Feisty Cat Advice

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Kassie

Member Since 2019
Hello we just started using insulin a few days ago and just today Jynx seems to have more energy and more of an appetite than he has had lately. I wondered though if anyone had any advice for me about stubborn cats who attack when you give them their shot. Jynx is a loveable great cat but when he gets flustered he lashes out.
 
My cat is usually a good girl, very patient, but can get a little cranky if I'm trying to shoot her while she's just sitting there, so I usually give her a snack while shooting!
Are you able to shoot in multiple areas; does he have a preference? I've heard many people can't give shots in certain areas.

Another thing might be that the syringes you're using are uncomfortable for him. Vetsulin is a U40 insulin and U40 syringes are kinda big needle-wise. My cat takes Vetsulin as well and I switched to a U100 syringes since they come in smaller sizes. (you need to do conversion research on this though!)
 
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We have U40 right now the vet gave us a few to start off. In the future I'll buy them from Walmart since I heard they're cheaper. I'm sure I can handle the conversion I saw a chart posted on here somewhere. I will try giving him a treat tonight but idk if it will distract him from us touching him. The vet showed us the tent technique and shooting in the scruff. I wouldn't try the belly with him thats his no pets zone. Lol maybe the hips though?
 
Can you shoot while he's eating?
I haven't tried yet but I will tonight. I have a feeling the answer will be no. He growls at my other cat if she goes near him while he's eating. I imagine he would treat me the same.
 
We have U40 right now the vet gave us a few to start off. In the future I'll buy them from Walmart since I heard they're cheaper.
I acquired some U-100s bought from Walmart, but they aren't ideal for using with a U-40 insulin -- they aren't marked for half units and the syringes are set up to deliver up to 30 units, so the markings are close enough that they're really suitable only for dosing 1 unit at a time, not fractions

you can get U-100s online which are much easier to use (read, prepare to inject smaller doses) many experienced members can recommend their favorites

you can buy U-40s (look for the "small dose" .3 syringes) from several of the vendors online -- check the shipping costs too -- the most common brand is VetOne, but there are others, close to the same price range though, vendors I remember were something like PetMeds and PetRx .. not as cheap as the Walmart offerings, but precision can beat price when you work with family members and with droplets

look at all the demonstrations/videos of injecting -- bonus if his skin is loose enough to pull up a handful of skin or pull up only on the fur (over the flanks or either side of the backbone), I've tried several, if you think about sliding the needle in smoothly though skin stretched in tension, it seems to work well, neither really fast nor hesitantly slow

Catcat is always hungry so I shoot while he's eating, though he hates ear pricks and does growl, hiss, swat, try to bite (thank goodness for Neosporin, my scars heal quickly) when I test -- some of it, I think, is my own mental attitude of "look, cat, we gotta do this, it's important for your health" -- tough for me because I have a lifelong needle phobia which no therapy nor treatment has been able to eradicate
 
I acquired some U-100s bought from Walmart, but they aren't ideal for using with a U-40 insulin -- they aren't marked for half units and the syringes are set up to deliver up to 30 units, so the markings are close enough that they're really suitable only for dosing 1 unit at a time, not fractions

you can get U-100s online which are much easier to use (read, prepare to inject smaller doses) many experienced members can recommend their favorites

you can buy U-40s (look for the "small dose" .3 syringes) from several of the vendors online -- check the shipping costs too -- the most common brand is VetOne, but there are others, close to the same price range though, vendors I remember were something like PetMeds and PetRx .. not as cheap as the Walmart offerings, but precision can beat price when you work with family members and with droplets

look at all the demonstrations/videos of injecting -- bonus if his skin is loose enough to pull up a handful of skin or pull up only on the fur (over the flanks or either side of the backbone), I've tried several, if you think about sliding the needle in smoothly though skin stretched in tension, it seems to work well, neither really fast nor hesitantly slow

Catcat is always hungry so I shoot while he's eating, though he hates ear pricks and does growl, hiss, swat, try to bite (thank goodness for Neosporin, my scars heal quickly) when I test -- some of it, I think, is my own mental attitude of "look, cat, we gotta do this, it's important for your health" -- tough for me because I have a lifelong needle phobia which no therapy nor treatment has been able to eradicate
I guess I should invest in neosporin as well. As soon as I feed him he runs to my bedroom and hides. He knows the routine already.
 
If you use U100 syringes for Vetsulin or any other U40 insulin you need to convert the dosage. One unit for a U100 syringe does not equal one unit for a U40 syringe.

Can someone provide the instructions to do the conversion?
 
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