[TonyG]

Thanks all. Did manage to do the drops and gel last night but only one dose of drops today so far.
Quite how I explain to a cat that wants to just run off and hide after that I need to put gel in five minutes later I don’t know!

Treats are all very well but she isn’t in any mood for eating after treatment, so I don’t know.

I’m just very crap at this but will persevere as best I can

 

[Cully]

My vet gave me the number of a local ex vet nurse who will come to you for nail trims and other things you can't manage on your own.
Just wondering if your vet has something similar.
You have to pay obviously, but might be worth thinking about. You could watch her to see how she manages it with a reluctant patient.

 

[Mrs Funkin]

That's a really good idea @Cully

 

[Psygon]

Sorry to hear Molly has been in the wars.

Jammy had to have the same treatment as a kitten - and will admit it was not the easiest thing in the world. Looking back I'm not sure how much of the drops and gel I actually got in her eye, but it must have been enough as it healed. Guess what I'm saying (and hoping) is that it felt like there was a bit of a margin for error in the treatment amount!

Hopefully it might get easier as Molly gets used to it too...

 

[TonyG]

My vet gave me the number of a local ex vet nurse who will come to you for nail trims and other things you can't manage on your own.
Just wondering if your vet has something similar.
You have to pay obviously, but might be worth thinking about. You could watch her to see how she manages it with a reluctant patient.

It did cross my mind however they shut early Saturday and obviously not open tomorrow so kind of limited until Monday at least

 

[Charity]

I think if there’s a specialist vet nearby they will refer them as a matter of course as they have expert knowledge. We had the same with Toppy and an eye problem a few years ago when we were at our previous vets and they referred us to an ophthalmic specialist vet at the practice we‘re at now. We were so impressed with her, we changed to her practice. They now have two specialists.

Hope Molly’s OK and you’re getting skilled at giving the drops and gel Tony and she’s getting more tolerant 🤞.

 

[Calvine]

Just found this: poor Molly, but good you got her seen so quickly as eyes are very delicate. Two of mine have had to have eye drops, fortunately two laid-back characters. I have one whose eyes I have fortunately not had to treat - she is like a contortionist and seems to grow legs at the back of her neck. Not sure how quickly I would adapt to life with half an arm.
If she is as crafty as Lola, who is as sly as a fox, giving her a treat in advance would just forewarn her that the drops/cream were imminent. I hope her ordeal (and yours!) Is soon over.

 

[TonyG]

Thanks all. The treatment plan hasn’t been smooth sailing.
She knows instantly now it’s coming, struggles and screws her eyes tightly shut.
Did manage to give her the three doses of the AB drops yesterday and one so far today.
The gel five minutes after? Just honestly no chance. She runs off and hides briefly but does forgive me quickly, but I can’t stress her out six times a day.
Did think today maybe keep her in the towel burrito for five then do the other but absolutely zero chance - as soon as it was done she sprouted a dozen legs and wanted to run off.

The eye vet wanted her to have a check up with our vet’s on Monday, although said Tuesday is okay if no issues appear.
I am very busy with work tomorrow but might try and see if I can get her there in the afternoon to discuss the medication difficulties and have the eye checked.

I will say as far as I (!) can see (ffs too many eye words!) the eye looks fine so far.

 

[TonyG]

Btw, not that Molly is in any shape aggressive towards me during the drops and so far hasn’t even sworn at me, she just uses all 90 limbs to try and escape 🙄

 

[Cully]

Hope you get to see your vet tomorrow so he can maybe advise on getting the drops in easier. Sounds like it's stressing you both. Well done for persisting though. I'm sure she must be getting enough to make some difference. Well done Molly.

 

[Calvine]

I must say, @TonyG, that screwing her eyes closed is a real stroke of genius, even by crafty feline standards. Not sure even Lola would think of that. She might.
What always used to bug me about a cat, now departed, who would play up whatever you tried to do to her: whenever she went to the vet, she was his absolute best mate and would gaze adoringly at him and you could almost hear her saying: "Thank you so much for caring - my owner really isn't much use."

 

[TonyG]

I must say, @TonyG, that screwing her eyes closed is a real stroke of genius, even by crafty feline standards. Not sure even Lola would think of that. She might.
What always used to bug me about a cat, now departed, who would play up whatever you tried to do to her: whenever she went to the vet, she was his absolute best mate and would gaze adoringly at him and you could almost hear her saying: "Thank you so much for caring - my owner really isn't much use."

Haha, didn’t think of that but yes she’s not a silly puss.
Knows how to operate door handles although they’re a bit stiff in the house so she mostly just swings off them.

Also the first time I put her in a carrier for a routine vet trip, I put it down on the carpet while I nipped to the loo, came back and there was a determined paw trying to work the catch 🙄

 

[TonyG]

Well. Yesterday we managed two doses of eye drops though I’m not convinced the second went in. Maybe.

