Ralph is our nine year old barn cat. He was a tomcat for the first 5 years of his life. Normally, he’s pretty cooperative at the vet. This year, he turned into a whirling, angry, scratchy, pile of hiss.
What was different this time was that the (very young) vet and her assistant sprinkled catnip on the table towel and the scale. Perhaps a normal kitty deprived early on of extra hormones might have been like this:
Ralph, however, was a Tom on the prowl in his past life. No doubt charming the cat babes and wrestling rivals. His catnip reaction reminded me of when he found wild catnip growing in our yard. He looked cute rolling and biting, but he also looked dangerous. Definitely overstimulated. Polly walked by innocently and he went after her. She let him have it and took off. (Good girl). I made a note to not give Ralph any catnip toys in the workshop where they sleep at night.
So when they let him out of his crate at the vet office and he sniffed the herb, it was on.
The vet suggested gabapentin before the next visit. I suggested no herbal stimulants.
Ralph was a perfect gentleman when we got home.
Although I’d think it was protocol to wipe down an exam table between cats.
