Outline the Fundamentals of Animal Restraint in Cats

Question 1

Collars and leashes.

Answer 1

Cat collars come in various styles and materials, but none of them restrain cats very well. Many cats are simply unaccustomed to wearing collars and will resist them. Most cats can slip out of a collar even if it’s properly fitted. While a harness may work for some cats, it must be fitted exactly, and some cats will resist a harness as well as a collar. Most cats are also unaccustomed to walking on a leash and may not like it. However, a slip leash will thwart a cat’s escape attempts if you apply it before picking up or carrying the cat.

Question 2

Muzzles.

Answer 2

Cat muzzles minimize a cat’s ability to bite but don’t eliminate the need to restrain its head. A muzzle often calms a cat, distracting it from the veterinary procedure and covering its eyes. Various cat muzzles are commercially available, or you can fashion one from gauze as you would for a pug-nosed dog.

Question 3

Head snares

Answer 3

A head snare is the instrument of choice for recapturing an escaped cat. Because a cat typically hides after escaping, your first job will probably be to find it. Once you find the cat, slide the loop of the head snare over its head and gently pull it from hiding. A particularly violent cat may require one assistant to hold the ensnared cat while a second assistant sprays tranquilizer into the cat’s mouth.

Question 4

Restraint gloves.

Answer 4

Some veterinary professionals prefer to handle aggressive cats with restraint gloves, heavy gauntlet-type gloves, typically made of leather too thick for cats to bite through. Because gloves reduce your sensitivity to the animal you’re holding, take extra care not to injure the cat by holding it too tightly. In many cases, you’ll use the gloves to subdue the cat while preparing other restraint.

Question 5

Cat bags.

Answer 5

Cats tend to be calmed by a somewhat enclosed environment. A cat bag provides this environment while reducing a cat’s ability to attack.

Place the cat on the open bag and pull the upper closure around its body, leaving its head exposed. The typical cat bag is made of nylon. It has a snap, zipper, or Velcro closure along the top, with additional such closures for access along its length.

The bag, usually made of nylon, has a snap, zipper, or Velcro closure along the top, with additional closures for access along its length.

The veterinarian or veterinary technician can perform injections or other minor procedures through the access areas. Most cat bags have access areas near the cat’s feet, allowing the feet to be pulled outside the bag gently for venipuncture.

If you don’t have a cat bag, you can wrap the cat with a towel or roll it into a thick blanket.

Question 6

Picking up and carrying a cat.

Answer 6

Cats react best when handled with the least possible restraint. You can pick up most cats by grasping the scruff, the loose skin on the back of the neck.

Place your other hand under the cat’s abdomen with your fingers between the cat’s front legs. You can safely carry a cat in this position. A cat that struggles or becomes aggressive may require chemical restraint.

Question 7

Taking a cat from its owner.

Answer 7

The cat’s owner should bring the cat to the veterinary clinic in a carrier or cat box. If this doesn’t happen, ask the owner to place a slip leash over the cat’s neck before you approach it. When the slip leash is in place, approach the cat slowly. Stretch your hand out for the cat to sniff, carefully observing the cat’s response. If the cat displays no aggression, gently pick it up and move it to the examination area.

Question 8

Removing a cat from a cage.

Answer 8

To remove a cat from a cage, follow the same procedure you would use for a dog. Remember to let the cat come to the front of the cage before you apply the slip leash.

Question 9

Catching a cat.

Answer 9

An escaped cat can be a formidable opponent. Cats can squeeze into small spaces and may attack when approached. You’ll usually need a net or head snare to retrieve a cat from its hiding place.

Question 10

Basic restraint.

Answer 10

While cats are a challenge to restrain, several techniques work. Remember to use the least restraint possible. The less-is-more approach is often the most effective and least stressful technique for cats, though extremely fearful or aggressive cats will often require the techniques below. Also, try to minimize the time you restrain a cat. Prolonged restraint may cause a normally docile cat to become aggressive.

Question 11

Cat restraint for physical examination.

Answer 11

For routine examinations, allow the cat to stand or sit on the table. Keep it there by placing one hand directly in front of it. Lightly stroke and pet the cat with your other hand. Most cats will stay in this position.

For the cat that doesn’t stay in position do the following:

Step 1: Allow the cat to stand or sit on the table.

Step 2: Place one hand on the cat’s shoulders.

Step 3: Place the other hand on its hips. Then gently press it down against the table.

These two restraint techniques work for examinations and minor technical procedures like nail trimming and subcutaneous injections.

Question 12

Cat restraint for intramuscular injection. - lateral recumbency

Answer 12

Step 1: Grasp the cat by the scruff with your right hand.

Step 2: Grasp its back feet with your left hand and place one or two fingers between the feet.

