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Paid Help Wanted - Experienced Cat Owners/Veterinary Nurses

Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2019 4:21 pm
by Wirralonian
I'm looking for another experienced cat owner who can help me just a couple of times a year with getting my cat into her carrier for vet visits as I have some health issues which make this very difficult. My cat isn't aggressive in any way, she's very timid and hates getting picked up, so she gets very scared and is very hard to keep hold of as she's a wriggler, which is why I'm looking for someone who is experienced who can get hold of her and get her in her carrier with a minimum of fuss and stress. I live in New Brighton, and I am happy to pay someone £15 each time I need help with this, which should take just a couple of minutes, so if you can help please do let me know, or perhaps you know a vet nurse who might like to earn a bit of extra cash. I will finish by saying I posted a similar advert a few years ago on a different site and had my time wasted by people who were utterly clueless about cats and obviously had never been near a cat, let alone handled one, so as my cat's welfare and well being is of the utmost importance to me I am only looking for someone who is experienced and who understands just how stressful being put into a carrier can be for cats. Thank you :)

Re: Paid Help Wanted - Experienced Cat Owners/Veterinary Nurses

Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2019 7:54 am
by Marla
This is a nice forum, so maybe someone will be able to help you. Before inviting anyone to your house, look at their forum posts to make sure they're genuine. (I wouldn't post a request like this on any other forum.)

Have you asked your vet? Some do home visits, or they may be able to suggest someone who would be able to help you.

Once your cat is in the carrier, does she calm down? If she doesn't, I'd recommend a home visit. I've heard about too many cats breaking out of their carrier. We always put a luggage strap around ours to secure it.

Re: Paid Help Wanted - Experienced Cat Owners/Veterinary Nurses

Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2019 8:37 am
by Marla
Alternatively, if you hired a pet taxi company recommended by your vet, they might be willing to help you as part of their service?

Re: Paid Help Wanted - Experienced Cat Owners/Veterinary Nurses

Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2019 9:59 am
by Mollycat
I was going to put a load of helpful suggestions as I have the same nightmare with mine, hence she didn't see a vat for 3 years and when we managed to get there (very poorly) we ran full bloods and a got a very expensive surprise. But, then I re-read and saw your health issues. I don't wish to pry, but have I understood right that your health makes it physically difficult for you even if the cat was easy, and it's not just the challenges of a timid wriggly cat?

If it's just the cat, then my great suggestions would be the usual leaving the carrier out full time, Pet Remedy diffuser, top-loading carrier and so on, plus - the wire cage type carrier, I opted for one that has a front load as well as top load, so I can leave it open in the house all the time and there's nothing scary about it (paid a lot more but I'm happy) - you can get Gabapentin very cheap from the vet in tablet form or powder to sprinkle on food - I also had an animal reiki practitioner 'send' reiki to her at the time I needed to load her up.

Did the reiki help? I can't answer that, but the facts are - early morning cat got wind of what I wanted from her and hid under the bed. We were due to load up at 11 and reiki a bit before. At 10 minutes to 11 cat came out and jumped onto her bed asking for cuddles. I resisted the temptation to grab her and gave her about 20 minutes relaxed affection time. Then she stood up, I stood up, I picked her up and put her in the carrier without rushing - she complained but didn't struggle and didn't try to jump out while I closed the lid. It wasn't the walk-in job like my other cat, but it wasn't the stressful panic it usually is (one success every 3 tries normally) it was just like any normal reasonably easy cat. I would certainly recommend it, it cost me £30 and I consider that money well spent.

Re: Paid Help Wanted - Experienced Cat Owners/Veterinary Nurses

Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2019 11:42 am
by Ruth B
I would also suggest contacting your vets. After my Father died my Mother had problems getting her cats to the vets as she couldn't drive. Normally a neighbour would help her out or appointments would be made for when we visited, but one time when she was talking to the receptionist it was mentioned that the vets actually ran a taxi service where they would arrange to collect the cats, take them to the surgery and then drop them back home later. I got the impression it was something that the staff arrange before and after surgeries so the cat might have to stay in the carrier a little longer than normal, but it would be with someone experienced. it wouldn't hurt to ask.

