It Was Shot Day!

It was shot day, today for Sake and Haiku.  The Ark Animal Hospital http://www.arkhospitalforpets.com/ sends me an annual reminder that Hiku (their spelling, not mine) needs her annual innoculations.  They do not send a reminder that Sake needs the same. I think they would rather not have to deal with her, and I do not blame them.

I had to take the kayak out of the Vue the night before to make room for the cat carriers to get Sake and Haiku to the vet.  If it was Haiku alone, I would take a chance of letting her ride in the car and collecting her at the veterinarian, but I am sure I cannot do that with Sake.  And, of course trying to take both cats together, that would not work.  I moved the car out of the garage, and closed the garage door. I found Sake on her morning perch, and put her into the crate while it was still in the house. I did that, because last year, she saw the crates out and hid under the spare bed, and I had to grab her out from the bed and put her in the crate. 

Next, I put Haiku in the crate. She was trying to escape from me, but could not figure it out.  Meanwhile, Taki saw what was happening, and made herself scarce!   Which was helpful. I wanted to have the  garage door open to carry the cats to the Vue, but was concerned Taki would try to get from the house to the garage. Since she was hiding, that was not an issue, so I could carry the cats out directly. 

I had used a different veterinarian clinic with Mack, who also misbehaved some at the veterinarian, until he was whacked around and ended up with a bloody nose with the veterinarian.  I had one time left him, and told them that he needed to be in a lower cage, because he would become so aggressive they would not be able to get him out of the cage. I was barely in my car, when the attendant came running out to me and asked me to come back in and see if I could get him out of the second tier cage he was in.  Of course. I opened the door, and he jumped into my arms.  I should have taken him home, but I did not that time.  But after the bloody nose episode, I started using the Ark.  He was always a gentleman at the Ark. There was a time when Mack had to stay for a procedure.  I was so nervous.  They promised they would put him in a lower cage.  When I called, mid-afternoon to check on him, they told me he was waking up from anesthesia, in the hallway, and getting along with the resident cats of the clinic (he was not even in a cage.) 

Haiku is so mild mannered that she behaves at the veterinarian.  Sake has not behaved for years.  It is not the veterinarian clinic, it starts when I put her in the crate.  I hate it for her. I think she needs a good check up, especially because has lost a few more pounds, and is not grooming herself well, but there is nothing we can do, and she is not sick enough to be sedated for an examination. 

But this year, we had minimal damage.  After Haiku was examined, we took the top off the crate in which Sake was enclosed, and proceeded. They wanted a picture, and we were able to do that. But just barely.  After a couple of feints, we just put the towel on her, and the veterinarian technician and I held her down, while the veterinarian innoculated her. Then we put the crate back together.

When I got home, Sake was looking for revenge, but Taki made herself scarce.  Sake tried to slap me, and I countered her behavior.  She backed down. When I got home from work tonight, only Taki was still skittish. We made our peace, though quickly.

I wish Sake did not stress so at going to the veterinarian. But she does. Haiku is okay. Taki was bad last year, but backed down at my verbal reprimand.  Maybe, that will be the case, again.