I have recently started work at a vet clinic. A large part of my responsibility concerns working with cats - cleaning their cages, holding them for blood work/nail clippings, etc. However, I am very fearful of cats, and have a problem handling them. I really want to be a vet, and I want to get over my fear. How can I do this? The other vet techs depend on me to be comfortable with cats, or else they might suffer, and I don't want to let them down.
2007-02-07 03:45:47 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
Learn the techniques for proper holds and practice with a docile cat. (To see the holds in action, watch the assistant/tech that everyone in the office looks for when they have to work on a fractious cat.) Once you're comfortable with positioning it will be easier to handle the more fractious felines. A good sturdy bath towel is helpful for working with the really cranky patients. Wrap 'em up like a kitty burrito and hold them down with one arm while presenting whatever appendage the vet/tech needs. It keeps them from hurting themselves or anyone else. (If you have a cat in the carrier who is already acting aggressive, it is sometimes easier to have another tech remove the top of the carrier while you stand by with a towel. When the top comes off, throw the towel over the cat and scoop him out.) Don't let your nails get too long as short nails make scruffing a whole lot easier and a good scruff can be the key to controlling a patient.
One last thing, and I'm afraid it won't make you fear them any less. Unless you know a patient really well, don't trust them! Sometimes they're docile until they get to feeling better and sometimes they just decide that they've had enough. Never give them an opening. (For a calm patient, keeping one hand on the back of the neck while carrying them and during examination is a good way to keep control without using more force than necessary. If the cat starts to freak out you can scruff them in a second.) Oh, and that goes double for white cats and calicos or tortis. They were almost always trouble in clinic.
Hang in there! Even the best get scratched or bit sometimes. (I'm sure I don't have to tell you that feline mouths are a bacterial playground! If you get bit, wash it well and get thee to a doc for antibiotics if it even starts to look angry!) It's scary at first but with practice you'll get better. Don't let them intimidate you and whatever you do, don't let go. Someday, you might even enjoy working with the difficult ones. It certianly is a challenge. Best of luck!
2007-02-07 04:31:57 · answer #1 · answered by faeriefolk_15 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The hardest part of handling cats is handling the fractious ones. I would suggest asking the other techs to identify a 'good' cat for you, and then ask them to help you practice various ways of restraint for the cat, such as jugular blood drawing, rear leg blood drawing, and IV catheter placement. Then, work your way up to practicing on cats that are 'worse'. Once you are comfortable practicing on harder cats, then you should start actually holding these cats for procedures. It is important that you not try this before you're confident with the fractious cats, because the needle adds another element that sometimes causes the cat to struggle and be even more difficult to handle.
Remember, if there is any cat you are uncomfortable with, you can always ask another tech to clip its nails and muzzle it. This reduces the danger to you, which should increase your confidence. Also, practice getting difficult cats out of cages. This is practically an art, because at this point a cat can feel scared and cornered, so slow movement and quick reflexes are necessary.
You should practice on any cat you can during any spare minutes while you are at work, and over time your confidence will increase. As your confidence increases, you will learn to not to fear the cats as much, which will make you be able to easily handle even the most difficult cats. The best advice I can give you is PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE, and get advice from the more experience techs.
2007-02-07 05:18:14 · answer #2 · answered by lildi_32 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Try to spend more time around the cats. Stay after work each day and spend a little while with the cats that have to stay overnight. If you know anyone that likes cats, have them come with you and hold one of the cats while you pet it. Remind yourself that it's only a cat if you start to feel scared. All cats want is someone to pet them and let them sit on their lap, so unless you get stuck with one of those rare mean cats you should be fine. Good luck with your new job and getting over your fear!
2007-02-07 04:52:47 · answer #3 · answered by ~*Jackie*~ 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The only way to rid a phobia is to face the phobia itself. Hands on experiences with cats will help ease your fear once you realize that cats really aren't anything to be afraid of. I too used to be very afraid of cats. I thought they were going to scratch me up. But then I got a cat for a pet and the fear disappeared right away once I learned that my fear was irrational. Just keep working with cats and play with them when you can. Eventually your phobia will subside.
Good luck!
2007-02-07 03:51:34 · answer #4 · answered by Peanut Butter 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Spend as much time as you can around them. Keep telling yourself that it's just a cat. Also, have a cat-loving person with you. They can hold the cat while you pet it. After it warms up to you, you could try playing with or holding it. All cats want is a warm lap. Good luck with the vet thing!
2007-02-07 03:50:22 · answer #5 · answered by strawberry_ice_cream_888 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
the conception likely got here about because cats have a bent to stare off in to area and then bounce up and run round erratically. This has significantly a lot less to do with the psychic potential of cats then their precarious psychological states. Ghosts do not exist. Cat's exist purely because you won't be able to kill one with a thrown tennis shoe.
2016-11-25 23:40:02 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get a cat of your own.. My girlfriend was the same way until my old roommate gave me his cat because he was moving...so I took the cat in, and now she Love's cats so much.. but anyway firmly hold the cat down with your elbow and that should give you control of the cat with out hurting it..
2007-02-07 03:51:29 · answer #7 · answered by crazyfollowing 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Relax and take deep breaths!!
The more you work with cats the more you will overcome your fear.
To overcome your fear, you must face your fear. And you are doing just that.
Good Luck! You will overcome your fear.
2007-02-07 03:50:39 · answer #8 · answered by Kamah 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
spend time with kittens at the start. you will have a lot of fun with them and they arent likely to harm you. when you have grown fond of them slowly start to get used to older cats little by little you shouldnt be scared of them, they are loving friendly animals. good luck with your fear.
2007-02-07 03:56:56 · answer #9 · answered by Lolliepop 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Why are you so afraid of cat`s? they won`t hurt you. try and see lf you can get up close to them and pet their backs. they love this and see lf you can bring the cat in with you so he can sleep with you. cat`s are harmless..
2007-02-07 04:01:34 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