Step 3: Lay the cat on its side with its back resting against your right forearm.

Step 4: Gently extend the cat’s body by stretching its legs back and its head forward.

Here’s the second intramuscular injection restraint method:

Step 1: Place your right forearm across the cat’s neck.

Step 2: Gently press the cat down against the table. Grasp the front paws between your fingers.

Step 3: Grasp its back feet with your left hand. Place one or two fingers between the feet.

Step 4: Gently extend the cat’s body by stretching its legs back and its head forward.

Question 13

To restrain a cat for cephalic venipuncture:

Answer 13

Step 1: Grasp the cat’s head firmly under the jaw with your right hand.

Step 2: Extend your left arm around the cat’s body and grasp the cat’s left leg around the elbow.

Step 3: Hold the forelimb at the elbow and use your thumb to occlude the vein by pressing in and slightly to the side.

If the cat struggles when you start restraint, you may need a bit more force. To restrain a struggling cat for cephalic venipuncture:

Step 1: Grasp the cat by the scruff, rather than under the jaw, with one hand.

Step 2: Grasp the cat’s elbow.

Step 3: Gently extend the cat’s leg.

Step 4: Use your thumb to occlude the vein.

It requires restraint firmer than you would use for cephalic venipuncture. You’ll want to wrap a towel around the cat’s rear legs to prevent it from scratching you.

Question 14

jugular venipuncture

Answer 14

Step 1: You’ll want to wrap a towel around the cat’s rear legs to prevent it from scratching you.

Step 2: Place the cat on its sternum at the edge of the table, its forelegs extending off the table’s edge.

Step 3: Stand alongside the cat, place one hand under its nose, and point its head toward the ceiling. If necessary, hold the cat’s mouth firmly closed.

Step 4: With your other hand, grasp the cat’s legs just above the feet. Secure your grip by placing a finger between the feet.

Step 5: Pull the feet slightly to align them with the cat’s nose. The veterinarian or veterinary technician performing the venipuncture will normally occlude the vein without further assistance.

Question 15

Restraint for Medial Femoral Venipuncture

Answer 15

Step 1: Grasp the cat by the scruff with one hand.

Step 2: Grasp its back feet with your other hand. Place one or two fingers between the feet.

Step 3: Lay the cat on its side with its back resting against your forearm.

Step 4: Gently extend the cat’s body by stretching its legs back and its head forward, to help reduce the chance that the cat will be able to bite or scratch.

Step 5: The upper hind leg is gently extended back to expose the medial saphenous vein of the leg lying on the table. The veterinarian or veterinary technician will hold and extend this leg while venipuncture is performed.

Step 6: An additional person may be required to occlude the vein. Direct pressure can be applied at the proximal end of the leg by pressing the vein against the femur. This person can also gently tap on the cat’s nose to distract it while venipuncture is being performed.

Step 7: This vein must be held off once venipuncture has been completed to prevent a hematoma or excessive bleeding from occurring.

Question 16

Distraction techniques.

Answer 16

Distracting a cat can help you achieve the desired minimal restraint during minor technical procedures. Divert the cat’s attention during physical examination by gently stroking it or scratching behind its ears. Tap the cat lightly on the nose to distract it during jugular venipuncture. Gently shake its scruff to distract a cat restrained on its side for intramuscular injection.

Question 17

The fetal hold.

Answer 17

A mother cat moves her kittens by grasping each by the scruff with her mouth. The kitten’s instinct is to go limp and slightly curl its tail and body. The fetal hold, grasping a cat by the scruff of the neck, is named for this position. The fetal hold works well for some procedures, and for carrying small or young cats short distances. Even older cats retain this instinct, although it’s less pronounced. When carrying a cat with the fetal hold, rest the cat’s back along your forearm. Don’t carry large or obese cats with the fetal hold, because their weight can damage muscles and neck skin. Also, avoid using the fetal hold in front of the cat’s owner. Most owners don’t understand the reflex and may object to seeing their cat hanging by the scruff of its neck.

Question 18

Restraint of injured or ill cats.

Answer 18

It’s important to reiterate that you should handle any severely ill or injured animal as if it’s likely to bite. These animals often respond out of extreme pain, and biting is a cat’s major defense against pain. Placing a towel or blanket over a particularly violent cat may calm it momentarily. Because this calm doesn’t last, move the covered cat quickly to a proper examination area.

Question 19

Chemical restraint.

Answer 19

Both cats and dogs that are extremely aggressive often require chemical restraint. This may involve medications the veterinarian prescribes for the owner to give prior to coming into the clinic or injectable medications given once the animal is at the clinic. Even under sedation, extreme care must be taken to avoid bites from animals that may not be fully unconscious or are recovering from sedation.