Complete Care for Your Aging Cat Read online

  restraining the cat prevents either one of you from being accidental y hurt,

  and can make medicating him less traumatic.

  Your veterinarian can demonstrate using an effective restraint for

  your particular cat. Usual y, an extra pair of hands makes medicating go

  much more smoothly. One of you restrains while the other medicates.

  The restraint technique you choose depends on which part of the

  body requires attention. For instance, a muzzle wouldn’t be appropriate if

  you needed to treat a wound inside the mouth. Here are some of the most

  common types of restraints. Several types are il ustrated in the photos.

  Scruff: To “scruff” the cat (top photo), grasp the loose skin over the

  neckand shoulders and gently hold her in place against the table surface,

  as demonstrated in the photo below. That may be al the restraint needed

  for a second pair of hands to apply the necessary medication.

  “Clipnosis” Restraint

  DVM360, an online veterinary E-newsletter, reported in February

  2010 that researchers at The Ohio State University’s veterinary school and

  a veterinary clinic in Sainte-Foy-Lès-Lyon, France, studied how to safely

  calm and immobilize cats for minor treatments without using drugs. They

  found that applying neck clips produced similar results to “scruffing.” They

  used two-inch standard binder clips to induce pressure on the neck, just

  behind the ear in a study of 13 healthy cats and 18 cats with idiopathic

  cystitis. Each cat was evaluated for pinch-induced behavioral inhibition

  (PIBI), also cal ed “clipnosis.” The response to the clipping seemed nearly

  identical to kittens picked up by the skin of their neck by their mother, and

  some cats even began to purr. Of the cats studied, 92 percent of the

  healthy cats and al of the idiopathic cystitis cats responded positively, and

  tolerance improved with each subsequent experience. Neurologic exams

  indicated that PIBI significantly decreased mentation but cats showed no

  signs of discomfort, pain, or fear—there were no significant changes in

  heart rate, blood pressure or temperature. However, the researchers

  cautioned that the clipping procedure won’t work when the cat is already

  excited or agitated, so it’s best to use in an already calm, quiet cat before

  treating.

  Collar restraint: Commercial cone-shaped col ars that surround the pet’s

  neck like the elaborate ruff of an Elizabethan noble are cal ed Elizabethan

  col ars or E-col ars. They come in a variety of sizes to fit any pet. However,

  some cats have trouble eating or navigating with them on. A newer

  alternative, cal ed a Bite-Not Col ar is more similar to the stiff cervical

  col ars designed for people to wear after neck injuries. These col ars are

  used to prevent cats

  Kneeling restraint: This is one of the best techniques for medicating

  cats, especial y when you are by yourself. Place the cat on the floor

  between your knees, facing outward. That helps confine his movements.

  (third photo) Then put one hand on top of the head, and the other beneath

  his jaw to hold him stil . Slip one finger into the side of his mouth to prompt

  the cat to open wide—and pop in the pil or liquid medicine. (fourth photo)

  from pawing head wounds or from chewing body injuries. They are

  available at most pet supply stores or from your veterinarian.

  Body restraints: A baby’s T-shirt provides the cat with freedom to move

  while keeping him from bothering healing wounds, stitches, stomach tubes

  or catheters. His front legs go through the armholes, his head through the

  neck, and the loose end is safety-pinned behind his rear legs beneath the

  tail.

  Muzzle: Yes, there are muzzles designed for cats. The commercial

  muzzles typical y cover the entire face and are fixed behind the ears, and

  prevent your cat from biting out of fear or discomfort during treatment.

  When you don’t have a commercial cat muzzle handy, a pil owcase works

  nearly as wel and also contains the claws. Place your cat inside the

  pil owcase with the body part that needs treatment exposed through the

  opening. Oftentimes, simply being inside the bag helps calm the cat.

  COMFORT ZONE

  The “Warm Whiskers” Pet Therapy Jacket with a comfy reversible fleece

  lining is designed for hot and cold home treatment for your dog. Jackets

  come in five sizes and fits pets from five- to 200-pounds. Heat and cold

  packs that easily attach to the jacket and address achy joints or injuries on

  hard-to-treat lower legs or various areas of the pet’s body. Heating the “red

  pack” (fil ed with buckwheat and lavender) in the microwave for thirty

  seconds provides twenty minutes of moist and aromatic heat therapy.

  Freeze the nontoxic “blue pack” and apply for an hour of cold therapy. The

  product uses a Velcro system to fit the jacket, and elastic extensions for

  leg placements. The cold or hot packs can be applied inside or outside of

  the jacket, where needed. It’s designed to soothe joint and muscle pain

  from arthritis, injury, surgery rehab and more, and comes with

  aromatherapy for anxious pets.

  Medication

  Giving cats pil s is notoriously difficult, but often you can request

  another form of medicine and make administration easier on you both. A

  pil may be turned into a liquid, or compounded into a flavored treat. Some

  medicines can even be turned into a transdermal preparation that is

  smeared on the skin and absorbed—no pil ing necessary.

