Welcome to the Melbourne Community Daily Discussion Thread.

  • just_kitten
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    1 year ago

    Alright, the cat’s booked in for a hormone blood test tomorrow and I need to give her gabapentin tonight and tomorrow morning to sedate her beforehand. I have never given a cat pills before, let alone a squirmy one who’s acting particularly wack. By the end of all this I think I’ll have gone through all the hoops of being a cat mum, without ever having actually owned a cat…

    • melbaboutown
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      1 year ago

      Why is the delete button right next to the edit button on mobile…

      It’s work experience!

      If it’s the hard capsules you can crack it open and mix the powder with her meal, Melbcat doesn’t seem to taste hers. I do the same with Zylkene too.

      Meat baby food is also a good mixer if they like it (without onions or garlic - I use Heinz pumpkin potato + beef or Smiling Tums beef + vegetables. There may be a suitable chicken kind as well.). Or Churu treats if she likes them.

      If it’s truly a no go you mix it with a little water in an oral syringe and drip it in their mouth. I’ve never burritoed a cat before and can’t offer tips but that’s an option if truly desperate

      • just_kitten
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        1 year ago

        Hahaha, I saw your original reply seconds before it was deleted and was wondering what was up with that. I was all worried cos I thought the pills were tablets, but after reading your reply I’ve had another look and actually they are hard capsules, thank $deity! I’ve definitely had luck giving her Zylkene before mixing it into food.

        This time around she’s hardly eating anything out of the bowl - but she did go absolutely insane for the churu last night, so I think I’ll try that. I also have an oral syringe I can use if it comes to that, thankfully. Had to give her bupenorphrine before so I’ve done the burritoing (once. Thankfully she didn’t actually mind the taste so I didn’t need to do it after).

        That’s so good to know that gabapentin doesn’t have a really awful taste. I’ve got enough stress on my plate with work tensions and I’m really not looking forward to this evening :(

        • melbaboutown
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          1 year ago

          It’s so annoying editing on mobile. I’ve done it twice now.

          Yeah I’ve never tasted it but Melbcat seems used to it. They’re easy to open if the capsule is hard enough, just a gentle pinch of the longer side and twist the shorter cap over it off, like a screw top. One brand from a different vet was softer though and just crumpled and twisted up when I tried that… just snip the end off those.

          If she’s really not playing ball you can try something really stinky like kangaroo wet food or the Fancy Feast pate. You can also mix it in only a tiny bit of wet food and put a few treats in there to encourage her to eat it

          • just_kitten
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            1 year ago

            Little miss doesn’t like either of those things, frustratingly (she doesn’t like kangaroo, she doesn’t like pate, she doesn’t like fancy feast). I’m going to do my best with the Churu. No outdoor Matildas game watching for me tonight!