NikkiA
Site Supporter
It has been a very long time since I updated this thread.
I would like to think that is because Jarvis has grown into a happy, loving, relatively well adjusted kitty.
Yesterday, our vet was here with his tech (i called a halt to the vet visits at the vets office about a year ago due to how scared & upset Jarvis was getting). The last two times the vet tried to do his annual bloodwork, Jarvis bit the tech and scratched the vet pretty badly- enough that they asked to sedate him (which to be honest I refused).
Yesterday was a big day for us.
Diablo got his rabies vaccine, and his bloodwork, and Mickey got his bloodwork, and Jarvis was due for bloodwork and a vaccine and was just terrified. I'll admit I was scared, but Mike (Jarvis's person) wasn't here, and Jarvis was clearly terrified of the vet, so I picked him up, and snuggled him. I wrapped him (lightly) in his favorite blanket, and I tried to hand him to the tech. Well he jumped back to me. So I tried to explain what we were doing, and that we needed to do it. He was clearly very scared, but he snuggled closer, and started purring, and let me take his back paw, and stretch it out. That alone is progress for Jarvis and me.
So I wrapped him in his blanket again, and just kept holding him, with his paw,out, while the vet and the tech drew blood.
The vet was able to do his bloodwork, and give him his vaccine.
It may not seem like a big deal to anyone else, but my boy managed to get through his vet check without panicking, and without scratching or biting anyone, which to me seems like a huge deal. My jumpy, panicky kitty just snuggled in my arms, closed his eyes, and purred.
He felt the needle, jumped, looked at me, closed his eyes, and trusted.
I've never been so grateful before in my life. We have been taking baby steps towards trust, but for Jarvis, yesterday was a leap of faith.
Jarvis baby,I know you can't read this, but I have never been more proud of you baby.
I would like to think that is because Jarvis has grown into a happy, loving, relatively well adjusted kitty.
Yesterday, our vet was here with his tech (i called a halt to the vet visits at the vets office about a year ago due to how scared & upset Jarvis was getting). The last two times the vet tried to do his annual bloodwork, Jarvis bit the tech and scratched the vet pretty badly- enough that they asked to sedate him (which to be honest I refused).
Yesterday was a big day for us.
Diablo got his rabies vaccine, and his bloodwork, and Mickey got his bloodwork, and Jarvis was due for bloodwork and a vaccine and was just terrified. I'll admit I was scared, but Mike (Jarvis's person) wasn't here, and Jarvis was clearly terrified of the vet, so I picked him up, and snuggled him. I wrapped him (lightly) in his favorite blanket, and I tried to hand him to the tech. Well he jumped back to me. So I tried to explain what we were doing, and that we needed to do it. He was clearly very scared, but he snuggled closer, and started purring, and let me take his back paw, and stretch it out. That alone is progress for Jarvis and me.
So I wrapped him in his blanket again, and just kept holding him, with his paw,out, while the vet and the tech drew blood.
The vet was able to do his bloodwork, and give him his vaccine.
It may not seem like a big deal to anyone else, but my boy managed to get through his vet check without panicking, and without scratching or biting anyone, which to me seems like a huge deal. My jumpy, panicky kitty just snuggled in my arms, closed his eyes, and purred.
He felt the needle, jumped, looked at me, closed his eyes, and trusted.
I've never been so grateful before in my life. We have been taking baby steps towards trust, but for Jarvis, yesterday was a leap of faith.
Jarvis baby,I know you can't read this, but I have never been more proud of you baby.