Need encouragement about home testing

Status
Not open for further replies.
MelanieP and Ninja

MelanieP and Ninja

Active Member
Need some encouragement about home testing. It’s been about a week and a half since Ninja started Lantus. In that time, I have developed a comfort level in giving the injections but have gotten only one successful ear test. Now that Ninja knows what is coming, she runs from me in fear. It breaks my heart how she looks at me now – as someone who is trying to hurt her. In the 7 years I have had Ninja, she has never looked at me with fear in her eyes. Still, I know home testing is not optional and that this is necessary for her health – so will keep trying, no matter how discouraging.

In addition, I have been unable to get Ninja within 10 feet of canned or wet food, literally. She acts fearful of it when it is near her (she backs up and retreats). She has been eating Hills Science Diet Dry her entire life. Has never eaten treats or any other substance known to man other than Hills dry (with the exception of milk – which is also bad for her).

I am trying the slow introduction methods suggested by Dr. Pierson in her excellent article about converting “dry food addicts.” Though she herself mentioned that it took her 3 months to fully convert all of her cats – being unable to convert Ninja quickly and continuing to feed her what amounts to poison for a diabetic cat (the dry food) makes me feel like a complete failure at this.

Ninja’s vet says that Ninja must stabilize her weight (not continue to lose any more) and MUST eat something every day (that I should not try to starve her into trying the wet food), and that for now (however distasteful) I should continue to feed Ninja the Hills dry, temporarily, and gradually introduce the wet over weeks or months – ensuring that she continues to eat throughout.

I bought some of the Evo dry (low carb), thinking I could use this as an interim step – mix it with the Hills until there is only Evo, then work to get Ninja onto wet food; but so far, Ninja is eating around the Evo (leaves the 2 or 3 Evo pieces in the bowl). Believe me, this is actually an improvement. The first day, I put 1 piece of Evo in her bowl along with the Hills, and she refused to eat out of the bowl until I took the Evo piece out. Now she tolerates the Evo being in her bowl, but eats around it. Maybe next week, she might actually eat a piece by accident.

In looking over some of the spreadsheets on this site, I see notations like, “Day 2, completely transitioned off dry food;” and “diagnosed on 4/1 (for example) and 4/3 tested BG 4 times.”

So basically looking for stories from those out there who struggled with either home testing or transitioning from dry food and took longer than a couple of weeks to succeed. Thinking that maybe hearing your stories of struggle and eventual success will give me encouragement as well -- and make me feel less like a loser at this.

Been a tough couple of weeks and still emotionally exhausted. Thanks to all on this site who have helped me get through.
 
Melanie, please DON'T feel like a loser. A loser decides diabetes is too much trouble and doesn't do the important things you are doing to help Ninja.

Some cats really fight the wet food. Ninja sounds like a stubborn girl. What you are doing is perfect. Baby steps. She has to eat; you can give more insulin to compensate for the dry. If you have read Dr. Lisa's site, you probably heard of FortiFlora. It doesn't work for every cat, but does for some.

Have you tried the kitty burrito? We had to use it for the first few weeks with Oliver. We plopped him down on a towel next to the arm of the couch. We wrapped him up until only his head was out. I could lightly press him into the couch so he couldn't get away and we could get to his ears.

Others will have other things for you to try. This process is all about finding out exactly what works for you and Ninja. It can take a while, but you have the perfect attitude. You'll get it!
 
Thank you Sue! Your kind words really helped.

Sue and Oliver (GA) said:
Melanie, please DON'T feel like a loser. A loser decides diabetes is too much trouble and doesn't do the important things you are doing to help Ninja.

Some cats really fight the wet food. Ninja sounds like a stubborn girl. What you are doing is perfect. Baby steps. She has to eat; you can give more insulin to compensate for the dry. If you have read Dr. Lisa's site, you probably heard of FortiFlora. It doesn't work for every cat, but does for some.

Have you tried the kitty burrito? We had to use it for the first few weeks with Oliver. We plopped him down on a towel next to the arm of the couch. We wrapped him up until only his head was out. I could lightly press him into the couch so he couldn't get away and we could get to his ears.

Others will have other things for you to try. This process is all about finding out exactly what works for you and Ninja. It can take a while, but you have the perfect attitude. You'll get it!
Click to expand...
 
So sorry that Ninja is giving you such a hard time, when you are doing everything you can to save her life and give her a good quality of life! (((HUGS))) to you for not giving up! You are NOT a loser. Ninja is just being a difficult case.

