Video: Home testing on cats that hate to be tested

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MauiGuppy

MauiGuppy

Member Since 2011
Hi all,

Today Junior and I shot a YouTube video on home testing.

It's not perfect and won't win any Oscars but I hope it will help folks who are having a hard time with a wriggly kitty.

Please note that the camera added 10 pounds to each of my thigh.

Bonnie
 
You are a brave (& funny!) woman, Bonnie.

I've seen more fractious cats than Junior but he can be a bit scary! You obviously love him very much and are so gentle with him afterward. It is very intimidating when your cat is uncooperative. One of mine was at first, too, and it was very hard to continue testing since she hated it so much. Eventually she got to were she would curl up in my lap for testing though. Can't remember how long that took.

Newbies, Bonnie isn't trying to scare you! She's showing you that even uncooperative cats can come to be tested. They may not like it but it can be done. If you've ever poked yourself, you know it doesn't feel good but it is a very fleeting pain and you can get used to it. And testing and injections are to save your cat's life, always remember that.

Also, remember that as your confidence grows, your technique and speed will improve and that of course makes every thing better for everyone!

Here's wishing for easy pokes and happy kitties for everyone! cat_pet_icon
 
No wonder he's difficult to test. I'd bite you too if you tested me like you are testing him. Why are you not using the lancing devise or gently poking with the lancet rather than stabbing him and not necessarily aiming for the edge of the ear? I even jumped and screamed when I watched you poke. At least with the lancing devise you can adjust the depth of the poke. I know you are a newbie to this but I hope you will watch other youtube hometesting videos and rethink your technique.
 
Whoa Dale, I am sure you didn't mean to come off as critical as that sounded.

I watched your video, Bonnie, and thought your technique was fine. You are putting the neosporin on beforehand - with pain relief? - so that should help. We always used a lancet but I know lots of people freehand. Never having a difficult cat to test, I admire your caring and patience.
 
Bonnie, wondering if you have tried a lancing device? Also, would holding the lancet closer to Junior's ear and giving a shorter, somewhat more gentle poke help? I know I have trouble sometimes with my dog's testing and poke a little too deep and she jumps then. I never used neosporin either. Did you find that Junior was having infection problems or is that just to keep the blood droplet in place?

We're here to help each other with suggestions and also to be kind, so I hope my questions and suggestions don't appear critical. Thanks!

Hugs,
_Rebecca
 
I don't feel Dale is being critical.......just speaking the truth. I also jumped, twice, when she tested him. There is no need to hold the lancet and stab, you gently poke and it shows that on the videos available.

As for fractious cats, he is her own pet. I also knelt to control Mishka's body and I wore gloves, for several months to be able to test, and an E-collar to be able to shoot. She didn't know me, had already been through one bout of DKA when I adopted her, and hated me. I could not go without testing and shooting so I wore gloves and used the collar. I also used a lancing device and if I had jabbed her like this things would never have improved.

I also noticed she is putting on Neosporine with her index finger which she then uses the tip of to push the strip in. Possible residue being put on tip of test strip.

Maybe he is biting her because he is trying to tell her it hurts and it shouldn't. Mishka washes my hand while waiting for me to get the meter ready.
 
Hi Bonnie,

I've been hometesting for a very long time and have had several diabetic cats. One of my recent adopted cats, Ebony, was so hard to test I actually skipped hometesting her for a short while for fear of her biting me worse than she was.

We did eventually work things out, she got used to hometesting and went OTJ.

Before that though, the hissing, biting and scratching were terrifying. We ended up using Comfort Zone in her area to calm her. The rice sock I warmed had catnip added to it for aroma therapy and I used a very comfortable, soft lancing device called the One Touch Delica. It's a very fine needle guage and the striking motion is delicate, it's the least frightening lancet device on the market for kitties as far as I'm concerned.

Maybe you could try a soft lancet device like this one and make the experience easier on your sweet kitty and you.
 
http://s382.photobucket.com/albums/oo26 ... NY0465.mp4

tomtom does not put up any fight, as you can clearly see he purrs thru out .... yet unless i get the very edge of the ear it does hurt. it clearly hurt him in this video. but tom being a street fighter does not get too upset when i hurt him. pain is part of a fighters life.
lori
and lord thomas
 
Hi all,

Great discussion everyone! I want to underscore what Rebecca said. Newbies, this is not to scare you! It's to show you that it is possible to home test an uncooperative kitty.

