How to immobilize a cat?
When keeping pets, there is often a need to perform certain procedures that require their immobility.
If this is a cat, then he needs to trim his claws, get a haircut, perform medical procedures, for example, give injections. With all these procedures, it is important to know how to immobilize a cat correctly. After all, they are all stressful for the animal, which means it can behave completely unpredictably, injuring both itself and those around it. To keep the cat from moving, it is not necessary to use sedatives or other tranquilizers; you can get by with another working method.
How to cut a Persian cat's hair? — Forum about cats for cat lovers and felinologists
On October 21-22, 2021, the 15th cat exhibition will take place in the on-line format of the PCA system. The exhibition includes all classes and examination of video clips. Title registration! Animals do not sit in the halls, do not experience stress, and there is no risk to the health of cats.
Parents have a Persian cat
. She is 3 year old. Every spring, they took her to a cat groomer for a haircut, where she was given anesthesia and given a haircut. Now we bought a special one. animal clipper. Only she refuses to get her hair cut. When I see the car, it just hits me, it hisses and lunges at everyone. She probably needs to be given something to drink or an injection to keep her calm. HELP with advice!!
qwe677
, there is no need to inject anything. It’s better to use a comb and scissors with blunt ends (put the comb between the skin and the scissors). Here https://cat.ucoz.ru/forum/14-2116-1 they gave a lot of advice on this issue
well, but still? Our cat is not very friendly and restless. Are there any means to neutralize it? she tore us all apart. it didn’t work out that way.
We used to take her to a professional, but we don’t live in the city, but 70 km away. The cat does not tolerate the road well. That's why it's problematic to take her every time for a haircut. We bought a super car ourselves. But she just hates her. HELP!
qwe677
, why should a cat be subjected to such stress? You don’t have any time to take care of your cat since you regularly take it to the hairdresser to have it cut under anesthesia? Why can’t you cut it yourself with scissors and a comb—one distracts it and holds it, the other carefully cuts it? Trim her claws, buy a “protective collar” so that she doesn’t bite you, and slowly start. Why do you want to shoot the whole cat at once? Cut it in parts within a week, no one is rushing you. And then comb the cat
Any pet needs careful care, and this is especially true for cats of long-haired breeds. For example, some pets require grooming, but do so with extreme caution. This is not an easy task for the breeder, since it is important not to injure the four-legged friend. To make the task easier, you will need a cat clipper.
How to immobilize a cat: tips for beginners
To painlessly immobilize a cat, you need to use these tips::
- check the cat’s reaction to how you want to immobilize him;
- pre-wash your hands under clean water, possibly using non-scented soap, so as not to cause an unnecessary reaction from the cat;
- you can purchase special clips for cats, which are designed in accordance with the anatomical structure of the animal’s body;
- if both at the initial stages and during the process of immobilization the cat shows aggression, you should immediately abandon this method;
- no need to lift the cat by the scruff of the neck. If, nevertheless, the action is very important to perform, then it should be supported from below, for example, under the hind legs.
Preparing a cat for immobilization
There is a really workable option to immobilize a cat with a clothespin or a paper clip - essentially the same thing. The item is attached to the withers without causing pain or discomfort for the cat. Behavior is inhibited spontaneously and reactions are slowed down. The cat will better tolerate this procedure, provided that it is performed by a person close to him, or better yet, by the owner. Also, manipulation should be carried out only in case of urgent need, and not for fun.
Most cats that were tried to be immobilized in this way experienced the action positively, without pain or fear. But no one is immune from the individual reaction of each individual cat.
First you need to prepare the cat for the procedure:
- If the pet is wearing a collar, it must be removed to provide free access to the cat's neck. If left on, it can create a suffocating feeling and your pet will become agitated.
- After this, you need to find the scruff. It is located on the outside of the cat's neck and looks like a loose fold. If it is difficult to feel the cat’s scruff, then it will not be easy to immobilize it. You should be extremely careful not to squeeze your cat's skin too hard.
- You need to grab the scruff of the neck with your hand and look at the pet’s reaction. If he feels completely relaxed, then he can quickly be immobilized. If the animal meows or tries to escape, then you need to try to immobilize it using another method.