I didn't have many problems with testing or injecting Pumbaa when was feeling poorly, but now that he's feeling better I'm having to outsmart him, daily!

Have you tried Parmesan cheese or fortiflora on Ninja's food to try to entice her to eat? Now that Pumbaa is feeling better, and less "needy" all the time for his food, he tries to avoid me during injection time, and I have to sprinkle some Parmesan on his food at injection time to distract him.

RE: testing time...the only thing that I can suggest is finding a lo-carb treat that Ninja can't ignore, and using that as a bribe. But she sounds so picky with her food, that sounds like the hardest part.

Did Ninja ever beg for table scraps from you? Ever try to steal food off the counter? Ever shown an interest in any food but her Hills Science Dry food and milk? If not, she's not a normal cat! *LOL*

How about plain yoghurt? Kinda like milk, but if you get the Greek yoghurt, it actually has probiotics that are good for pets with flatulence and digestive problems. She might like that.

Have you tried tempting her with shrimp or sardines or cooked ground beef or cooked chicken or roast beef? There has got to be some low carb food out there that will push her buttons! Pumbaa is a Romaine lettuce lover. I had another cat whose buttons were pushed by cantaloupe. And another who couldn't resist fat-free fudgecicles.

Finding a gastronomic diversion for Ninja, which will cause her to ignore you poking/injecting her, sounds like the best thing you could do right now. And mixed in with her dry food, could also cause you to have an easier time transitioning her to canned food.

That's about all I can offer. I feel for you! You will get through this once you find bribe foods for Ninja. :)

Suze
 
Hi Suze! Thanks again for helping me with tips. I tried the parmesan. No interest. Ninja has never shown an interest in people food (other than milk); and though I have tried all those people foods I thought a cat might like (meats and fishes), I have certainly never tried cantaloupe, romaine lettuce, or fudgecicles (LOL!!). So might try some of those tomorrow. By the way, I saw Pumbaa's profile posted on this site and he was the cutest little kitten!!!! I can't believe he was so tiny. Thanks for the continued support. It is nice knowing people like you are out there offering words of support when we newbies need it most. Thanks again. :)

Pumbaa said:
So sorry that Ninja is giving you such a hard time, when you are doing everything you can to save her life and give her a good quality of life! (((HUGS))) to you for not giving up! You are NOT a loser. Ninja is just being a difficult case.

I didn't have many problems with testing or injecting Pumbaa when was feeling poorly, but now that he's feeling better I'm having to outsmart him, daily!

Have you tried Parmesan cheese or fortiflora on Ninja's food to try to entice her to eat? Now that Pumbaa is feeling better, and less "needy" all the time for his food, he tries to avoid me during injection time, and I have to sprinkle some Parmesan on his food at injection time to distract him.

RE: testing time...the only thing that I can suggest is finding a lo-carb treat that Ninja can't ignore, and using that as a bribe. But she sounds so picky with her food, that sounds like the hardest part.

Did Ninja ever beg for table scraps from you? Ever try to steal food off the counter? Ever shown an interest in any food but her Hills Science Dry food and milk? If not, she's not a normal cat! *LOL*

How about plain yoghurt? Kinda like milk, but if you get the Greek yoghurt, it actually has probiotics that are good for pets with flatulence and digestive problems. She might like that.

Have you tried tempting her with shrimp or sardines or cooked ground beef or cooked chicken or roast beef? There has got to be some low carb food out there that will push her buttons! Pumbaa is a Romaine lettuce lover. I had another cat whose buttons were pushed by cantaloupe. And another who couldn't resist fat-free fudgecicles.

Finding a gastronomic diversion for Ninja, which will cause her to ignore you poking/injecting her, sounds like the best thing you could do right now. And mixed in with her dry food, could also cause you to have an easier time transitioning her to canned food.

That's about all I can offer. I feel for you! You will get through this once you find bribe foods for Ninja. :)

Suze
Click to expand...
 
MelanieP and Ninja said:
Ninja has never shown an interest in people food (other than milk)
Click to expand...

You were very lucky with this, until now! *LOL*

I had one cat who would steal my lamb chop out of the broiler, and I had to start cooking 2 lamb chops...one for her and one for me! (This was back in the 80's when lamb was much more affordable!)

