Kitty needs a buzz cut... kitty sedation?

*krista* · #1 March 14th, 2009, 09:40 AM

So, it is about time for Kali the kitty to get a buzz cut. I've done it once and it was kinda traumatic. I'm not going to take her somewhere to get it done because it would be much more traumatic for her. So, I'm thinking the best route for all of us would be kitty sedation. I'm not talking about putting her to sleep, I mean just giving her something to calm her down so she doesn't turn into Kali the Shredder. I think it would be much less traumatic for her that way.

Has anyone ever used any kind of sedative on a cat? What can you use and what is a safe dosage?

**jessie** · #2 March 14th, 2009, 09:49 AM

You'll have to go in and get something from the vet. If your vet has seen her (ie. just for her regular vaccines/check-up) within the past 12 months, then he/she should be able to sell you something without actually needing to bring kitty in. Acepromazine works great and can be given in a tablet. There's nothing really OTC that will work.

*krista* · #3 March 14th, 2009, 12:03 PM

I ordered some acepromazine online. They will contact my vet, hopefully it will get approved. Last time we gave her a buzz cut I had bloody arms and I felt really bad because I didn't want her to think that her mommy was trying to hurt her (not that I was hurting her in any way, but you know what I mean). She has high anxiety to begin with, so any type of grooming can be very difficult!

I was doing research online and I didn't realize that so many human meds are so poisonous to kitties! Thanks for the acepromazine suggestion, hopefully I can get my hands on some easily.

**jessie** · #4 March 14th, 2009, 12:22 PM

No problem at all! Just be sure to give it to her about 30-45 minutes before you start clipping. It takes awhile to work, and if they get excited before it works then they won't get sedated. It also takes awhile to wear off (couple hours), just so you don't get worried.

You might want to just ring your vet's office and let them know what you need it for. Then I'm sure they'll have no problem approving it.

LadyGamer · #5 March 14th, 2009, 12:51 PM

I had to give my kitty a buzz cut too. She is long haired and really doesn't care about grooming obsessively, so she tends to get mats. I was really scared when I took her in but she LOVED the attention and was perfectly well-behaved so I have no advice. The groomer bragged about how good she is... which was a surprise to me since she's a biter

Resi · #6 March 14th, 2009, 04:03 PM

I use to take my two persians in to get groomed a couple times per year. They never had to be sedated. I was always told that they did well. They are both big scardy cats too. I hope it goes well. Your brave.. I would be scared to do it myself.

Oriyan · #7 March 14th, 2009, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by **jessie**

No problem at all! Just be sure to give it to her about 30-45 minutes before you start clipping. It takes awhile to work, and if they get excited before it works then they won't get sedated. It also takes awhile to wear off (couple hours), just so you don't get worried.

You might want to just ring your vet's office and let them know what you need it for. Then I'm sure they'll have no problem approving it.

Ace will make her nice and calm

*krista* · #8 March 14th, 2009, 04:36 PM

Last go round she did okay (just okay, she definitely didn't like it) until I got to her belly. She was not having it. She's the kind of cat that only really trusts one person---me. That's why I don't want to take her to get it done by someone else, but I think she needs some sedative so that it isn't a traumatic event for her. I don't want her thinking that the only person she trusts is trying to hurt her, you know? That and I prefer to keep the skin on my arms to be intact!