You can determine that a cat is tense when he is not trying to escape by dilated pupils, intermittent breathing, and moving ears. If you grab it by the scruff of the neck closer to the ears, you can control the movement of the animal’s head. To avoid needing help when immobilizing a cat, it is better to watch a training video in advance. It's actually simple.
Cat clipper at home: A useful tool for quick grooming
A cat clipper at home is an indispensable accessory in the house, especially if your pet has long hair.
This device will help you save significant money on pet beauty salons and will not require a groomer.
Soft and thin wool is very difficult to cut, however, it tends to form tangles and collect a large amount of dirt and debris.
What is a cat clipper at home?
It is especially important that a cat clipper at home can cope with the cat’s undercoat, which is difficult to trim.
What types of machines are there?
The device produces little noise. Suitable for animals with soft, medium-length hair, such as the British cat and Kurilian bobtail .
Its disadvantage is considered to be a short service life, however, you can easily find a way out of this situation by buying a second battery and, if necessary, changing it.
With its help, you can cut even the longest and thickest cat hair, which has not even been combed beforehand with a furminator .
How to choose the right clipper for your cat
When choosing a cat clipper, you should start with the quality of the blade material; this directly determines how functional the tool will be.
As for the noise produced by the device, then, undoubtedly, the optimal models will be those that produce the least possible amount of noise and which will not frighten the animal.
How to trim a cat's hair without scaring it
A cat is a rather timid animal, therefore, it is advisable to hire an assistant for grooming, a person well known to the animal, who will hold and calm it.
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Not only humans want to look at the highest standards. Or rather, a person wants not only him to look like this. Animals often fall under scissors, files, trimmers and even creative coloring. Why is this not only popular, but also useful, read on.
Animal hairdressing art is called grooming. The first groomers appeared at the beginning of the last century, when some residents of the United States felt an urgent need to cut their dogs. Moreover, some of them (poodles, Spitz, etc.) in principle require regular care. Following the dogs came cats, seemingly clean creatures, but also revealing the need for regular professional care. Modern grooming is not only a haircut, but also caring for animal claws, cutting mats, procedures for the skin, eyes, ears and other vital organs.
Cats love to be groomed. And some breeds require very special treatment. This applies primarily to long-haired cats. The fact is that if the fur is not taken care of, tangles appear on it, which subsequently bring a lot of inconvenience to both the owners and the animals themselves. Claw trimming is another cat service. Many people prefer to “disarm” their pet. The reason for grooming a cat can also be the owner's allergy to wool, his ideas about cleanliness in the house, and much more.
In general, it is not recommended to cut cats. It is better to take care of them: comb them regularly, remove tangles, treat the wool. Contrary to popular belief, you can bathe your cat with shampoo once every 3-4 months; it is recommended to brush them once a week, and every day during the shedding period.
But if for some reason your cat still requires hairdressing services, you should take into account that you cannot cut off a lot from the cat. You should definitely leave her mane
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An effective method to immobilize a cat
The process of immobilizing young healthy cats includes the following steps::
- Attaching a clip to the cat's scruff . You need to select a clothespin or clip approximately 5 cm in size and place the device on the withers directly behind the ears. Each owner can choose what exactly to pinch the scruff of the neck on their own. You need to look at the cat’s reaction to see what suits him best. If a paper clip puts too much pressure on the skin, the cat will not tolerate the pain.
- It is necessary to place the pet on its side . Since the cat relaxes too much after the clamp, he may involuntarily fall on his own. If this does not happen, you can gently press on the hind legs to remove resistance. You can tell that the cat is completely relaxed by his behavior. He tends to pull the lamps towards his muzzle, curls up into a ball, and places his tail between his paws. If the cat cannot be laid on its side, it continues to stubbornly stand on its feet and tucks its tail, which means it is not calm and is very scared.
- Using additional clothespins . The reception will help to completely relax the animal. To do this, several clamps must be placed a little further than the first one on the back of the neck along the spine. If the cat starts to get violent, then all the clamps need to be removed.
- Also, the method of placing a clothespin anywhere along the back along the spine may work for some cats, but greater effect can only be achieved when placed on the neck.
- After a few minutes, the clothespins need to be removed . However, the duration of the resulting peace of mind is sometimes completely unpredictable and is determined on an individual basis. Some cats are immobilized during the entire grooming and nail trimming procedure, while in other cases the animal can be deactivated for a short period of time.
