What to Do About the Cat!!! SWH Added

Put a cat muzzle on her, trim the nails, and bath her in flea bath. She is not going to like it, but you have to do it. Otherwise, can't you pay a professional to give her a flea bath?

My dog hates her paws touched and I can't trim her nails. She is a rottie and may bite me too. I take her in to have her nails trimmed by a professional. If there is someone out there to trim a sensitive rottie, there is someone to bath a cat with claws.

omg, babe, what a sucky situation!
gah!
i guess we're lucky in having a vet tech in the family, and an awesome vet who has given us other resources ie a traveling vet who will come here (for a whopping fee, of course) to take care of things (such as euthanasia) in circumstances where we can't or don't want to take an animal in.
i mean, it may be that you have to euthanize. i'm with you in that it seems like a terrible abdication of responsibility for an otherwise healthy cat, but everyone is miserable. you've tried SO hard, you're a prisoner in your own office, and she sounds utterly miserable.
i wouldn't declaw her. not only did you sign the contract, she's already so fearful and defensive that it would surely only make her more terrified and prone to bite, which is worse than scratching (and she's already bitey.)
i so applaud you for refusing to try and pawn her off on an unsuspecting sucker, who would almost certainly euthanize her anyway and make the cat miserable trying to transition.
since you're in this deep, bless you, i'd search super-hard for a traveling vet and/or an animal behaviorist and go in hard for one last attempt to de-flea her. when my spare son brought his flea-ridden cat here (grrrrrrr) our vet hit her with a one-pill nuclear option that blasted them out of existence, and we had the house professionally treated.
i'd fire your freakin' vet. what possible reason can they have for refusing to sedate and treat her?
but at this point, with the cat furious and resentful, your office flea-ridden and everyone hating each other, i think you need to go full-bore no-hold-barred max-out-the-credit-card and then if that doesn't work, tell her how sorry you are and let her go.
this ain't no way for nobody to live.
ETA after talking to my girl, got a few things to add. vets don't dip any more- it caused too many awful side effects without being effective, so your vet is right not to dip although why she's not offering other fixes i don't know. if the frontline isn't working try advantix or revolution, but she says she has never ever seen a case where frontline (the real deal, no generic) used properly doesn't work. and if you're using real frontline and applying it as directed and it's still not working, call the number on the box- they guarantee their product and will not only refund your money but send people out to you to figure out what's going on. she also says (as you know, i'm sure) that a cat in a space that confined will get depressed and angry, so behavior modification therapy might be necessary in conjunction with getting rid of the fleas and getting her back into the family again. i sure hope you can all manage to find a way to like each other again.
khairete
S.

So your vet will euthanize a healthy cat but won't sedate to treat a flea infestation? Idk... I'd call the farther vet, explain the situation, see if a sedative can be prescribed for transport, and have them sedate and dip or otherwise treat the cat, and keep her for a few days... In the meantime, while kitty is gone, aggressively treat the home. That's the best I got. Call the rescue or shelter or wherever she came from for suggestions.

Roll her up in a thick bathtowel and free one paw at a time to clip the ends of her claws.

Once that is done, you can bathe her with wash clothes and a medicated shampoo. Another method is using a harness and a leash and securing the leash to a shower/tub bar to keep her in place for washing.

As for brushing, you need to do it a little every day until she becomes accustomed to it. It will be harder now because you've not been doing these things since kittenhood, but as far as grooming goes you *can* do all of the things.

You can also find and hire a groomer who is used to handling cats.

You absolutely need a new vet, even if it means you travel farther. You haven't been doing 'everything right' but how would you know if the vet is leading you to believe otherwise? He/she is not competent.

I used to work at a vet and I bathed cats all the time. They hated it but we had our methods of holding them so they could not get free and bit us. Sometimes it has to be done. If I were you I would call around to other vets and find one that flea bathes cats. Yes, your cat will hate it but that is life. After that keep your cat on something like Frontline for cats so the fleas do not come back. I just read the post before this...yes call at boarding places too. Find some place that will flea bathe your cat for you and it will be done. PS - Some people who have an extremely anxious pet will have them sedated for travel or for things such as this. Call around and I'm sure you will find a place that can help you whether it is a vet or a boarding kennel or a groomer. My mom has a pet groomer/bather who goes house to house with her truck. She will come into your house and take care of your pets there. She brings all her own equipment.

I agree with everything 2kidmama says.

We have a vet assistant in our family. She is often the one to do this stuff, not the vet. Talk to your vet assistant. Mine would even go to a person's home to help. She's brought animals home with her from the vet's that needed special care overnight. They love animals and I'm sure would help you out.

Some groomers would too. These are people trained to handle upset animals.

There are ways of holding cats to relax them (with towels) and holding paws so they relax. I'd suggest you look that up - I had to do it with a nasty cat I adopted. It took me 3 weeks to get her to relax her paw. Then I could clip one claw a day. Waited 2 days did another one. Perseverance and patience. If you're stressed of course it makes it worse. So you start small. That cat lived to 19 years so I'm glad I put in the time. She would shred my arm like a scratching post to begin with.

