stripethree

It’s been a while, almost a year if not more, since Monkey and Llama saw a vet and they both needed vaccinations and could use a check up, so today was the today. I expected this to be pretty smooth sailing since they are pretty cool around people, are ok with being handled, and have been fine at all their previous vet visits. I was half right.

Monkey was fine in the car and fine in the carrier at the new vet, until we took him out to get examined. Then it was time to make life hell. He hissed and hissed even at me just sitting on the exam table. The vet and vet tech, thank god for their patience, were able to examine him while I distracted him (oh, but he was still hissing and fighting) and get him weighed. He was 13lbs, which is less than I expected since he’s a little chubby. Anyway, I held him for a few minutes while the vet and I talked about diet and stuff and how to get his weigh down a little, and he seemed to calm down. As soon as he set foot back on the table, it was on again, he jumped out of the techs arms as they tried to wrap him in a towel and on the floor. I lured him out and he did the same thing again. I tried to lure him out again and he bit me, hard enough to break skin, something he hasn’t done since he was about 9 weeks old. We got his carrier, he willingly crawled into it, and he had to get his vaccine with towels stuffed around him in his carrier so he couldn’t move or fight back, still hissing and spitting. It was kind of upsetting because I’d never seen him behave this way, even more so since there wasn’t much even I could do to calm him down. Once he was done and back in the carrier he was quiet again, and he’s back at home now like nothing ever happened. I feel bad that he was so agitated and uncomfortable, but at the same time I was kind of pissed at how badly he behaved, i expected better from him. The vet said they’ve dealt with much much worse, cats that they can’t touch without fully sedating, so I felt a little better. He’ll have to go back because I want to get him chipped but we decided this was not the right time given his behavior.

Llama, on the other hand, who I was afraid was going to be the squirmy one trying to run away and hide, was a doll. The tech let him walk around the table and sniff, and he sat quiet with me petting him on the head while the vet examined him. He let the tech pick him up to put him on the scale (11lbs), flip him over to check him over, and didn’t even make a sound or move when he got his shot. The vet and I were talking about some things with his health (which is basically perfect) while he walked around on the table and he was purring and nuzzling up to the vet and the vet tech. He’s such a little attention whore, but I’m glad that his exam and stuff went smoothly. I’d have felt awful if both of my cats, who this vet has never seen before, were basket cases.

Monkey’s fine now, and next time he goes he’s going to get some sedative beforehand. It’s weird since he’s the one that is always calm and cool in the car rides, with Llama crying and scratching at the carrier to get out. Oh well, hopefully next time will be a bit better.