Complications of stroke in cats
There are no specific complications after a stroke; without treatment, the cat dies. But there may be “undertreated” damage or signs of improper care. The first case includes several phenomena similar to the initial symptoms:
- poor vision (or one eye cannot see, sometimes both);
- impaired motor function (lameness may remain, the cat may walk sideways);
- memory losses.
Owners may stop treatment (for example, if the animal seems to feel better), and some disorders will remain untreated and unnoticed. A cat can live a long life with these changes, if they allow it, of course. And the more persistent and attentive owners see the job through to the end, and their cats recover completely.
In my practice, there were animals that refuted all predictions. But it was rather not a miracle, but the result of the stubbornness of the owners. In Moscow, at a conference, we were shown complete hopelessness, which was only possible thanks to nutrition through a tube with amino acid solutions (medical “Albumin”, “Alvezin”, “Polyamine”, etc.) You can wait a very long time for the cat to start eating on its own, During this time, irreversible processes occur in the body.
Natalya Usova, forum user, veterinarian
https://forum.animalist.ru/index.php?topic=523.0
Video: Leopold the cat, blind after a stroke
Fixing the cat
It is much easier to carry out procedures together, when one person holds the cat and the other performs the necessary actions. But you can cope with this task alone if you know how to properly restrain your pet.
Place the animal on the table where you are going to carry out the necessary manipulations. Place one hand under the cat's chin to steady the head. With your other hand, grab the cat's chest and press the cat's body towards you with your elbow.
If you need to measure a cat's temperature rectally, secure it as follows: hold the animal's head between your forearm and body, and hold the tail with your fingers.
One of the effective ways to calm a cat is to demonstrate the elder’s grip: grab the pet firmly by the scruff of the neck, it will seem to become numb and stop resisting.
This grip is used by mother cats when carrying kittens, as well as by male cats when mating. Veterinarians often place special clips on the scruff of their patients' necks to help them remain calm during examinations or procedures.
Grabbing the cat by the fold of skin at the back of the head with one hand, press its pelvis to the surface of the table where the procedures will be performed. In this position, the animal will not be able to rise on its hind legs or escape. In this case, you can perform the necessary procedures with your second free hand.
Another way to prevent your pet from interfering with treatment or examination is to swaddle it in a towel, thin blanket, or diaper.
Spread the fabric on a flat surface, place the cat in the middle, holding it by the scruff of the neck. Without letting go of your pet, throw one end of the fabric over his back, pull it tight and tuck it under his side. Do the same with the other end of the towel or diaper. After this, the cat can be released. Try to swaddle your patient tightly, otherwise he will quickly pull out his paws and interfere with treatment.
A cat that is swaddled will not be able to scratch its owner or escape or push it away. In this case, you do not need someone else’s help to give the animal medicine or, for example, to put eye drops.
You can also place the cat in a pillowcase and gather it around the pet's neck, carefully tying it with a ribbon so that the head remains outside.
You can also secure your pet using a bag made of fairly thick fabric or a bag with a zipper.
Place the cat in the bag/sack - only its head will remain outside.
We do our cats' hair at home: choose the right clipper
Grooming animals is quite a difficult task. After all, you can’t explain to a cat that it needs to sit quietly, not fidget, not move. However, if you have the right tools at hand and learn how to use them, anyone can become a cat groomer at home. But let’s find out together how to choose such a tool and how to use it.
Features of cat clippers
In terms of convenience and speed of operation, the cat clipper has no equal. However, so that the process of cutting your pet’s hair does not become a test for both, you need to properly prepare in advance and choose a good model for cutting. By the way, even the quality of the hairstyle and the service life of the device will depend on this.
Let's look at everything in order. The mechanical machine is very simple in structure. It looks like pliers, secured in the middle with a screw, with cutting edges at the ends.
If we talk about vibration make-up machines, they are intended only for home use, as they have low power. They can be used to trim cats whose fur is soft and not very long. Their significant advantage is low noise.
Pendulum models are more powerful, but due to their compact size they cannot be professional. The advantage of such machines is their low price.
Speaking about battery analogues, it is worth noting that they are very convenient. The main advantages of such tools include the ability to work anywhere and use removable knives. The disadvantage is the short duration of such work. Although a solution was found. You can purchase 2 batteries and change the first one when it is discharged or a machine with mixed power supply. Such a tool can operate either on battery or mains power.
