It's December, a time of festivities and joy. However, I am fixated on another event, an event I've been dreading since 12/13/03, the day my cat, Honey, came home with me from her Shelter.
It's time to make her annual vet appointment, and as of this date I've still not successfully picked up Miss SquirmyBody. She's a big girl. Her inner core is 100% muscle hardwired to a highly tuned feral flight instinct; the outer layer is a mass of squishy fat that is hard to grab.
My attempts at picking her up, which have not been many, have been dismal and weak. Usually I'm at an awkward angle...I grab and encounter squishy fat; by this time Honey's defensive moves have already gone into motion, and she kicks with her inner muscle and squirms out of my grasp. The emotional fallout involves suspicion, distance, a sense of loss, and insecurity. And that's just me.
Yes, I'm a pitiful excuse as a cat taskmaster; Honey knows it and takes every advantage. Yet the time draws near so it's time I grew a backbone and get this done.
Anyone out there got any cat-catching techniques?
3 comments:
Well, as you know, this is something I have struggled with, as well. How I did it was, I picked her up while I was in a sitting position on a couch, and she was on the floor, under me, and I was petting her. I then reached around both sides of her body (and she is a pudge too) and, while she flattened herself and tried to scurry away, just persisted and held on tight to her and lifted her up to the couch. Then I let her go right away. I repeated this action until she realized that it wasn't all that scary. Then I did the lifting onto the couch, but held and petted her in my lap for a few seconds and then let go. Did that for a while, and then, got to the point where I would grab her off the floor, hold her in my lap, and then while holding her, I would stand up, hold her for a few seconds, and put her down. It is a long process, but this may help if you just prep her for it.
However, I have not tried putting her into a carrier yet. *shudders at the thought*
I picked her up briefly last night while she was standing on my bed and I was standing. She squirmed and 'stiff-armed' me and eventually I let her go. It was the closest I've gotten. I would avoid the vet visit and shots since she's totally indoors, but I'm afraid if I let it lapse the vet might 'impose penalties' in the form of unnecessary tests.
Oh, and I had a vivid dream last night that Honey squeezed through a hole in a screen and got out. She was immediately unhappy and afraid and I was able to retrieve her. I awoke unsettled, so you can see this whole this is producing anxiety.
I sometimes use a big bathtowel~ I carefully fling it over the cat's back, then wrap it around them as I pick them up. It seems to make it easier to deal with their squirming. Good luck to you and Honey!
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