If you hate the cat and aren't willing to work with her at all - even once she is free from fleas - then I would look for someone to take her. I took a flea ridden cat from a co-worker years ago.

The only other thing I can think of is getting some pills to sedate your cat yourself (like for travel) and then using a product like Adams (you can get on Amazon) and treat her yourself while she's relaxed. Keep her away from office while you treat the area.

If your nearby vet place won't help, talk to the one an hour away. Good luck

ETA: I should add, my cat wasn't nasty - she was stressed and unhappy (she'd been in a shelter, and cats react to their surroundings and people). So it's possible your cat's personality will change if she's no longer in discomfort and let out of the office and is in with the family.

I question the ethics of a vet that would allow a cat to stay in this type of torture to avoid a sedative.

I would call and talk to a groomer, the vet that was an hour away or someone from a shelter or rescue. I'm sure you can get some good suggestions that way.

What a miserable situation :-(

First, I would go somewhere else besides your vet. I can't believe they have been so unhelpful for 14 months! I understand that the next closest is a drive and a half but I say it's worth it. Have her records transferred from your current vet to the new place and have them prescribe a sedative over the phone so you can safely drive your cat there.
The one and only thing that worked for fleas when we've gotten them is Revolution. It's a different active ingredient from Frontline. You have to get it with a prescription, you can't get it over the counter. I would look into that.
Poor baby must be absolutely miserable which is only going to make the attacks worse. At this point sedation really, truly is needed to get a handle on everything. Why is the vet so against it?

Did you ever like the cat? Before she had fleas was she nice? Does she hurt your kids, other pets, furniture? If she was a nice cat before the fleas then the obvious solution to her attitude is to treat the fleas. If she's always been a nasty cat then you still need to treat the fleas and THEN work on behavior issues. Either way, no cat deserves to be stuck in a room with fleas 24/7. You've GOT to find another vet. A good vet will help you through this situation. There are ways to sedate your cat so that she is more comfy in the car. There are ways to get meds down a cat's throat without you getting sliced up. I feel your pain. My Siamese cat went Edward Scissorhands on me many times due to extreme anxiety. Finally found out when she was 14 that she has a thyroid problem that caused her severe anxiety. With meds she finally relaxed and is no longer psycho-kitty. Hang in there and don't give up!

Board her at the far away vet for the weekend. Bomb your office and get it clear of fleas. While kitty is being boarded at the vet, they can dip her/treat her to effectively rid her body/fur of fleas. She'll be flea free when she comes home to a flea free environment.

Seems odd to me that your vet won't treat her in his office for the fleas. Our own vet will treat for fleas if you bring in your pet for a visit and don't keep them on flea meds at home (and charge you for doing so), so that they aren't spread around their office and to other patients.

If the cat is confined to your flea infested office then nothing is going to work because the cat is kept in a flea infested place. You need to take her to the vet's office where they can sedate her enough to give her a flea dip. While that is happening you can flea bomb your office. That way when the cat comes home flea free she'll come home to a flea free house.

There must be more to this story. Perhaps you're unable to pay the fee to have your vet treat your cat.

When we had a cat, the vet treated her for fleas in the office. I think his tech dipped her. He told us to bomb the house and air it out, before taking her home. I think our cat stayed overnight but I'm not sure. This was years ago. There are safer products now.

He treated her with a med like Frontline (I don't remember the brand) and told us to treat her every month. I know there are different brands with different chemicles. If one doesn't work I would've tried a different one.

The vet trimmed her nails at the same time. Cost just a few dollars. I'm not one to spend much money on pets. I thought the cost of having the vet to do this reasonable.

I don't understand your vet refusing to sedate her if it was needed to treat her. I might understand him to be unwilling to give you sedating medication so you could dip her.

Before taking my cat to the vet, I trimmed her nails by wrapping her in a heavy towel and having someone else hold her. If she hadn't been able to travel, I would've wrapped her in a towel, with help if necessary, and put her in a kennel. All my cats cried and screamed on the way to the vet. That didn't stop me from taking her. It's my responsibility to keep her safe. A parent takes a child to the doctor for immunizations even when they cry and scream. I decided to have someone else trim her nails because it was easier for me. Again my responsibility to care for her.

From your description of your car's behaviour, I suggest that she/he has serious emotional issues. You could find a vet that deals with emotional issues. Not all vets do. If he can't help the cat, I see no alternative to euthanasia.

Sounds like your cat has been forced to stay in a room and not been allowed to leave. I understand needing to do that. Sounds like no one has been able to befriend her or gain her trust. I accept that won't happen now. I suggest you've done all you can do. None of this is your cat's fault. Neither is it your fault. Euthanizing her is not punishing her. It's freeing her from pain and suffering. It's necessary for your sanity. I would not sacrifice my well being for a pet nor anyone else except possibly for my children. Then, I'd get help.