And finally, rotary models, which are distinguished by the greatest power, ability
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What does a cat owner need to know about anesthesia?
At first glance, the life of our pet is easy and pleasant: she is fed, taken care of, stroked and caressed. However, sometimes the owners come up with strange fantasies. Then suddenly they decide to wash and comb the fur, although it is already carefully licked and smoothed every day. Sometimes they take you somewhere far away, and it’s good if it’s to a dacha, otherwise you suddenly find yourself in some strange room, where there is an eerie smell, barking and meowing are heard, and someone else’s uncle in white is preparing to perform strange actions.
And although the owner speaks kindly, it all looks suspicious, and most importantly, even the smartest cat in the world cannot understand why all this is needed.
How to help a cat so that this help does not become unbearable stress for her? And how can we make it possible to carry out the necessary procedures? In order to answer these questions, let's look at situations where the use of special drugs may be necessary.
This terrible word "narcosis"
In fact, another term has long been used in medical practice - “anesthesia”. General anesthesia (anesthesia itself) is a state of deep sleep of an animal with complete loss of all sensitivity. Such anesthesia is necessary for serious painful operations; it saves the animal not only from suffering, but also from death due to painful shock.
There is also local anesthesia - this is a loss of sensitivity in certain areas of the body. Local anesthesia is divided into 8 types depending on where exactly the intervention should be performed.
Horrible stories about anesthesia will be passed on from mouth to mouth by more than one generation of pet owners. Let’s say right away (have the courage to bear this “news”) - there are no completely harmless anesthesia drugs. Nowhere.
However (here you can exhale) the harm of anesthesia is sometimes greatly exaggerated. Indeed, some drugs have a toxic effect on the liver and disrupt the functioning of the heart muscle. First of all, these are chloroform and phlorotane. The first one was banned for use a long time ago due to its high toxicity. The second is not used in veterinary medicine. All other drugs currently used do not have significant harmful effects on the liver and heart.
But still, the concept of anesthetic risk is not a myth. Under the influence of anesthesia, the heart rate accelerates or slows down, blood pressure decreases or increases (depending on the drugs used), body temperature decreases, metabolic processes slow down, and breathing becomes less frequent. All these changes can provoke the manifestation of various pathologies. For example, compensated heart failure, unnoticeable in an animal while awake, under anesthesia can complicate the functioning of the heart. In addition, an allergic reaction may occur to anesthetic drugs (like any other).
The older or, conversely, younger the animal, the higher the risk. Naturally, it also increases in sick, weakened animals. Therefore, as always and everywhere, everything depends on the qualifications of the doctor. Only he can assess the degree of risk, choose the appropriate drug, and carry out resuscitation measures, if necessary.
To finally reassure you, let's say that now the risk is, according to statistics, one death per more than a thousand operations.
Grooming cats (photo): caring for the health and beauty of the animal
A haircut is necessary if the matted fur tightens the cat's skin, causing it pain and discomfort. As a result, the cat may become nervous and not allow itself to be petted.
Why do you need to cut your cat's hair?
Firstly, the matted fur tightens the kitty's skin, causing it pain and discomfort. As a result, the cat may become nervous and not allow itself to be petted.
Secondly, in places where tangles form, blood flow and heat exchange are disrupted. Naturally, such conditions are ideal for the proliferation of all kinds of pathogenic bacteria and fungi. The animal's skin may become very inflamed, itchy and flaky.
During daily licking, cats eat a lot of their fur, which can harm their digestion. To avoid problems, regular grooming of cats is necessary.
Thirdly, a kitty may try so hard to get rid of tangles on her own that she will injure herself. A side effect of such diligence can also be eating a large amount of wool, which becomes a lump in the stomach, causing vomiting or, even worse, clogging the passages in the digestive tract. In the latter case, you cannot do without the help of a veterinarian.
A cat also eats a lot of fur when shedding. During these periods, it is also recommended to groom your beauty and comb her with a furminator .
Fourthly, due to age, the cat may not be able to take good care of its fur. In this case, tangles can appear literally every week, and the old kitty’s coat will look untidy.
How often should you get a haircut?
The frequency of grooming cats, photos of which can be offered at a pet salon, depends on the structure and length of the animal’s fur.
