With plenty of attitude and enjoying “snacks on-demand”
Hattie is curious, friendly and very socially interactive, but like many cats, she prefers not going to the vet clinic
Hattie is a sassy senior cat who knows her own mind and is not afraid to share her opinions. Living in Dawson City in her youth, she kept many species of animals in line with that attitude. Now that she is in her late double-digit years and living in Whitehorse, she enjoys the finer things in life, such as yummy snacks on-demand. She does not shy away from tapping on the cupboard so the humans know to deliver said snacks and her personal heating mat on the floor, which is always on to provide temperature-controlled relaxation.
I have had the opportunity to get to know Hattie and her human, Pam, over the last eight months. Hattie is curious, friendly and very socially interactive, but like many cats, she prefers not going to the vet clinic. Despite her feelings, Hattie goes for a minimum of one to two routine exams, per year, with her regular veterinarian for checkups, diagnoses, prescriptions and treatment plans.
When Hattie’s veterinarian recommended bloodwork to monitor her chronic medical condition, Pam asked if this procedure could be done at home with a registered veterinary technologist (RVT). Sound simple? Since most animals (and definitely those who feel sassy) do not sit still for a blood draw, much collaboration occurred between myself, Pam, the vet clinic and, of course, Hattie herself. With the support of Pam’s veterinarian, who prescribed oral sedatives to help Hattie relax during the blood draw, Pam and I had success. Once I had Hattie’s samples, I immediately transported them to the vet clinic’s lab, where the team ran the blood tests ordered by the veterinarian, for their later interpretation and communication directly with Pam.
During the winter, Pam noticed that Hattie’s behaviour had changed: she suddenly stopped allowing Pam to trim her nails. For Hattie, this reaction was bizarre. When I arrived to assess, as an initial first step, I confirmed that one front-paw nail was growing with a significant curl, poking at the paw pad as Pam suspected. With Pam’s keen observations of Hattie’s behaviour change, I trimmed that nail before it caused a wound (and further discomfort) by potentially piercing the paw pad. My medical report to her vet clinic included photos of the associated area, flagging it in her medical record in case any further complications arose. We caught this before it caused injury, when it was still a nail trim only, which was great news for Hattie.
This spring, Pam was in-between Hattie’s regular exams with her veterinarian and planned on travelling. With Hattie being a senior cat with a chronic condition, Pam booked an assessment with me to provide peace of mind when she was away and in advance of the housesitter who would be caring for Hattie. After that assessment of Hattie and her vital signs, we discussed Pam’s observations of Hattie’s routines and any questions she had.
(Important understanding: if your pet requires a diagnosis, they must go to the clinic for an exam with a veterinarian.)
Last but not least, this summer, Hattie’s veterinarian prescribed a medication that is injected under the skin, which Pam prefers to provide at home, when possible. Hattie with her sassy attitude means she does not always like to sit still when given a needle, and Pam is not yet certain if she wants to learn to do this by herself. Happily, this is a service I provide, including supporting Pam in learning how to become comfortable doing this treatment at home, should she wish to learn.
Throughout these examples of Hattie’s needs, the question is: How do we convince a sassy cat to accept medical treatments at home when we do not have multiple veterinary professionals to assist, such as we would at the vet clinic?
The answer includes being open to flexibility, no attachment to a specific plan, clear communication with the humans at home, collaboration with the vet clinic (when situations warrant assistance) and a willingness to pause and try again another time when required. In appropriate instances, this means that animals such as Hattie can get a little extra care at home, in an environment that may cause a little less stress for them.
Author’s note: All stories are told with the client’s consent, and all names have been changed to protect privacy.