You might want to invest in the FortiFlora, as, from what I understand, they coat dry cat food with this. Since Ninja loved her dry food, this may be the trick to helping her transition! Here's what they say on catinfo.org:

Other tips: Coat the meat pieces in parmesan cheese or FortiFlora. FortiFlora is a probiotic that I use to entice cats to eat. I do not use it as the label states since I am not using it for its probiotic properties. Instead, I am using it as I would if I wanted to season my own food with salt and pepper. As little as 1/10th or 1/20th of a package sprinkled on top of food can go a long way to entice a cat to eat something new. This is because FortiFlora is formulated using animal digest which is the same substance that pet food manufacturers coat dry food with to make it very palatable for cats and dogs.
Click to expand...

And you are so welcome! Pumbaa was just diagnosed 2 months ago, so I still have the fresh scars from the new-diagnosis trauma.

Pumbaa was only about 6 weeks old when I adopted him, and he was adorable, wasn't he? Now he photographs looking evil, when he's really a little sweetie. A total male juvenile delinquent, but a sweetie, too!

Don't worry, keep posting your questions and requests for help. Someone is bound to come up with a solution to help make your life easier dealing with Ninja and the FD!

Suze
 
Don't know if you're still struggling with the great wet food battle but something that helps to encourage Dainty to eat (even when she's been feeling sick) is to put Bonito, stinky dried fish flakes, on top of her food. She can't resist the call. There is one brand that is pretty common linked here http://www.amazon.com/Cat-Man-Doo-B...=UTF8&qid=1339745425&sr=8-1&keywords=catmando but its the same thing as http://www.amazon.com/Nishimoto-Sha...qid=1339745476&sr=8-15&keywords=bonito+flakes Most pet stores sell it or import stores if you want it a little bit cheaper. Even my dog Crochet loves 'em so it might be worth a try to sprinkle on top of the dreaded wet food.
 
Pumbaa was only about 6 weeks old when I adopted him, and he was adorable, wasn't he? Now he photographs looking evil, when he's really a little sweetie. A total male juvenile delinquent, but a sweetie, too!

Don't worry, keep posting your questions and requests for help. Someone is bound to come up with a solution to help make your life easier dealing with Ninja and the FD!

Suze
Click to expand...
[/quote]

Pumbaa does not look evil (LOL!). He looks like a big, strong take-charge boy. His picture looks like he is eying a mouse, thinking "Don't even think about coming in here." LOL!! He is gorgeous -- both as a kitten and now.
 
Hi Melanie.
Its Angela. I wondered how you and Ninja were getting along.
Sorry you are having such a time getting Ninja off the dry food.
The suggestion about the Bonita flakes may help, Henry loves them sprinkled on his food or as a treat at testing time. You can get them at Petco or Petsmart and if she likes them, you can order large "economy size" bags from Amazon.
Also you could try a little chicken, turkey or lamb stage 1 infant baby food and see if she will eat that, its pure protein and safe for her to eat. Most cats like it. Just make sure to read the label and make sure it doesn't contain any onion or onion powder. This may help get her used to eating something with a different texture than dry and if she will eat it, you can start gradually mixing canned food in with the baby food. And yes, its important she eat something now, even if its not the ideal food, she needs to maintain or gain weight back.
I know you don't want to frighten her, but the kitty burrito could help. Most kitties, even if difficult, relax after they realize you are not going to hurt them and the testing will be over quickly. A special treat she really likes as a reward after the test can really help.
Are you using the larger gauge lancets for testing? They make it easier to get a drop of blood big enough to test on cats that are new to testing. And be sure to heat either a rice filled thin sock that has been warmed in the microwave or an empty pill bottle filled with warm water held behind her ear before testing. This helps to get enough blood to test without having to do multiple sticks. If you use the pill bottle, you can also use it for leverage behind her ear when you are testing.
I know it seems very discouraging, but it will get easier over time, even the most difficult cats almost always get used to being tested, once they realize you are not trying to hurt them and they settle into the routine. If you can find some treat that she really likes , it will really help.
Try to stay positive and know you are doing everything you can to get Ninja in a healthy place. Remember, this too shall pass.
It WILL get easier; every one of us has been here when our cats were new to FD, try to stay calm, you are doing a good job!
 
Hi Angela! Thanks for the encouragement. I will try the baby food today as well as the burrito technique. I thought the burrito restraint would scare Ninja even more so was hoping to avoid that, but I will try that today and see how it goes. Thanks again for all your encouragement and advice. It is apprecaited!!
 
Success!