  Medicating your cat often becomes a quality of life issue for cats,

  and may negatively impact the bond you share. If your cat hides from you

  out of fear of being pil ed, don’t be shy with your veterinarian about asking

  for alternatives. After al , not only his comfort but also the cat’s life may be

  at stake.

  Topical treatment: Topical application—that is, on-the-skin treatment—

  usual y comes as an ointment, salve, or spray and is the easiest to

  administer. Pain medicine may come in the form of a patch that’s stuck

  onto a shaved area of the cat’s body. Tapazol, a drug used to treat

  hyperthyroid cats, can be compounded into an ointment that’s smeared on

  the inside of the cat’s ear and absorbed into the system. Take care the cat

  doesn’t groom away topical medicine before it has a chance to do the job.

  Liquid medicine: Applicators similar to eyedroppers or needle-less

  syringes often come with liquids, and tend to be easier to give than pil

  forms. Draw up the prescribed amount and then tip your cat’s head up

  toward the ceiling. Insert the tip of the applicator into the corner of his

  mouth, and squirt the medicine into his cheek, keeping his mouth closed.

  You may need to stroke his throat a bit and keep his head tilted up until you

  see him swal ow. Cats usual y lick their noses after they’ve swal owed, so

  watch for that cue.

  Pills: Cats hate pil s. Although dogs readily take pil s hidden in a hunk of

  cheese, cats usual y see through the ruse. Or they may take the treat, but

  you’l find the pil later in your shoe. When pil s are needed, circle the top of

  your cat’s muzzle with one hand, pressing hi
s lips gently against his teeth

  just behind the large, pointed canine teeth. That prompts him to open wide,

  and when he does, push the pil over the hil of his tongue with your other

  hand. Aim for the V at the center of the tongue. If you fear for your fingers,

  use a pil syringe (pil gun or pil dispenser), a hol ow plastic tube that

  places the pil at the back of his throat. Then close his mouth, and

  gently hold it closed while stroking his throat or gently blowing on his nose

  to induce him to swal ow. It helps to put butter or margarine on the pil to

  help grease its trip down his throat. Watch for the nose-licking cue that tel s

  you he’s swal owed. It works best to offer a favorite treat liquid, such as a

  bit of tuna juice or a syringe ful of water, immediately after the pil , so the

  cat swal ows the treat, pil and al . Otherwise, the pil may get stuck.

  Eye medicine: Eye medicine usual y comes as a liquid or ointment. Tip

  his head toward the ceiling, gently pul down the lower eyelid, and drip or

  squirt the recommended amount of medicine into the cupped tissue. Then

  release the eyelid and al ow your cat to blink. That spreads the medicine

  evenly over the surface of the eye. It may take two pairs of hands to

  administer eye medication safely.

  Ear medicine: The feline ear canal is shaped like an L with the eardrum

  right at the foot of the L. Keep the cat’s head tipped with the affected ear

  aimed at the ceiling so that gravity wil help get the medicine where it

  needs to go. Liquid and ointment medicine is dripped into the canal. Be

  sure to gently grasp the cat’s ear flap (pinna) to prevent him from shaking

  the medicine out. Use your free hand to massage the base of the ear. That

  spreads the medicine deeper into the canal. Cats with itchy ears tend to

  enjoy this, and may lean into the massage. Painful ears, though, may

  require a few treatments at the veterinarians to get him to the point of

  al owing you to medicate him at home.

  Injections: Medicine administered by injection can provide quicker relief,

  and for certain conditions such as diabetes, injection is the only option.

  Needles can be scary to pet owners, but cats don’t seem to be nearly as

  concerned. Injectable medications come in a vial. Insert the needle into the

  vial and pul back on the plunger to fil the syringe to the prescribed amount.

  Your veterinarian wil explain exactly how much to give for each dose. Point

  the needle at the ceiling and gently thump the syringe so any air bubbles

  float to the needle and can be squeezed out with slight pressure on the

  plunger. Watch for a smal drop of fluid to appear out of the needle, which

  means air is expressed and you’re ready to give the injection. Place your

  cat on a countertop, table, or kneel on the floor. Grasp the loose skin over

  the cat’s shoulders with one hand to form a “tent” of the tissue. Insert the

  needle at the base of the tented skin, horizontal to the cat’s body, and then

  depress the plunger to administer the medication. Remove the needle and

  gently rub the exit to remove the sting and help the medication absorb.

  Grasping the scruff also prompts the cat to be more wil ing to hold stil .

  Fluid Therapy

  “We’ve taught hundreds of people to give fluids at home, from the very

  young to the elderly, and I’ve not met anybody who could not learn the

  technique,” says Dr. Little. Fluid therapy is one of the main things you can

  do to make cats with kidney insufficiency comfortable, give them a

  continuous quality of life, and stabilize their disease. “It makes a

  tremendous difference,” says Dr. Little. “It empowers people, too. Owners

  are doing something very powerful.”

