Tips for shooting sites other than scruff?

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Figaro's Liz

Figaro's Liz

Member Since 2019
I'm going to try to transition away from shooting Fig in the scruff to avoid complications, scar tissue etc. The skin there seems a little tougher now :(

Challenges include:

Loving though he is, he doesn't really like to be touched much beyond his upper half, he gets suspicious and will whap at me, sometimes with claws.

He is so furry it's almost impossible to see what I'm doing!

He really doesn't have much excess skin in those areas, certainly not as much as the scruff area, so I can't really get a good tent.

Tips anyone? :bookworm:
 
you don't have to see what you're doing so much, as use your finger to assess the place you're going to shoot -- pull the skin up, use your shooting-hand index finger to tap or push until you either feel the "tent door" or an area that feels like you're thumping a drumhead -- tight with a little give so you can assume an empty space behind it

your target is that empty space, however you maneuver to get it -- as Catcat has finally gained back to his optimum weight, I find his skin is much tighter, closer to his body -- he's more aware of his skin being pulled up and isn't that happy about it, he reacts more now than he did before
 
CandyH & Catcat said:
as Catcat has finally gained back to his optimum weight, I find his skin is much tighter, closer to his body -- he's more aware of his skin being pulled up and isn't that happy about it, he reacts more now than he did before
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A similar thing with Figaro I think. He's better filled out.

I really appreciate this, it's a reminder that yeah he may not be too happy about it but it can be done.

Maybe a cool and confident and quick approach is the way to go :cool: (<<glasses to mask the nerves)
 
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I would alternate between shooting in Sophie’s scruff and her shoulder area, and I didn’t have too many problems with it. The skin was still fairly easy to pinch there. I didn’t dare try any of the other spots, I would get bit for sure lol
 
I usually tug around and see where the loosest areas are! With my cat that's pretty much exclusively between the shoulder blades but I'll go up and down the back if another area feels loose enough. :) I can't get a grip on the flanks or anything.
 
Maybe you can shave a patch on his side of belly or on the side of his chest until you get used to figuring out where to shoot? I had the same problem of not being able to see with Roo's floof so I asked the vet to shave me a couple of patches on his flank when he started on insulin and I rotated around those. They've grown back now but I've gotten more used to shooting and now its easier.

I also do the pull and roll instead of the tent, its easier with the floof because I can then find a sliver of skin and poke there.

Hope you figure out a solution Liz! :bighug:
 
I started injecting Lou in his scruff using the pinch method, but I had so many issues with furshots and just didn't have confidence in it. I found out about the grab and roll method (I think it's officially called something else, but I can't remember what that is at the moment) and it's been a game changer for us. I have Lou lay down on his side and I give him a finger massage along his side(s) for a few seconds to relax him. Anywhere along his side, I grab some of his hair in my fist and then roll my wrist up so that it pulls up the skin. I then locate this area where you can see the skin through the fur (it seems to be right at the base of the tent that forms) and inject there. I very rarely get furshots since I've used this, and it's been much easier to shoot. Lou's not a long-haired kitty, but he's still fluffy, so it's nice to have a point of reference to shoot.

Lou was more temperamental when I shot in the scruff. I thought he wouldn't let me shoot on along his sides, but he seems to like it better. Probably because I have more confidence in myself doing it and there seems to be less issues overall. I hope you can find something to help him accept injections on his side. This dance is so much easier with a willing partner!
 
Armish & Roo said:
I also do the pull and roll instead of the tent, its easier with the floof because I can then find a sliver of skin and poke there.

Hope you figure out a solution Liz! :bighug:
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Thanks Armish! I know you understand the floof struggle! It's crazy, I try to brush it out of the way but it seems endless. At the scruff, I could part the fur because it was shorter there. Hopefully I get the hang of the roll method, I am trying to practice when I can, until he gives me a "what the heck are you doing?!" look :p
 
Dunno if anyone's tried this, I shave my cat's back of the neck area so that I can see what I'm doing. Of course it wouldn't work with long-hair cats like your beautiful Figaro (love that expression on his face), but honestly, I once let his hair grow back and bam, I did a furshot, which hadn't happened in months! SO I shaved him again and it helps enormously. Re: sites, I have also tried side of the belly, but it feels weird, skin too thin there, not sure if I'm doing it right etc, so we only shoot in the neck and the shoulder areas. Also concerned about skin growing tougher, plus I do the subq there as well... But do alternate sides.
 
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