The Towel Method for Blood Glucose Testing Difficult Cats

[Ross & Ash]

I posted the following quote and someone who is also struggling with a difficult cat quoted it. An hour later, I was experimenting with the Towel Method.

“I feel that it is I who must get better. I must learn to grab that ear and hold it firmly until I QUICKLY poke it in the perfect spot.”​

I must state how sweet and what a character my cat is. But she is difficult. My biggest fear has been that I will alienate my cat and make her afraid of me. Although I had one successful test, the BG testing was not going well, and I did not see it getting better in a timely manner. Her personality would have to change.

I decided to try The Towel method. (The vets use a towel most every time they handle Ash.)

The first attempt at the Towel Method went fairly well, but I did not get blood. I lacked a certain kind of calm determination and willingness to really poke that ear if need be.

The second time was a big success because I got blood and we had half the emotional distress. I was determined and calm like a doctor doing an operation. I went through the whole process probably twice, and Ash handled it like a champion—very little meowing, very little squirming, and a lot of quiet.

The towel I used was 65” x 33”. It’s a big towel. This second time I picked Ash up and placed her in the middle of the towel and wrapped it around her the best I could. I was positioned behind her. She almost got out, but I pushed her back in. In the end, I had it firmly wrapped around her chest and neck (and her whole body), and I was behind her.

I held a tight grip on the towel near the scruff of her neck with one hand, and I did all the other work with my other hand. I could pick up and put down any of the objects one by one with my free hand, but I had to do all the work with that free hand.

I held just the lancet (no device) between two fingers and poked through her ear to my index finger, which I placed on the other side of her ear as I poked. The first time—no blood. I put down the lancet, and I kept “milking her ear” but no blood. The second time I poked through to my finger, so I put down the lancet and “milked it” until the blood finally came. I picked up the blood glucose monitor and got a reading.

I released Ash and she walked a few steps and lay down on the table. I gave her a little space, then returned in a couple of minutes and petted her, which she gladly accepted. No hard feelings.

It was hard work getting that blood. There is no way I could have done all that I had to do without her in that towel. Previously, we were going nowhere in our blood testing. If you have to chase the cat around or try to hold a wriggling cat, that’s not going well.

Ash did not make a sound for most of this (second) Towel BG test. I’ll be using the Towel Method at least for a while. I’m sure both Ash and I will improve in our application and acceptance of this process. This went well. Knock on wood. Really, knock on wood, because I hope this continues to work.

I thought I would share this experience with those who are struggling. If it doesn’t go well next time, I will update this post.

 

[Leah]

That's wonderful! Is she food motivated? My cat is all about the treats, do he's become a LOT easier to test since I give him freeze dried chicken before & after

 

[HereKittyKittyKitty]

Use of a cotton ball is critical to success. I found out the hard way when I ran out

No more poking your finger and no tentativeness during poking/lancing out of fear/dislike of poking one's own finger

 

[Sandi and Toby]

Just a side note...Anything will work. Under Whispy's ear I use a "cotton round" that people often use to apply or remove makeup, but a folded over square of toilet paper works great too (and is probably way cheaper...hmmm, maybe I should reconsider my choice...)

 

[Ville]

I used to use the towel burrito method when trimming Sulo's claws (and a leather glove in my right hand that he would be constantly biting!) Now, diabetes, and probably age too, has changed the little monster so much that we have no issues with injecting or blood glucose testing at home. At the veterinarian clinic they got a glimpse of old Sulo when they were taking blood for fructosamine test: they needed two nurses, a towel, and a Hannibal Lecter mask (it was cloth though)!

 

[Veronica & Babu-chiri]

I used a very similar method, eventually the towel became more psychological than necessary it is more putting him on top of it and he would hold still and allow the test than having him thightly wrapped in it

 

[Kris & Teasel]

I posted the following quote and someone who is also struggling with a difficult cat quoted it. An hour later, I was experimenting with the Towel Method.

“I feel that it is I who must get better. I must learn to grab that ear and hold it firmly until I QUICKLY poke it in the perfect spot.”​

I must state how sweet and what a character my cat is. But she is difficult. My biggest fear has been that I will alienate my cat and make her afraid of me. Although I had one successful test, the BG testing was not going well, and I did not see it getting better in a timely manner. Her personality would have to change.

I decided to try The Towel method. (The vets use a towel most every time they handle Ash.)

The first attempt at the Towel Method went fairly well, but I did not get blood. I lacked a certain kind of calm determination and willingness to really poke that ear if need be.

The second time was a big success because I got blood and we had half the emotional distress. I was determined and calm like a doctor doing an operation. I went through the whole process probably twice, and Ash handled it like a champion—very little meowing, very little squirming, and a lot of quiet.

The towel I used was 65” x 33”. It’s a big towel. This second time I picked Ash up and placed her in the middle of the towel and wrapped it around her the best I could. I was positioned behind her. She almost got out, but I pushed her back in. In the end, I had it firmly wrapped around her chest and neck (and her whole body), and I was behind her.

I held a tight grip on the towel near the scruff of her neck with one hand, and I did all the other work with my other hand. I could pick up and put down any of the objects one by one with my free hand, but I had to do all the work with that free hand.

I held just the lancet (no device) between two fingers and poked through her ear to my index finger, which I placed on the other side of her ear as I poked. The first time—no blood. I put down the lancet, and I kept “milking her ear” but no blood. The second time I poked through to my finger, so I put down the lancet and “milked it” until the blood finally came. I picked up the blood glucose monitor and got a reading.

I released Ash and she walked a few steps and lay down on the table. I gave her a little space, then returned in a couple of minutes and petted her, which she gladly accepted. No hard feelings.

It was hard work getting that blood. There is no way I could have done all that I had to do without her in that towel. Previously, we were going nowhere in our blood testing. If you have to chase the cat around or try to hold a wriggling cat, that’s not going well.

Ash did not make a sound for most of this (second) Towel BG test. I’ll be using the Towel Method at least for a while. I’m sure both Ash and I will improve in our application and acceptance of this process. This went well. Knock on wood. Really, knock on wood, because I hope this continues to work.

I thought I would share this experience with those who are struggling. If it doesn’t go well next time, I will update this post.

This is a great post!! I'm glad you've found a method that works for you. You hit the nail on the head when you referred to the importance of your mindset in getting it done. We ALL hate the thought of hurting our critters but a calm and somewhat clinical attitude works wonders. And you can "fake until you feel it".