Cyprus-Forum.com

[BerkshireScouse]

Hi

We have a semi-feral cat (she lives outside) who is about 18 months old, who we desperately need to get to the vet to attend to her injured leg, but who is unfortunately very reluctant to go into a cage. We think her fear of cages dates from the time she went missing when she was just 3 months old, and we had to manhandle her into a cage to take her back home.

Our current tactic is to try and entice her into the cage with some food, but she seems to have a sixth sense as to when we are about to close the cage door on her, and invariably she makes a run for it!

Does anyone know of a vet in the Episkopi/Erimi/Pissouri/Limassol area who is willing to come out to owners’ homes and try and assess their pets’ health issues?

Otherwise – are there any other tried and tested tactics for trying to get cats into a cage?

All replies will be gratefully received.

Very many thanks in anticipation of your assistance.

[Tim Drayton]

Re: are there any other tried and tested tactics for trying to get cats into a cage?

My cats are very unwilling to go into the carrying basket/cage when it is time to take them to the vet. A useful technique is to place the cage with the opening facing upwards and plonk the cat in. You then have gravity working on your side, and in the time that it takes the cat to drop down, you can get the door closed if you act fast enough.

[Kikapu]

Try throwing cat treats at the cat one at a time, and if the cat likes the treat (something like a cat sausage in a package which our cat loves and chases it down when small pieces are thrown away from him), then throw one in the open cage and as soon as the cat is in there, close the cage and give the cat few more treats in the cage to reward it..

[GreekIslandGirl]

Even if you get a vet out, you'll probably still struggle to get close to the cat, especially with a stranger around.

I suggest you leave the cage out of sight since the cat knows what "it means". Have a blanket ready and one of you tempt her with treats, like Kikapu has said. Then the other can throw the blanket over her so that it opens out and you can bar the cats way out from under it. Fold the blanket all around her and you can either take her to the vets like that, wrapped up gently (so that she can breathe ) and so longs as she's not struggling too fiercely - or try and introduce her into the cage. Or maybe, once you have her wrapped in the blanket, then call the vet out. Any vet would probably pop round, once they close the surgery, if you explain your predicament.

Good luck.

[Get Real!]

Dr Cyprus is here to answer your pet questions:


Q. My locust is shy and won’t come near me… what should I do?

A. Just grab another one from the swarm.


Q. My mouse refuses to climb on the wheel… what should I do?

A. Toss it in the bin and grab another mouse from the hundreds under your shed.


Q. My Cyprus cat doesn’t…

A. Toss it over the fence and wait for 5 minutes until another cat shows up.


There ya go... your complete guide to pet ownership in Cyprus!

[Demonax]

Try crushing a sleeping pill or some Valium into a saucer of milk. When the cat falls asleep in your garden and hopefully hasn't overdosed, then you carry the sleeping cat into the cage where it should come round none the wiser. Remember to adjust the dosage accordingly.

Another good one is to lace a saucer of milk with brandy. When drunk, cats are quite easy to catch. But don't mix alcohol and sleeping pills. That is not a good idea.

[Sotos]

she makes a run for it

How bad is her leg? If no bones are broken then she probably doesn't need any vet. The cat will lick and clean her wound and she will be fine.

[BerkshireScouse]

Thank you for all of the serious replies.

Eventually my wife managed to coax Lou into the cage with a little food (my excuse for letting her do the dirty work is that she can do the feminine empathy bit better for obvious reasons). I rather think this is going to be a permanent issue every time we need to take her somewhere!

Lou’s injury has now healed and she’s as sprightly as she was before.

[GreekIslandGirl]

Thank you for all of the serious replies.

Eventually my wife managed to coax Lou into the cage with a little food (my excuse for letting her do the dirty work is that she can do the feminine empathy bit better for obvious reasons). I rather think this is going to be a permanent issue every time we need to take her somewhere!

Lou’s injury has now healed and she’s as sprightly as she was before.

Aaahh, it's good to hear Lou is better. If it's any comfort about the carry-cage, none of my cats ever went/go in willingly.