on a scale of one to ten, it sucked

[snugglekitty]

I knew it was going to be bad, but really, I had no idea.



I talked to her, and petted her, and she didn't fight me when I picked her up. Then she saw the cat carrier, and basically exploded in all directions. Scratched my right arm extensively and also got the front of my neck, which made me drop her. Then she ran up the stairs to her hangout spot on the third floor landing.

Then it got even more interesting. Apparently she has a Seekrit Ninja Fortress above the fake fireplace on the third floor, which turns out NOT to be completely closed off, and goes into the eaves. And there she went and there was literally no way to get her out.

So, Suzuki the Amazing Ninja Cat wins Round One. However, she came out shortly thereafter and did not hiss or flee when she saw me, so it seems she won't hold a grudge. mrpet is out right now getting a piece of wood to block off the fireplace with.

Next time we're planning to employ some combination of the following techniques, to get her into the carrier:
1) use more minions for grabbing
2) wear protective goggles, gloves, and body armor
3) start by bringing her into an enclosed space (like my bedroom)
4) wrap her in a towel, blanket, or small containment field
5) fill the apartment with sedative gas

The vet apparently did not understand why we couldn't get her into the carrier. mrpet only barely refrained from suggesting that HE give it a try. (If only he were a Seekrit Ninja Vet.) Ditto goes for the unhandyman, who was lurking about the premises, and said, "It's a pity you didn't try to coax her in." Yeah, a pity. Next time YOU try "coaxing" a cat that is suspicious of all humans and uninterested in cat treats. Good luck.

Comments

[jacflash.livejournal.com]

On the off chance you don't already know it, here's a trick: upend the cat carrier so that the entrance is pointing up, then scoop the cat up (preferably in another room, so she doesn't see what's coming) and quickly drop her in. Good luck!

[srl.livejournal.com]

Does she pay attention to energy barriers?

[lady-anemone.livejournal.com]

Hmm. Nope, we didn't know that one. We'll have to give it a try. Thanks. :)

[lady-anemone.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure. But I can find out.

[tisana.livejournal.com]

Oog. Sounds like the first time I tried to put Nougat in a carrier. She wasn't my cat, she was my boyfriend's, and was very skittish about humans. It was time to get her fixed, and when I tried to put her in, she went feral. I had most of my skin covered--sweatshirt, pants, gloves, hat, sunglasses--and I still couldn't grab her. She was nuts.
I started seriously debating the merits of cat pancakes courtesy of the road. Hell, it was three floors down, the fall might do the trick.

Eventually, the bf put her in for the next appt...and it took 5 people at the vet's to even take her blood. So it wasn't just me.
But we became much better friends, she and I. :) No cat pancakes.

[cyclothemia.livejournal.com]

I do that- it can be a LOT easier. It's harder for them to resist.

[catya.livejournal.com]

another possibility is to see if she'll tolerate a harness and don't bother with the carrier. and wear leather.

[sunspiral.livejournal.com]

If you tried that with my cat Jocasta, I'd be willing to drive you to the ER afterwards. Seriously, a good technique is to sneak up on them with a pillowcase. Scoop the pillowcase over them and then drop the whole writhing mess into the prepped carrier.

[jacflash.livejournal.com]

It's never failed for me, and one of our cats is 1) big, 2) strong, and 3) feisty. Just scoop the cat up from behind and quickly drop her in head-first.

[sunspiral.livejournal.com]

::laughs regretfully:: Tried that with Josie once, was soon dripping blood.