When I first watched the video I also recognized that I was poking him too hard so I don't disagree with the folks here. I just didn't bother to rerecord it because this is where my technique is after 2 weeks. It's still a work in progress and I'm certainly still open to suggestions to make it a more pleasant experience for Junior.

Lancing devices have not worked for us when I first started. But now that his ears bleed better and he doesn't bite me as much, I'll give it a stab again. Get it? Ok I'll stop with the bad jokes.

Finally, I knew I was putting myself at risk for criticism (jabbing, not giving enough treats, maybe my monkey shirt) but I did it to help newbies out. But Dale, I really do hope you didn't mean to be as harsh as you sounded. If I had thinner skin, I probably would take down the video and lick my wounds but I want to keep it up to help give newbies confidence. I know you care and want to help but please do pause to see how someone might read your thoughts. You have a good recommendation but let's not drive newbies away because they see the criticism.

Thanks again for all your thoughts everyone. I hope my next video will be of Junior purring while getting poked!
Bonnie
 
Just got back from poking Junior with a lancet device. It worked this time!

So here is another lesson for newbies. What didn't work at first (like a lancet device) might work later. So keep trying until something clicks. Get it? Ok ok ok....

I'll make a note of it on that on the YouTube page.

Have a great day everyone and thanks for the note Rebecca!
 
That was a great video, Bonnie. When we were newbies we watched the videos of easy kitties and their beans getting a reading in 5 seconds flat. When we would try it, we were absolutely horrible. It was very frustrating that we were struggling so much. I applaud your efforts.

P.S. I liked your monkey shirt too! :-D
 
Bonnie,

I'm glad that lancet device worked. As I mentioned, even me, with my full house of diabetics, if you see my signature line only my FDs and my CH kitty are listed, even I can't always test perfectly and had to find a different way to manage Ebony and Kiki in the beginning.

As our kitties get used to testing, and the ear gets used to bleeding, you can change how you do things. For instance, at this point I don't use a rice sock and I don't give treats until after I log the numbers, get the shot ready, administer and by then I have a group of kitties waiting for the treat. When I start a new to testing kitty out, I have treats in hand at all times and the rice sock.

How you test may change again, you may find a lancet device with a clear cap works better for you, you may find using your finger for pressure under the ear or cosmetic pad works easier. The great thing is you always can experiment and try new ways. I look forward to seeing the next video :)
 
One of these good people told me to use a rice sock to warm the ear. Sampson loved the rice sock a lot. Don't heat it in the microwave long, maybe 20 seconds or so and hold it against his ear. It sure worked for me calmed him right down and I had all of my periphinial ready to go. I always take it on my bed where he more relaxed. He did get a little surly by the time I got the monitor there, but I usually get a good reading.

Good Luck.
 
Hi Bonnie and Junior!
Thanks for the video! Glad to see Peaches and I aren't alone in the "fiesty" department when testing! angry(2)_cat !
 
I do think I said "Holy crap" when you poked him but hopefully since you are using your lancet pen again things are a bit easier on both of you. But I'm really glad that you posted this. This is Kit to a tee. I expected him to do that to me. He's very temper-mental when it comes to being handled and its just good to see that I'm not the only one that this happens too and that my cat isn't the only one that doesn't jump in my lap purring and begging to be pricked. He's actually been really good and I haven't been bitten...YET! My thing is that when I hold him between my knees, he runs forwards to try to escape so I have to keep one arm in front of his chest. So I put him on the table and lean over him using my body to hold him down so that I can stand up. I feel like I have more control that way. We're just getting started here, day one of poking so we'll have to see how it goes. I'm sure things will get easier for both of us!
 