But the poor thing is getting totally stressed by all this now, looking at us nervously and hiding away if anything out of the ordinary happens. It’s also affecting her eating to an extent and she’s always needed quiet and calm to eat anyway otherwise she gets put off.

I couldn’t get a vet check up today so we’ve got one at 11am tomorrow.

I am seriously considering halting the drops today and seeing what the vet thinks tomorrow.
It’s gone from stress in the moment for her to almost ongoing stress.
Had a very good look at the eye yesterday and also again today and I can’t see any weeping, swelling or cloudiness etc, so I think so far so good, though obviously I don’t have the knowledge or kit to look properly.

 

[SbanR]

Have you started Molly on a double dose of cystease/cystophan @TonyG
You don't want her to have stress cystitis on top of everything else.

 

[lorilu]

It is terribly stressful to have to keep doing something to them like that. They do recover when it's over though it can take some time. I only say this because when it's something that has to be done forever, you find out they do adjust.

But of course it's easier said than done. So I'm trying to be encouraging and supportive, but I've been known to give up myself. For instance my vet wanted Queen Eva on denamarin, but it has to be given in the morning on an empty stomach, and chased with water. (no dry pilling). By the third morning she was no longer even coming out. As soon as I got out of bed, she went under the bed. So I gave it up.

It was just something the vet felt might "help" though, for antioxidants, not something crucial.

But in the case of eye care, it's a bit worrisome. Maybe the vet can offer an alternative treatment.

 

[TonyG]

Have you started Molly on a double dose of cystease/cystophan @TonyG
You don't want her to have stress cystitis on top of everything else.

No I haven’t but I should do, you’re right.

Trouble is I need the licky lix for her pain meds currently and she gets bored with it after a few days, so I’ve been limiting it to that but have got an eye (!) on the litter tray output

 

[TonyG]

It is terribly stressful to have to keep doing something to them like that. They do recover when it's over though it can take some time. I only say this because when it's something that has to be done forever, you find out they do adjust.

But of course it's easier said than done. So I'm trying to be encouraging and supportive, but I've been known to give up myself. For instance my vet wanted Queen Eva on denamarin, but it has to be given in the morning on an empty stomach, and chased with water. (no dry pilling). By the third morning she was no longer even coming out. As soon as I got out of bed, she went under the bed. So I gave it up.

It was just something the vet felt might "help" though, for antioxidants, not something crucial.

But in the case of eye care, it's a bit worrisome. Maybe the vet can offer an alternative treatment.

Without getting too ranty on it, I’m not getting much help at home to administer it either, and on my own it’s incredibly difficult, she just wiggles too much.
It’s making me angry and stressed on her behalf that the other able bodied person in the house feels it’s too much hassle and effort to give up 10 minutes of his precious arse sitting time a day to help out a poorly cat. (My brother, this is).

Poor Molly has just about had it with the treatment though. I don’t want to ingrain a habit that she becomes scared of us or nervous in her own home, or avoids coming in because gets ‘abused’.
For example this morning I had an early ish work appointment so kept her in to start, but as soon as she realised she couldn’t go out she hid way under the bed and no way I could reach her there.
By all accounts while I was out she slunk in a couple of times very very nervous but wouldn’t eat, so I didn’t have the heart to grab her as soon as I did see her and stress her out again.
This afternoon (she’s in for the day now) she’s beginning to relax again and sleep nearby.

I checked her eye a couple of hours ago and there’s no signs of any weeping or inflammation etc, not to the naked eye anyway.
I realise it’s a gamble but I’m going to wait until the vet in the morning now, see what they say.

 

[TonyG]

Okay so I did rant on it, lol

 

[SbanR]

No I haven’t but I should do, you’re right.

Trouble is I need the licky lix for her pain meds currently and she gets bored with it after a few days, so I’ve been limiting it to that but have got an eye (!) on the litter tray output

Won't she take it mixed into her food?
Is she not keen on soup or bone broth? Can send you some sachets of Cosma soup if you like.

 

[Charity]

I know how frustrating it is and even more so if help isn't forthcoming. I would stick with it until the vet visit tomorrow and see how things are going, then if the eye still needs attention, ask if there's any other form of treatment perhaps even requiring just one thing to go in the eye, not two.

I know cats all become nervous of you when they know something unpleasant is coming every day plus they sense our stress, but, once its done, they will forget after a few days. I had the same problem trying to get Bunty to take her thyroid treatment by mouth, no way was she having it and it just made her run away from me when she knew it was time to have it. Now she leads me a merry dance with tablets in her food.

It's being cruel to be kind but, sadly, they can't understand that.