Long-haired kitties like Persian and Siberian cats
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Grooming
To make it easier to comb the fur, you need to sprinkle it with talcum powder or corn starch, treat it with a scraper, and only then carefully run a metal comb with wide teeth several times through the cat's fur in the direction of the growth of the guard hairs.
The next step is to carefully comb out small knots and remove dead hairs using a metal comb with frequent teeth. Such a tool is also necessary when combing the collar area, “pants” and tail of the pet, that is, areas where the coat is restored much more slowly.
You can also use a glove for combing the fur at this stage: while performing the primary task, combing, the pet’s body will be massaged. As soon as the guard hairs are untangled, you can begin the final and, perhaps, the most important stage of the combing procedure - processing the hair with a massage brush with a long handle. Combing is done in such a way that the pet's fur looks natural and does not stick out in different directions and does not stand on end.
The procedure begins with the hind legs: holding the limbs one at a time, comb the “pants” from the paw pads to the tail; then they move to the front paws and comb out the armpits. Particular attention should be paid to the hair between the toes, as hair matted here can cause severe pain to the animal.
Depending on the purpose and recommendations of the manufacturer, various sprays and conditioners are used during the combing process or after its completion. Thanks to them, the animal’s fur acquires a healthy shine, and shreds of fur will not fly around the apartment and settle on carpets and furniture.
Only those who know how to hold a cat correctly can cope with the task easily and quickly. It is best to place your hand on her withers near her neck and gently but firmly
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Well, just think, an injection!
Sometimes, for examinations and procedures that are less painful or simply unpleasant for the animal, immobilizing drugs are used (they are based on substances such as xylazine, acepromazine, etc.). Do not confuse immobilization with anesthesia. These drugs do not have a strong analgesic effect! They only relax the muscles and calm the animal, preventing it from reacting adequately to unpleasant sensations. That is, they dull not the pain, but the reaction to it.
In order to understand the degree of risk from the use of these substances, it is enough to say that they are used as a component in general anesthesia - anesthesia. To be more convincing, here is also a list of side effects from the use of, for example, xylazine: cardiac arrhythmia, dysregulation of body temperature, paradoxical excitation, hyperglycemia and polyuria, decreased blood pressure after an initial increase, vomiting in cats and dogs.
Therefore, whether it is necessary to use immobilizing drugs, in what doses and under what circumstances, only a doctor can decide.
However, the availability of these drugs has led to the fact that they have long appeared in the arsenal of other specialists, such as groomers. It’s very convenient - one injection, and you don’t have to look for contact with the animal, and the speed of work increases significantly - you can accept more clients.
It is quite possible to do without immobilization during grooming, brushing teeth, and trimming claws if you accustom your cat to these manipulations from early childhood. Brushing the fur itself is a calm and pleasant procedure for the animal, and if done regularly, it is quite possible to prevent the formation of tangles.
If the need nevertheless arises, for example, due to the formation of tartar or a large tangle, then you should consult a doctor who will choose the drug and accurately calculate its dose. By the way, all these procedures, like trimming nails, have long been included in the price list of veterinary clinic services. So is it worth the risk by turning to non-professionals?
Grooming dogs and cats at home
For many dog breeds, grooming is not just a whim, but a necessary hygienic procedure, without which the animal’s health will be at risk. Some owners cut their pets' hair on their own, but this, as a rule, has nothing to do with a professional haircut, which can only be performed by a professional using special products.
Grooming salon “Happy Paws”
offers professional pet grooming services. Of course, we are not the only hairdresser for dogs and cats that provides home-based services, but it is a fact that the best groomers in Moscow work for us.
All the craftsmen working in our team have extensive experience in this industry, treat each client with care and attention, take into account individual characteristics and perform their work efficiently.
If your pet needs a hygienic or fashionable haircut, trimming, combing out mats or trimming claws, call us right now and invite a specialist directly to your home. You can make an appointment or get a consultation by phone or email; all contact information is located in the header of the site and the “Contacts” section.
Next, we will answer the most popular questions that interest pet owners, so read the sequel carefully.
For which animals can I order a haircut at home?
Our team consists of generalists who provide services for cats, dogs and rabbits; there are specialists who have experience working with horses and can provide services for caring for their fur and mane.
For clients who want to groom several animals at once (two or more dogs, a dog and a cat, a cat and a rabbit), special offers and discounts are offered.
We provide services for live
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