Well done Bonnie
And thank you for being brave enough to post the video. As a newbie, and with a cat who also moans and HATES to be tested, I am very grateful to see that I am not alone! Yes, I can see that you cat's main problem is the pricking, whereas my cat hardly feels the prick thanks to the lancet; but he hates me squeezing his ear to get the blood out (which can take up to 30 seconds) :(
Anyway, I just wanted to say thanks a lot. And you give me hope.
 
Hi all!

It's been an amazing month. The combination of consistently wrapping him in the towel, lots of treats, and giving the lancet device another chance....I literally have seen Junior improve at every test, every day. Just last month (6/20 to be exact!) he bit me in the face. Last night I managed to test him every hour for 6 hours -- without getting bitten! If you told me last month that this was going to happen, I would not have believed you.

@Einstein's mom, I know you can do it! And Einstein will have to co-star in Junior's sequel of 2 purring pokey cats!
 
Now someone needs to make a video of a feisty cat getting a shot.
My Alex is OK with the ear pokes, but still fights the shot.

And no way would Alex allow me to wrap him in a towel/blanket. He would shoot out of there like a cannon, taking a bite of me as he goes. I tried a "calming" collar, but that hasn't worked either.
 
LOL! I'm picturing a cat taking a bite out of its owner as it shoots out like a cannon.

Actually, when I first started to burrito him, I was surprised that he didn't run forward. Instead, he would scooch backward. Was really surprised. The sad thing was the first night he was so stressed that he peed in the towel. I felt so bad.

If you do wrap him in a towel, make sure it's nice and tight. Some people call it burrito, I call it taquito.

Re: shot, Junior used to fight me on that as well (surprised?). The trick I use is to shoot him while he's eating. Head down, hungry, and distracted. Now I ain't gonna lie...he did catch on and does that angry nom nom nom growl, but I get it done 98% of the time.

Also if you're using Lantus, you should rotate where you shoot (left, right, etc). I heard it causes a burning sensation in some cats so I try to vary it.

Good luck!
 
This is a good video and you're doing a great job for only two weeks - good for you - especially for your perseverance and insistence in doing what is necessary with a grumbling, growling companion - love the face - he's so cute - even amid the growling.

Glad the lancet device worked - I always have had much better success with that than with the free-hand lancet - Dude doesn't mind the noise and it's over before he realizes it. He very seldom moves at all when he's "poked" - I do use the neosporin with pain relief before to help numb it (I think) just a bit.

Your video is great to show how to hold an unwilling kitty - I'm just hoping I never have to do routine testing on Mittsi. I've been able to do it a few times because she's now sure what's coming but I think she would never be as willing as Dude - am sure I would need stitches (with her 23 claws).

Congrats on winning this part of the "sugar dance" - it's the most difficult.

Good luck and hope that your boy continues to stay at those numbers and does well.

Emmy & Dude (& Mittsi too)
 
Methyl B12

I have received my Methyl B12 for Squeak. It's 'cherry' flavored but he seems to like it. I put it in his canned food and it disappears which I'm elated. The pills I got are 5,000 mg each. I didn't realize that when I ordered. SO I've been cutting them in 1/4's and that's working fine. Just wondering if that's too much. I know they say they expel too much in their urine. I still haven't been able to test. I've tried and tried (twice a week) and nothing yet. I don't continue - so not to stress him out. I'm going to try again tomorrow - from the back of his neck. I'm going to shave a spot and try from there. I really don't think he has any blood in his ears. I've poked and poked. God love him. He's the best baby in the world and I hate this for him. He's still down in his hind haunches but he's just been on the M. B12 3 days. I'm still using Fancy Feast Classics exclusively and he loves that. Thanks!
 
Hello
Double check the B12 doesnt have xylitol in the ingredients. I found this so depends on your cats weight and how small you can cut the pill
If your cat weighs 10 lbs. or more, we'd suggest starting with a 3000mcg. Smaller cats can start with half of that, or 1500mcg.
Click to expand...
The pills can take few months to show any difference, plus it works better when your cat is regulated.

Here are some testing tips https://docs.google.com/document/d/13c_CPZVKz27fD_6aVbsguadJKvjSrSAkD7flgPPhEag/pub I really wouldnt try the back of the neck.. thats going to hurt. You could try the paw pad.

Wendy
 
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