I was able to get a test result today!! I used a variation on the burrito method -- using the blanket she sleeps with, and I got Ninja as she was just getting up from a nap. I just wrapped her blanket loosely around her - covering her legs mostly, and she sat still (more or less). Though she didn't love the procedure, she didn't try to bite me either so that's a plus. Poor baby, I had to stick her ear 3 times to get blood, but finally got it. This was definitely better than chasing her around the house. Thanks all for the encouragement last night. I really needed it. :)
 
Hurray! Welcome to the Vampire Club! :RAHCAT

If you can get her to like having her ears warmed, that will help you get a sample. (warm ears = bigger capillaries = more blood) You might try warming her ears with the rice sack or a pill bottle filled with very warm water without the poking part (and give a treat) so she decides that part is nice. Then add it to your poking session in the burrito.
 
First off, Ninja is so beautiful!!! I'm a sucker for black cats, I've had three myself. And it's my black civvie, Nipper, that is the picky eater in the house now.

I had to get her off of dry food so Scout didn't sneak it, and that was a challenge. It took me a good month to get her to reliably eat once a day. How did I do it? I tried every single kind of low carb food I could find, even the ridiculously expensive varieties, until I found some that she will eat most of the time: Blue Buffalo Duck, Blue Buffalo Salmon, Wellness Chicken, Wellness Turkey and Salmon, Turducken, and Evo Chicken and Turkey. I have to mix it up or she will start turning her nose up by the third meal.

I mixed the canned food liberally with piping hot water until it became food soup. I sprinkled tuna flakes and tuna and tuna water on top. I waited her out (which I know is not an option for you). I made her sit there and sulk at the unwanted food for many hours before I gave in and tried another variety. I praised her whenever she ate even a little nibble of food off my finger or a bite from the dish.

I know you've got a tougher case on your hands than Nipper but stick to it! You're working really hard and seeing a little bit of progress, which is great. Hopefully Ninja will have a breakthrough when she finds something she likes.

Lori
 
Do you have a Petco near you? They carry a freeze dried pure protein line of snacks called Purebites. Charley went nuts for them. It took me giving him a piece before and after each poke. Then I went to just after. Now he is trained and just comes running when it's time to test. I've also used the treats to teach my civvie Gizmo how to play fetch and sit using the treats. They must taste wonderful to them! Keep us updated and good luck.
 
Hey,

It is certainly not a cakewalk in the beginning. But you will fall into routine very quick and things will become easy. What you HAVE to remember is 1.) excuses will get you nowhere and 2.) neither will being negative. You need to do what needs to be done, and the only way you are going to do that is if you are confident in yourself.

Instead of dwelling on "this is impossible, she's really picky, i tried this and that and she just won't eat it", you need to think "well, she's just a tough case, but i WILL do this, i WILL get her eating canned, even if it takes a while". Having the right mentality changes EVERYTHING. if you go in to do an ear poke stressed out, scared, and concerned over her hiding, you will fail or have an extremely difficult time because your mood will reflect in her. It might hurt you to see her run away, but you have to do what needs to be done. She WILL get over it eventually.

The advice given to you on this board is extremely useful, but keeping your chin up & an upbeat attitude will go a LONG ways towards making you successful in this.

This is my story -

I adopted Scooter just in mid-October - his previous owners knowingly neglected and ignored his condition until he deteriorated to the point where they got rid of him. They veiled it in the excuse of "we don't have time for him any more" and I was the lucky duck that got to clean up after their negligence. A college kid with no job, no less.

Anyways, my point of saying that is, Scooter didn't even have enough time to bond with me before he was diagnosed on December 22nd. We started the ear pokes shortly after. I won't sugar coat things at all - it was extremely stressful and hard, at first. Scooter fought tooth and nail against me and I had to pretty much strangle him in a towel to get him to hold still. And even then, his ears didn't always bleed - the first few days I had to poke him until his ears were bruised and swollen just to get the blood.

Sounds awful, right? But if you watched me test him today... you would never think we ever had to go through that. He comes running to the kitchen where we do the "pokeys" now, lays on the floor and waits patiently... I put him in my lap and he stretches out... I give him some rubs and love, and he purrs up a storm and tucks his head in my left elbow while I warm his right ear up with a rice sock. After 20-30 seconds, I poke him on the edge of the ear with the lancet device, and 9/10 times I get more than enough blood on the first poke. While the meter is counting down, I use a towel to apply pressure to his ear to stop bruising. And we're done.

