How to care for an angry cat?

My cat William is suffering from eye problems and has to have several drops in the eye everyday.
He's not the most friendly of 'furry ones' at the best of times and I'm now at my wit's end has to how to continue with treating him at home.
His condition started with ulcers on the left eye, which have thankfully now healed. Unfortunately, in the same eye there is an additional infection, which needs further treatment.
He has been 'fairly' tolerant up until now, but he is now angry with me and shows it. I have the scars as proof.
I don't fancy keeping him indoors as he wails constantly to be let out and my only option is to leave him at the vet's. I see £££ pounds signs flashing through my mind. Any tips please.


moderator's note: added a more descriptive title to topic

 

William

Thanks for that Eileen if all else fails I will give it a go.
Would you believe it the little furry 'toerag' is laid out at my feet like he hasn't got a care in the world.
Mind you he will shortly as he is due some more drops. I'm just gearing myself up to it.LOL

Thanks again

Tricia


William on mouse patrol ( photo / image / picture from Victoriana's Garden )

 

Tricia he looks like my Strat Cat :-D
We used the towel method when my co-worker and I had to administer drops down the office cats throat It did help!
Deanna
:-D


I love your avatar!!

 

William is VERY handsome....
I TRULY feel for you. It's really hard for one person to do things to kitties without an assistant... :-? .

My Missy is a wild cat. She weighs less than 5 lbs and it takes three people at the vet to examine her WHILE she is wrapped in a towel. At home, she has to take a pill 2x/day... I've tried many approaches. What works best is I wait until she is asleep, walk up to her and put it down her throat quickly and without fanfare. I don't even speak to her... I try to finish the thing before she even wakes fully. I know it's different than the eyes but maybe you could adapt it somewhat to the situation -- have your dropper ready and go in fast. I use the same approach when I have to check her ears or put the flea stuff on her, which is also a nightmare.

The towel approach is good too, except that William will quickly become conditioned to running away every time he sees a towel... Missy in totally "onto" the towel.

Just an aside... be very careful if William is a biter. If he breaks the skin you could develop a serious infection quickly -- I'm sure Eileen would concur from her years of experience. I've had to take antibiotics from a Missy bite (She got her foot caught in a chair rung and freaked out). They don't mean to hurt us... but do be careful. Goodluck...

 

Thanks for your reply daisybeans. I can tell from your response you know exactly where I'm coming from.
My Willsy is residing at the vets for a few days as his eye condition is now into it's 2nd week.
First of all he had eye ulcers which I managed to clear with the ointment provided. Unfortunately it's now an inflamed eye and lid that's the problem with drops 3 times a day.
I tried keeping him in one night but he sort of went berserk, so off to the vets he went.
I know what you mean about being wary of infections, as after lots of scratches and bites I had to have a tetanus jab last year.
Like your Missy mine is a 'wild thing'. I got him from an animal shelter and as he was found by someone and handed in it was assumed he was more than probably a feral kitten.

 

I think that was a good move Victoriana... Three times a day messing with his eyes would just be a torture for both of you. He will be better and back to you in no time and the best part is, you'll still be the good guy in his eyes (no pun intended!).

I just DREAD Missy needing any kind of treatment... even to comb her for a flea is high drama... I think her issue is that her original owner had her declawed so she has to have a GIGANTIC personality. Ya gotta love these "ferocious" creatures!

 

Hi Deanna

Thanks for the advice.
I agree the towel method is a good idea and it's even better if there's 2 of you. Only thing is I would have to wait till the 'little monster' was asleep before I could approach him.
It was getting that he was so wary of me, even feeding him became a problem, as he associated it with coming indoors.
Anyway as I explained to daisybeans he's now at the vets and hopefully they will sort him out. If only they could provide a cat therapist at the same time, I would be more than grateful.

 

We have used blanket for our cat, and also we gave him some valerian drops :-?

 

Toni what is Bach Rescue Remedy? And where do you find it? Lexi gets freaked out during storms. So I think it would be worth a try.

 

Thanks, I will check it out when and if I ever get back to the Dallas area.

 

Many thanks Mika-s & toni

Never thought of Bach Rescue Remedy [which I use]what a good idea.
William is a lot better after his stay in the vets, where they have cleared up the infection.
Only thing now is that it appears he has a cyst in his other eye which sometimes happens after scratch.
The vet is concerned that it might possibly lead to cancer and has recommended taking him to see an opthamologist specialising in handling cats.
As I feel it is only a possibility this might lead to cancer,I am letting my William settle down a bit as it will be a long journey to have his eye checked out.

 

I have been wondering how William fared at the vets. I'm glad he is home and doing better. I understand giving him time to settle down -- sounds like examinationa dand interventions are hard on him and you both! (My Missy is the same way...).