28 August 2009

MOM HERE . . .

OK, most of you know me and the kitties very well, but for those of you who don't have the benefit of a long acquaintance, before you read xing's story (below) and tomorrow's post:

i want to assure you that i do not (and would NEVER) patronize anyone who would medicate purely for the sake of efficacy. the vet's groomer tried very hard (we know this vet and trust him implicitly, and i spoke with him before the groomer began) not to sedate her, but believe me, it was for the best. she was very matted and had become increasingly unhappy when touched anywhere near the matts, so i know they were pulling and hurting. so we had her shaved.

xing lu is a kitty with an extremely high panic factor. she's very timid, and afraid of everything and every noise (loud or soft) and every movement--even mine. she has no known physical disabilities like blindness, deafness, illness. three years of soft words, lots of petting and loving, lap sitting, feliway (bah! shmeliway), bach flower essences, every food from no meat to ALL meat, no preservatives, etc. etc. ad nauseam, to no avail. she is still a frightened kitty who is comfortable nowhere but in my arms--and yet even I cannot brush her or clip her claws alone.

she's the one my husband found zipped into a soft-sided 12-pack cooler at the side of the road in february 4 years ago. she had no upper left eyetooth when she came to us, but no vet she's ever seen (we've had to change twice in two years because of [1] the first vet's retirement and [2] the replacement vet relocating) has been able to tell whether it was knocked out or whether she was born without it. what her story was up until we got her is a complete blank; was she mistreated? was she abandoned because she was so skittish? did a vindictive significant other choose that way to get back by dumping her? dunno. but she is very loving (and needy) towards humans and doesn't mind dogs very much, though totally uncomfortable with other cats. she has never interacted with the boys--of course, they have wanted to play, and she does not know how. not even with cat toys . . . thrown, wiggled, pulled past her, dangled, etc. . . alone or with me. she just doesn't get the concept. she does, however, respond to catnip, but she is a "mean drunk" and just gets hissier.

if you have any tales of successful strategies with kitties like this, please share them! it hurts me to know that she's not a happy cat, and that is what i have always striven for with our animals.

17 comments:

The Tower Hill Mob said...

Oh, poor Xing!
We is purring for you and Mum says she is sending your Mum an email.
Toby and Cupcake

Angel Junior, Orion and Sammy said...

Well, we don't have any suggestions, but we will purr for her and for you. You are very wonderful to still take care of her, so many others would have given up and gotten rid of her.

Victor Tabbycat said...

Poor fing! Bonnie was hissy an wanted fings her own way, but she was fearless. It sounds like Xing has sum angziety like my boy. It's worst when he worries too much about worryin too much!

It sounds like the groomer coulda used less sedatif, tho. Maybe now dey noes fur next time (don't tell Xing der will efur BE a next time).
Purrs fur alla yall!
~ Victor
Oh, Xing, have you ever tried the red dot toy? That was the first Mom found I would play with. It's great fun! Purrs,
~ Nina

Daisy said...

I know you would only do what is in the very best interest of Xing!

I'm sure you have already tried the standard things like Feliway and Rescue Remedy. There is always anti-anxiety medications, but that would be kind of a long term thing, and she might not be easy to pill, right? My holistic vet says they use aromatherapy in their treatment rooms (like for x-rays and such). I think they usually use a lavender scent.

Oh, and I ready somewhere about "Calming Collars," too.

Zippy, Sadie, Speedy and M'Gee said...

Oh, poor Xing...life is really scary and den yoo hafta get knots in yoor furs besides! We don't know what to tell yoor momma, our Zippy is still kinda feerce and crabby and it's been 12 years.

The Island Cats said...

With Bogart, the one that came before us, the vet would have to sedate him just to treat him...I didn't like it but there wasn't much choice because he was wild! I don't have any suggestions for you but we hope Xing is feeling better soon...

Island Cats' mom

Max said...

Someone zipped her up into a cooler...if someone would do that, they probably did other things none of us want to think about. And some kitties never emotionally recover from that. You're doing all you can do--you gave her a loving home and you respect her fears.

If she has to be given something for anxiety when get gets groomed, there's nothing wrong with that, because some kitties NEED to be groomed. Heck, I get so bitey when I go to the stabby place that they give me a little something...I'm still ticked off, but at least all I do is poop on people and not try to eat their faces off, which is what I would otherwise do.