Re: Paid Help Wanted - Experienced Cat Owners/Veterinary Nurses

Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2019 9:22 am
by Wirralonian
Thanks for your reply Maria. I'm a very savvy person so wouldn't just let anyone into my home :)

One of the reasons I posted was because my vet keeps letting me down at the last minute when I've booked a home visit with them, which obviously isn't great, so that's why getting my cat to the vet myself might just be a better option.

My cat doesn't get out of control, as I've mentioned, she's just very difficult to keep hold of as she's quite strong and is a wriggler and my health issues make it difficult to maintain a hold on her. She's absolutely fine once she's in the carrier, so the issue is very much me not having the strength to get her in the carrier and not my cat :)

Re: Paid Help Wanted - Experienced Cat Owners/Veterinary Nurses

Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2019 9:29 am
by Wirralonian
Thanks for your message Mollycat.

I've already tried all the usual things like leaving the carrier out so it becomes part of the furniture, making it into a little den for her, leaving treats in it etc etc etc but she won't go near it. I've also tried Feliway and similar things but they don't help, as the issue is simply that my cat absolutely hates getting picked up and held and I just don't have the strength to keep hold her. She's also extremely fussy about her food and will not eat it if anything is put in it as we've tried that before with no success. She's not easy but I wouldn't have her any other way :)

Glad to hear the reiki seemed to work for you :)

Re: Paid Help Wanted - Experienced Cat Owners/Veterinary Nurses

Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2019 9:31 am
by Wirralonian
Thanks for your message Ruth B.

My vets don't offer a taxi service and I can get to the vets myself without a problem, it's actually getting her into the carrier that is the issue.

Re: Paid Help Wanted - Experienced Cat Owners/Veterinary Nurses

Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2019 12:58 pm
by Alice
Is there a local branch of an animal charity, Cat's Protection, etc, who'd be able to offer the help you need in return for your donation?

Re: Paid Help Wanted - Experienced Cat Owners/Veterinary Nurses

Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2019 1:08 pm
by Wirralonian
Hi Alice, I've actually emailed all of the ones in my area explaining that I'd be more than happy to pay for someone's time and/or make a donation, but I've only heard back from one of them and that was telling me to leave the carrier out which I've already tried. I can only assume that they are too busy to respond or help, which is perfectly understandable. I think I may have found a vets who actually only do home visits (so I wouldn't have the problem of visits repeatedly being cancelled as I do at the moment) and am just in the process of checking them out, so fingers crossed! :)

Re: Paid Help Wanted - Experienced Cat Owners/Veterinary Nurses

Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2019 3:58 pm
by Mollycat
Wirralonian wrote: Sun Mar 31, 2019 9:29 am Thanks for your message Mollycat.

I've already tried all the usual things like leaving the carrier out so it becomes part of the furniture, making it into a little den for her, leaving treats in it etc etc etc but she won't go near it. I've also tried Feliway and similar things but they don't help, as the issue is simply that my cat absolutely hates getting picked up and held and I just don't have the strength to keep hold her. She's also extremely fussy about her food and will not eat it if anything is put in it as we've tried that before with no success. She's not easy but I wouldn't have her any other way :)

Glad to hear the reiki seemed to work for you :)
Ok sorry if I was suggesting the obvious, I was trying to understand exactly where the issue was - not that I'm local enough to be able to offer help. No, mine isn't fooled by treats or food either, we did try Gabapentin, I really do sympathise. Mine is exactly the same, fine once in, doesn't scratch or bite, but too wriggly and slippery and also hates being picked up.

How about professional pet sitters and dog walkers? They often work on short or hourly visits, could that be an avenue to try?

Re: Paid Help Wanted - Experienced Cat Owners/Veterinary Nurses

Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2019 9:35 am
by Wirralonian
[Ok sorry if I was suggesting the obvious, I was trying to understand exactly where the issue was - not that I'm local enough to be able to offer help. No, mine isn't fooled by treats or food either, we did try Gabapentin, I really do sympathise. Mine is exactly the same, fine once in, doesn't scratch or bite, but too wriggly and slippery and also hates being picked up.

How about professional pet sitters and dog walkers? They often work on short or hourly visits, could that be an avenue to try?]

Hi
No need to apologise at all :) I perhaps should have stated that I've already tried all the usual things with no success!
I've actually posted on some sites for local pet sitters but no luck, but I have found a vet whose practice is solely based on home visits so I'm hoping that's a solution to the problem, fingers crossed! :)