about a year, she was reluctant for me to hold her because she thought I'd be putting drops in. She'e well over it now.

[fudge stripe cookays]

13. Try the towel method...

Wrap kitty in a towel, with her paws securely stuck inside. Get someone to hold the towel closed securely in your lap while you pry open jaws and pop pill inside.

I was so relieved to learn this trick. Oreo used to HATE to take pills, but she couldn't fight me in the towel. Made it much easier.

[NaturalHigh]

14. Now try it with a Cairn Terrier puppy.

It doesn't get easier, I'll tell you that much.

[ScreamingMeemie]

16. I had to do eye medicine with my dad's kitten.

To this day (a whole year later) whenever I pick her up, she closes her left eye. :(

[LynneSin]

25. Ear drops are easy - wait til you have to give them oral drops

and your cat is the spawn of Satan. I think Abbott got more of Evita's anti-biotic drops

[legally blonde]

27. yep, I think oral drops are the worst

Giving antibiotics to my cat was hell--my mom had to hold his mouth open while I squirted it in. I was happy if he ended up with at least half, because he spit a lot out (usually on me). God, that was a nightmare.

[LynneSin]

28. Tuna Juice

It worked for about 4 doses. I got a few cans of 'Chicken of the Sea' and would drain out some of the Tuna Juice from them. Abbott would get his first (along with a few bites of Tuna) so he would be out of the way for Evita's dish, which had oral anti-biotic drops mixed in with tuna juice.

It worked about 4 times and either Evita caught on to the trick or she just didn't like Bumblebee tuna, which was the brand I had that day for her meds

[MistressOverdone]

26. I had a cat named "Baby" for 15 years

She was named after Lauren Bacall.

Good luck with yours.

[graywarrior]

31. Just don't start brushing his teeth.

[Jamastiene]

33. Another trick I have used is to sneak up on them when

they are sleeping. I would dose one ear, then lavish them with praise and treats. Wait until they forget and fall asleep again and get the other ear and repeat the praise and treats. Of course, I think I just figured out what I cannot move a muscle while my baby boy cat, Yogi, is asleep without him knowing. :P

[ashling]

35. Sounds like a battle of your will

and the kitty's won't

[Akoto]

37. Wrap it in a slice of cheese.

It always works for my dog. He didn't like the cheese in his ear so much, though. :shrug: :P

[MountainLaurel]

38. Wait until you get to pills

I think I still have scars from trying to pill my cat before our move.

[bicentennial_baby]

39. I can do that with dogs, but, I fear

doing that with a kitty :scared:

[NC_Nurse]

40. I can get medicine into anything/anyone...

it's a gift. ;)