Baby Cat is starting to hide from me
- Thread starter 52weeks
- Start date
- Status
Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA)
Member Since 2016
Give it some time, it does get better, Shaak started out hiding under the bed from me after the first few ear pokes, after about three weeks she was coming when she heard the rice sock go off in the microwave. Now she is OTJ but everyday she still comes to me to have her ears rubbed of all things, she loves it. I give her a treat after I rub on her ears for about five minutes, it keeps her used to having to have her BG tested once each week. While not all cats go OTJ, I know it all seems so awful and daunting at the moment, but it does get better.
Chris & China (GA)
Member Since 2013
Do you give him a special treat each time you try to poke? Whether you get blood or not? Finding the right "reward" can make a big difference!
Here's something I wrote up for others that needed help with testing...maybe it'll help you too!
It can be really helpful to establish a routine with testing. Pick one spot that you want your "testing spot" to be (I like the kitchen counter because it's got good light and it's at a good height....it also already blocked 2 escape routes due to the wall and the backsplash) It can be anywhere though...a rug on the floor, a table, a particular spot on the couch...wherever is good for you. Take him there as many times a day as you can and just give his ears a quick rub and then he gets a yummy (low carb) treat. Most cats aren't objecting so much with the poking..it's the fooling with their ears they don't like, but once they're desensitized to it and learn to associate a certain place with the treats, they usually start to come when they're called! Or even when they hear us opening the test kit!
You also have to remember...you're not poking him to hurt him...you're testing him to keep him safe and understand what's going on inside his body. There's just nothing better than truly understanding what's going on inside your kitty's body and with this disease, the more knowledge you have, the more power you have against it. The edges of the ears have very few pain receptors, so it really doesn't hurt them. Also, if you're nervous and tense, it's going to make your kitty nervous and tense too. As silly as it might seem, try singing! It forces you to use a different part of your brain!
It's also important to make sure his ear is warm. A small sock filled with a little rice and microwaved or a small pill bottle filled with warm water (check temp against your wrist like you would a baby bottle) works well.
When you're first starting, it's also important to use a lower gauge lancet, like 25-28 gauge. Most of the "lancet devices" come with 33 gauge lancets and they are just too tiny to start with. The bigger lancets (that are lower numbers) make a bigger "hole". As you poke more and more, the ears will grow new capillaries and will be easier and easier to get blood from...we call it "learning to bleed"
Finding the right "treat" will be a great help too! Freeze dried chicken, bonito flakes, little pieces of baked chicken...whatever low carb treat you can find that he really enjoys will help him to associate the testing with the treat! China's Achilles heel was baked chicken, so I'd bake a piece, chop it into bite sized pieces, put some in the refrigerator and freeze the rest to use as needed. It didn't take long for her to come any time I picked up the meter!
Here's something I wrote up for others that needed help with testing...maybe it'll help you too!
It can be really helpful to establish a routine with testing. Pick one spot that you want your "testing spot" to be (I like the kitchen counter because it's got good light and it's at a good height....it also already blocked 2 escape routes due to the wall and the backsplash) It can be anywhere though...a rug on the floor, a table, a particular spot on the couch...wherever is good for you. Take him there as many times a day as you can and just give his ears a quick rub and then he gets a yummy (low carb) treat. Most cats aren't objecting so much with the poking..it's the fooling with their ears they don't like, but once they're desensitized to it and learn to associate a certain place with the treats, they usually start to come when they're called! Or even when they hear us opening the test kit!
You also have to remember...you're not poking him to hurt him...you're testing him to keep him safe and understand what's going on inside his body. There's just nothing better than truly understanding what's going on inside your kitty's body and with this disease, the more knowledge you have, the more power you have against it. The edges of the ears have very few pain receptors, so it really doesn't hurt them. Also, if you're nervous and tense, it's going to make your kitty nervous and tense too. As silly as it might seem, try singing! It forces you to use a different part of your brain!
It's also important to make sure his ear is warm. A small sock filled with a little rice and microwaved or a small pill bottle filled with warm water (check temp against your wrist like you would a baby bottle) works well.
When you're first starting, it's also important to use a lower gauge lancet, like 25-28 gauge. Most of the "lancet devices" come with 33 gauge lancets and they are just too tiny to start with. The bigger lancets (that are lower numbers) make a bigger "hole". As you poke more and more, the ears will grow new capillaries and will be easier and easier to get blood from...we call it "learning to bleed"
Finding the right "treat" will be a great help too! Freeze dried chicken, bonito flakes, little pieces of baked chicken...whatever low carb treat you can find that he really enjoys will help him to associate the testing with the treat! China's Achilles heel was baked chicken, so I'd bake a piece, chop it into bite sized pieces, put some in the refrigerator and freeze the rest to use as needed. It didn't take long for her to come any time I picked up the meter!
Misterbeesmom
Member Since 2016
I'm sorry! I know it hurts to see our furbabies avoiding contact. It stinks.
I would recommend treats and tons of praise, and lots of time.
I would recommend treats and tons of praise, and lots of time.
Wulfwin
Member Since 2010
Clindacure (oral clindamycin) is notoriously bad tasting - a lot of vets add sugar/sweetener to it for this reason (obviously not good for a diabetic kitty). I think my vet actually suggests refrigerating it to help the taste (I'm not positive on this - please check with your vet before trying that to make sure it won't impact the effectiveness of the antibiotic; my cat Jason is a freak who actually likes the taste of Clindamycin). Does Baby Cat take pills ok? Either being pilled or hidden in food/pill pocket/etc? If so, you could check with your vet about doing Clindamycin in tablet form instead of liquid.
52weeks
Member Since 2016
Thanks, y'all. I will see if a bigger lancet helps. I have not been using a special area to stick so will do that. I'll figure out a treat, too.
Speaking of treats, he's really finicky with his food. I read on catinfo to sprinkle a little Parmesan on their homemade food, so I've been doing that with his FF and it's working like a charm. He's always loved cheese.
Speaking of treats, he's really finicky with his food. I read on catinfo to sprinkle a little Parmesan on their homemade food, so I've been doing that with his FF and it's working like a charm. He's always loved cheese.
Shenandoah
Member Since 2015
That time away from meds and poking is important, especially if your cat isn't a fan of either of those. It's easy to get distracted and only pay attention to our kitties when we're stressed about what we're about to do. Then they associate time with you with stress. In addition to giving treats and pets when medicating/poking, make sure you're also giving BC some relaxing time - playing and/or petting, whatever he likes - when you are NOT medicating or poking. You don't want every interaction with you to have a negative association.
It also helps once your routine is well established. He will learn that at this time of day in this place meds/poking happens, but at other times he can just relax when you're around.
It also helps once your routine is well established. He will learn that at this time of day in this place meds/poking happens, but at other times he can just relax when you're around.
Larry and Kitties
Member Since 2009
My vet wrote on the prescribing information to add a packed of Sweet'n Low to the clindamycin as well as to refrigerate it.
- Status