  Al the proper supplies are available from your veterinarian—the IV kit

  with the plastic line and large gauge needle, and appropriate fluids such as

  saline for kidney disease, dextrose (sugar) solutions to feed, or a

  balanced electrolyte solution for other conditions. Injecting fluid into the

  veins requires special training, but once your veterinarian demonstrates,

  it’s easy to administer subcutaneous fluids – beneath the skin – to your pet

  at home. When your cat requires fluids regularly, it’s not only less

  expensive to administer them at home, it is much less stressful for your cat.

  · Warm the fluids to body temperature by running warm water

  over the bag. That makes the experience more pleasant for the cat.

  · Suspend the bag higher than the cat, so that gravity helps the

  fluid run into the right place. You can use a coat hanger to make a

  holder that fits over the top of a door or cabinet.

  · Spread a towel or favorite blanket, or set the cat’s bed on a

  tabletop, to pad the surface for your pet to lie down and get

  comfortable. An ironing board makes a great treatment platform. He’l

  need to stay stil for up to twenty minutes, so make the place as

  comfortable for you both as possible. A position in front of a window

  may help distract him. If he’s too antsy, have a second person on hand

  to help manage him, or you can place him in a pil owcase or “cat bag”

  restraint or wrap him in a towel. Ask the veterinarian if a heating pad

  underneath a couple of layers of blanket is a good idea.

  · Pets that need fluid therapy wil have lots of loose skin, and you

  need to insert the needle so that the fluid drains into the space right

  under the loose tissue. Anywhere on the body wil work, but the best

  locations to place the needle are right between the shoulder blades or

  right above the ribs. Use the same technique as described to give an

  injection. Grasp the skin with one hand and “tent” it—draw it up off the

  solid muscle. Then press the sharp end of the needle firmly into the

  skin, between where your hand holds the flesh and the solid muscle of

  the pet’s body. You’l need to push pretty hard, because the needle

  has to be pretty large to feed enough fluid in, and cat skin can be

  tough. Push it at a horizontal angle level with the body until you no

  longer see any of the needle, but only the plastic head that houses the

  plastic IV line. Don’t be surprised if the pet flinches a bit—but once the

  needle is in place, he should settle down and won’t be much bothered

  by the therapy. Hint: alternate needle sites to prevent scar tissue from

  forming that may make subsequent treatments more difficult.

  · Once the needle is in place, let go of the tented skin and let it fal

  back into place. Open up the release valve on the plastic line, so that

  the fluid begins to drain down and into the needle. Some cats object if

  the liquid flows too fast, so adjust the speed to accommodate the

  comfort of your pet. Watch the container of fluid until the amount your

  veterinarian recommends has been given. A severely dehydrated pet

  may need 30 mil iliters per pound, while for other conditions, 10

  mil iliters per pound once a day may be enough.

  · As fluid runs into the skin, you’l soon see the skin start to

  bal oon with liquid. This does not hurt the pet, although it may feel a bit

  cool, and wil tend to settle and spread out under the skin. The fluid wil

  be gr
adual y absorbed into the body and the bal oon wil deflate.

  · Shut off the valve on the IV line to stop the fluid, and then gently

  remove the needle from your pet. It’s normal for a smal amount of fluid

  to leak back out of the injection site—especial y when given over the

  shoulders. Giving fluid over the ribs with the needle inserted

  downwards wil reduce this loss. You can also help the injection site

  hole to close by rubbing and massaging the place. Offer your cat a

  scrumptious treat afterward to help associate the treatment with good

  things.

  Comfort Zone

  Ask your veterinarian about the new “indwel ing catheters” designed for

  subcutaneous (beneath the skin) administration of fluid. Dr. Martin G. St.

  Germain of Practivet developed the administration unit, cal ed the Greta

  Implantable Fluid Tube (GIF-Tube). The nine-inch silicon tube is surgical y

  implanted just beneath the cat’s skin and a smal skirt of material is sutured

  in place to hold the tube steady. An injection port is attached to the outside

  portion of the tube. The veterinarian wil change the port each month, but

  the tube itself can remain in place for up to a year. A needleless injector

  connects to administer fluids through the port. That al ows you to give fluids

  to your cat without poking him with a needle.

  Golden Moments: Caring for Kricket

  Karen and Len Holden of Cedar Hil , Texas, currently share their lives

  with three senior citizen cats. Tiffany (aka “Tiff-the-Terror”) is the baby at 8.

  “She is our perpetual kitten. It’s like having a two-year-old loose in your

  house 24/7,” says Karen. Pumpkin, an orange gentle-giant of a cat, is 12.

  “He is the most laid-back guy you wil ever come across.” The two cats are

  great pals, and usual y leave the oldest cat alone.

  Eighteen-year-old Kricket is a Persian/Manx and the matriarch of the cat

  clan. She stil rules the roost. “She can be very grumpy with the other fur-

  kids,” says Karen, “but with Len and me she is very loving. ” Kricket has

  overcome many chal enges in her long life. The black and gray tabby

  survived the bite of a water moccasin snake, being hit by a car, and even

  was lost for six weeks before returning home. “We should have named her