And the best part of it is - he doesn't want to leave my lap when we're done! He looks up at me like "done already?" and will hang out with me for a few minutes until he decides he wants his reward - which is small pieces of freeze dried chicken breast. Treats and rewards are a big big factor in getting through this - find what your cat likes. It might be treats, it might be a spoonful of his normal food, it might be catnip, it might be a good pet or brush. They will catch on very very fast. ;-)
 
Re: Success!

MelanieP and Ninja said:
I was able to get a test result today!! I used a variation on the burrito method -- using the blanket she sleeps with, and I got Ninja as she was just getting up from a nap. I just wrapped her blanket loosely around her - covering her legs mostly, and she sat still (more or less). Though she didn't love the procedure, she didn't try to bite me either so that's a plus. Poor baby, I had to stick her ear 3 times to get blood, but finally got it. This was definitely better than chasing her around the house. Thanks all for the encouragement last night. I really needed it. :)
Click to expand...


Good for you, Melanie! Applause, applause, applause!!!!!

As you gain confidence, everything is going to get easier. (((HUGS)))

Suze

PS: Ninja is beautiful. So glad that you posted her photo!
 
Melanie- It is so hard to be new to this, isn't it? I have not been able to look at much on this message board (there is SO much!).. I am really trying to take it all in.. but when I came across this posting I had to add my 2 cents to your plea for encouragement. You reached out to me, even though you are going through as much heartache as I am right now, and that means alot. I wish I had advice to give you, too. But, I want to give you my support and internet hugs-for you and for Ninja. We are both learning and it is so difficult when you come into something like this that is so unfamiliar and scary and you just want them to be better tomorrow-for them AND for you. We will work through this.. and I believe we will look back on these postings one day and have one of those inner smiles that remembers the past and its sorrows and rejoices in the confidence and success we acheived and the knowlege we gained along the way.

I am so happy for your result! Great job!!! I am so happy for you!!!

Feel free to message me anytime-we are both in the same place. :smile:

Have a wonderful weekend!
 
I agree with everything you said. The key is having confidence that you can actually do what needs to be done, though in these early days everything is so new and emotional -- it's easy to get discouraged. So I thank everyone for their words of support. They really helped push me through ...and this morning, I got a second BG reading on Ninja (one yesterday and one today) so am feeling pretty good about things. I may even go for a curve today. :) Speaking from a newbie perspective, the best thing about this board is the encouragement I have gotten from everyone. To say that I was terrified of injecting my cat the first few times is an understatement; I almost threw up the first time I had to do it. Now less than 2 weeks later, it is "no big deal." What seemed like a huge mountain to climb is like a minor pebble in the road now; but without the encouragement of the selfless folks on this forum, I do not know that I could have had the courage to try; or keep trying after I failed. Thank you all again for your words of encouragement and support. They mean everything.

Ry & Scooter said:
Hey,

It is certainly not a cakewalk in the beginning. But you will fall into routine very quick and things will become easy. What you HAVE to remember is 1.) excuses will get you nowhere and 2.) neither will being negative. You need to do what needs to be done, and the only way you are going to do that is if you are confident in yourself.

Instead of dwelling on "this is impossible, she's really picky, i tried this and that and she just won't eat it", you need to think "well, she's just a tough case, but i WILL do this, i WILL get her eating canned, even if it takes a while". Having the right mentality changes EVERYTHING. if you go in to do an ear poke stressed out, scared, and concerned over her hiding, you will fail or have an extremely difficult time because your mood will reflect in her. It might hurt you to see her run away, but you have to do what needs to be done. She WILL get over it eventually.

The advice given to you on this board is extremely useful, but keeping your chin up & an upbeat attitude will go a LONG ways towards making you successful in this.

This is my story -

I adopted Scooter just in mid-October - his previous owners knowingly neglected and ignored his condition until he deteriorated to the point where they got rid of him. They veiled it in the excuse of "we don't have time for him any more" and I was the lucky duck that got to clean up after their negligence. A college kid with no job, no less.

Anyways, my point of saying that is, Scooter didn't even have enough time to bond with me before he was diagnosed on December 22nd. We started the ear pokes shortly after. I won't sugar coat things at all - it was extremely stressful and hard, at first. Scooter fought tooth and nail against me and I had to pretty much strangle him in a towel to get him to hold still. And even then, his ears didn't always bleed - the first few days I had to poke him until his ears were bruised and swollen just to get the blood.