Gemini and Ichiro said...

Having worked in a vet, I do know that there are some cats who need to be sedated for grooming. I can't imagine Gemini being groomed without sedation because she just goes ballistic even when we try and trim her.

Jans Funny Farm said...

We hope Xing Lu is okay and there isn't bad news coming. We don't know anything about professional grooming except when the mats are really bad, sedation can be a good thing.

Purrs and tail wags.

Memories of Eric and Flynn said...

I used to work as a veterinary nurse many years ago and we didn't sedate unless necessary. It IS necessary when a cat or dog gets anxious and gets into a panic. Obviously Xing couldn't be left with her matts and it was much better for her to be sedated so she didn't get herself any more worked up. It does sound though that maybe the groomer did give a bit too much sedative as it sounds as if she was knocked right out. Perhaps the vet could give a different sedative next time. Eric reacted badly to one type when he was ill last year and took far too long to come out of it. He has it on his records now not to use that one, (I can't remember off hand what it is) He was fine with the other type and back to normal within two hours.

The Meezers or Billy said...

Oh MrsXing'sMom, we absolutely KNOW that you would NEFUR let anyone do anything bad to Xing. Poor baby sounds like she gotted a little much of the sleepy stuffs though. But Trixie useded to take a while to get ofur sleepy stuff. the v-e-t used to gif Norton the stuff that wears off really fast, and we all gets that too if we has to at the v-e-t.

Sometimes it just takes lots of time and patience for a kitty who had bad things happen 'afore get ofur them. Rescue Remedy werks pretty well! At least it might make her a little less anxious.

we is purrring hard for you Xing Lu

Cory said...

For a wild child, sedation is the only thing you can do. Purrs to you for taking good care of your baby.

Kaz's Cats said...

Oh Xing's Mom, we understand that you only ever want the best for Xing and the other kitties, and we bet she feels a lot better without the nasty matts. Sorry, we don't have any new suggestions (no long haired kitties living here) but we admire you for looking after Xing so well in spite of her quirks.

{{{hugs}}}

Gypsy & Tasha & Karen (Mum)

(angel) Grrreta and Fam said...

I agree with Max that if someone zipped her in a cooler, she probably suffered other abuses before that. It may take a very long time before she can relax and trust. She is very lucky to have found a wonderful home with beans who take such good care of her. It sounds like sedation was the best option for Xing, but maybe a different dosage or type of sedative might work better next time.

Mr. Hendrix said...

poor Xing. we are sure the abuse she suffered before you found her has probably left a mark on her. she was also most likely never socialized properly and those first VET trips were traumatic. that can translate to groomers too.

as a former feral, most of the time i go to the VET i need to be sedated. it is for my sake as well as the safety of the VET techs and VET.

perhaps a local Reiki Master, or your groomer, could direct you to an animal communications person. our groomer directed us to one when mommy's woofie passed away and his brother (they'd never been apart) wouldn't eat, sleep or play. we thought for sure he would follow his brother. when meeting with the animal communications woman (also a Reiki Master on beans) he ate and wagged his tail. he lived 2 1/2 more years.

long story...well long, mommy contacted her a couple months after i was rescued, and it really helped me relax. it took me time to become comfortable with my beans, but we can tell you 100% (and my daddy is an engineer so he does not say this lightly) that the help she gave us over the years (most recently with Baby Joel) has been priceless.

good luck! we will purr for Xing purrrrrrrrrrrrrrs

Ivan from WMD said...

We don't think we knew about Xing's terrible ordeal before you found her. Surely that experience alone had a huge impact and probably will continue to for years. But she also knows her family and will never forget that. And you know what? I'm all for sedation sometimes--I get all panicky about stuff and then--suddenly it's all over! I know like Xing knows that my mom loves me enough to take the very best care of me.

Jules said...

Silly Xing's Momma. . . I have been blessed to know you and ALL the kitties ('cept the newest one which means I need to get myself down there soon to meets him! grin)you have ever had since the very first Mouse MacNasty, of blessed memory (as long as you wern't wearing red! lol) and I can honestly say I have NEVER, EVER EVER known a bean who has so much love to give critters and been loved in return. Xing is just the princess kitty who wanted to be an 'only child' and still get's miffed she has to share with her bruffers and she ADORES YOU!