I suggest that by continuing so long to try with her, she is past being able to change. I urge you to have the vet euthanize her. I suspect he's suggested doing that. Perhaps you haven't been willing to do so because on some level you feel guilty and/or you expect yourself to solve a problem that can't be solved. It's past time to let go. Taking care of yourself should be your first priority.

My heart goes out to all of you. Miserable family, miserable cat. Your choices all seem terrible, don't they.

I have a rescue dog with separation anxiety, and she had trouble at the vet's office just being taken away for shots. She has a short snout and although we muzzled her, she could sometimes wiggle out of it. The vet tech solved the problem by slipping one of those lampshade things around her neck - no bitting.

In your case, it doesn't solve the problem of the claws, but I wonder if a real thick set of fireplace gloves that go halfway up your arm, a fairly deep barrel of flea dip, and a lampshade might do it? The cat's going to squirm and wriggle like crazy, so I'd put a short leash on so she doesn't get away. Maybe even a harness so you can lift with the leash and have it under her shoulders/front legs rather than around her neck? It's a 2 person job for sure - maybe you can hire one of the vet techs to come to your house? They have thick gloves they use too, but maybe you'd have to sacrifice a 2nd pair since they can't take fleas back into the office. Ask them. Do you have an enclosed area like the garage where you can do this without having the cat drip flea soap all over the house? Let her dry off before letting her in, but she can't get away either. Yeah, she'll hate it but pretty much everyone hates the current situation too.

Our dog can't take Frontline (bad reaction) but we switched to NexGard and it works fine. Can you see if it's available for cats? It's oral so you may have to mix it in food - maybe cut it in quarters and stick each one in something delicious, like a big expensive piece of salmon? Maybe it's not powerful enough if the Frontline doesn't work - just throwing it out there.

And you are absolutely right not to declaw if you vowed not to, and to not pawn this animal off on anyone else without disclosing the truth (which no one would accept).

Good luck!

You need a new vet! And you need to take her in regularly to the vet or some kind of groomer that will do her nails. She is probably miserable because of her long nails. And I totally agree with everything AV said. You can't put a cat down for fleas. Is she an outside cat? If so, that may have to stop. Are you treating the dog monthly so he does not bring anything in to her. Also did the vet show you how to give pills to her, by holding the scruff of her neck? If you need extra protection and help, use 2 people with heavy coats on. Capstar should be working. I would do everything you can to get that swallowed down.

Poor stressed out little thing. Next time you have to put her in her crate put pillows and blankets or sheets of foam around so she doesn't hurt herself.

Yes, if you hate her, I would look for a new home for her. Ask the vet about rescues.

In my opinion you need to take her to the vet, they put her to sleep or make her groggy. They bathe her and dip her? treat her? fix the problem. I cannot imagine a vet that won't do that. Good grief!

Either make her an outdoor cat or take her to a vet that will fix this or something.

She doesn't need to be put to sleep, she's cranky because she's got bugs biting her and crawling all over her skin. She is suffering! Think about having head lice, how would YOU like to live with that for a year? That's what it's like for your cat, but worse.

Ask the doc for a shot to put her to sleep before you leave your house. You are the boss, not the cat. Get a blanket or quilt. Have help with long sleeves, maybe even a hunting shirt that's double thick. Wrap the cat in the blanket/quilt like a burrito. Pull the skin up around her neck, insert the needle, and push the med in. The vet should have it pre-measured. That way no issues. If he won't give you a syringe then have him give you a liquid med and when she'd burrito wrapped one person put a stick in her mouth for her teeth and the other one dribble the med in, so she doesn't choke. Get her medicated and on her way to the vet. She needs to get rid of the fleas, poor kitty.

I can honestly say I'd simply make her an outdoor cat.

i would probably cry if i were dealing with this. sorry

Have you tried a different flea med? Once you treat the cat, the fleas should be gone with very little cleaning within a few days, if they can't live on the cat they die. So something is very wrong here, try Advantage instead. Every few years we have to switch our cats to a different med, last year Frontline wasn't working, so we used Advantage. Only ONE summer did we have it so bad we had to bomb the house, and that combined with the meds worked wonders.
And diatomaceous earth is a bunch of bull in my experience.

I would not have a cat that has fleas, bites, scratches and has to stay in one room in the house. What kind of life does your cat have all day long? Miserable. Stuck in a room, being eaten alive by fleas. That's just awful. I've been bitten by fleas before in a flea infested house. They HURT!

Your vet sounds like a pain. He'd declaw but not dip the cat? (Well, he'd have to dip the cat twice.)

I don't think of your cat as healthy with a longterm infestation of fleas. And she slams herself around so that her mouth bleeds when you drive?

I wouldn't keep the cat. I'm sorry. I just wouldn't. I'd put her out of her and my misery and that would be it.