Sounds awful, right? But if you watched me test him today... you would never think we ever had to go through that. He comes running to the kitchen where we do the "pokeys" now, lays on the floor and waits patiently... I put him in my lap and he stretches out... I give him some rubs and love, and he purrs up a storm and tucks his head in my left elbow while I warm his right ear up with a rice sock. After 20-30 seconds, I poke him on the edge of the ear with the lancet device, and 9/10 times I get more than enough blood on the first poke. While the meter is counting down, I use a towel to apply pressure to his ear to stop bruising. And we're done.

And the best part of it is - he doesn't want to leave my lap when we're done! He looks up at me like "done already?" and will hang out with me for a few minutes until he decides he wants his reward - which is small pieces of freeze dried chicken breast. Treats and rewards are a big big factor in getting through this - find what your cat likes. It might be treats, it might be a spoonful of his normal food, it might be catnip, it might be a good pet or brush. They will catch on very very fast. ;-)
Click to expand...
 
Your words are beautiful and I thank you for them.

toosweetcae said:
Melanie- It is so hard to be new to this, isn't it? I have not been able to look at much on this message board (there is SO much!).. I am really trying to take it all in.. but when I came across this posting I had to add my 2 cents to your plea for encouragement. You reached out to me, even though you are going through as much heartache as I am right now, and that means alot. I wish I had advice to give you, too. But, I want to give you my support and internet hugs-for you and for Ninja. We are both learning and it is so difficult when you come into something like this that is so unfamiliar and scary and you just want them to be better tomorrow-for them AND for you. We will work through this.. and I believe we will look back on these postings one day and have one of those inner smiles that remembers the past and its sorrows and rejoices in the confidence and success we acheived and the knowlege we gained along the way.

I am so happy for your result! Great job!!! I am so happy for you!!!

Feel free to message me anytime-we are both in the same place. :smile:

Have a wonderful weekend!
Click to expand...
 
Yay! So glad you were able to get testing done with the "modified burrito" technique. Things will only improve as Ninja becomes more relaxed and used to testing.
How is she doing with eating? Have you found anything yet that she will try? Have you tried the baby food, Bonita flakes sprinkled on canned food yet?
Hang in there, your'e doing great, stay positive. I know it seems a steep mountain to climb, learning all this in a short time, but you will get to the other side, your fears will lessen and you'll be an old pro at this in no time.
 
I only had to do the burrito for about a week before Scooter clued in and found out that just sitting still for a minute was FAR less awful than having to be wrapped in the burrito! He actually likes being tested now because he knows tests mean FOOD! If he is hungry he will sit on the kitchen floor and squawk at me until I test him. Food makes his world go around :lol:
 
Oh gosh, this board is a God send, isnt it!?! My baby just got diagnosed about a month ago and I couldnt have done it without this board!

Injections, I think, will get easier in time for you and the cat. I mean, sometimes Buttons is relaxed and completely interested in her food, and other times shes trying her hardest to get away. Eventually I think they'll realize you arent there to hurt them, and they get to enjoy their food after.

The burrito is also amazing! At first, your cat will probably be like 'what are you doing to me?' and it'll be hard, if not, near impossible to do. But just keep trying and dont give up! If you can prick her, and say you dont get any blood, thats okay! As long as you give her praise, and a treat if she'll take it, she'll start to learn to relax. I never thought Buttons would get use to it, but once I have her wrapped up she lays down and starts purring! :)

Remember, no question is dumb, no matter what and we're all here for support! Good luck!
 
victoriamamie- A Godsend indeed! The wealth of knowledge, support, love, care, and understanding, is more than I ever expected! and I am incredibly grateful!! I am leaning on everybody right now..in case anyone wants to know what that feeling on their shoulder is..lol.

It is also interesting to know everyone's stories and see the beautiful pictures of everyone's kitties. It sure makes me feel less alone, and brings me much needed smiles!
 
I always give Missy a bit of crunched up freeze dried chicken while I am warning her ear. It keeps her occupied and she forgets about me. Then after the test, she gets a chunk of it. She now purrs through the whole test/shoot thing and even comes to find me if I am running late. (no lie) it gets easier as time goes by and you both learn your routine. But, honestly, for me Freeze Dried Chicken was the answer. They go nuts for it.
Here is a video of how I use it to get my civvie cat in at night.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcS30RPB ... ata_player

Mares and Miss (and Phoenix)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top