Manx Kitten, Nigel

by **Nytsur** » Fri Sep 07, 2012 7:06 pm

I'll try to find a sock big enough... why didn't I think of this already? I used to make Tiberius sock-turtlenecks when he was recovering from a kitty-cold...

Hopefully the next pics are of Nigel in a suave sanitary sock? Yeah!

Tiberius, 2010

by **CarolC** » Sun Sep 09, 2012 8:36 am

Diabetic socks are bigger, don't know if that would be big enough. That's the first kitty turtleneck I've ever seen, it looks like a perfect fit!

by **Sasha's Mom** » Wed Sep 12, 2012 7:59 pm

BendyMom wrote:that kitten is so fricking cute i might have to dress mine up in socks for the heck of it.....
and it probably works a lot better than my puppy pad idea.
oh Cherrryyyyyy............

maxipads can be purchased at the Dollar Tree supersuper cheap, much cheapher than diapers.

Infant snap bottom "all-in-ones" worked pretty well, too.

Poor Sasha, the indignations I put that poor boy through.

Leah

by **BendyMom** » Wed Sep 12, 2012 8:32 pm

I have picts of Legume in onesies! they are fun and mighty cute.
thanks for posting picts

by **Nytsur** » Wed Sep 12, 2012 10:50 pm

Ok...

Progress is being made, things are looking up.

I can express little Nigel's bowels pretty easy (on both of us), but getting him to empty his bladder has not been a fun process. He yelps and yowls and that makes me think I'm hurting him, and so I stop and give him a break. This brief break is invariably when his bladder decides to relax, as well...

Any suggestions on what I might be doing wrong, or what I can do to help Nigel relax and become accustomed to this process?

by **BendyMom** » Wed Sep 12, 2012 11:12 pm

Every cat I've expressed has cussed and cussed and cussed at me.
i hold them over the sink and run warm water over their lower abdomen to try and help things relax, but since they don't always like water...well.
you can try giving him a treat afterwards. soemtimes bribes help.
expressing bladders is one of those things that you try and try and all of a sudden something just clicks and your hands know how to do it. I find the less I think about it, the easier it is. just feel around for that lil round thing....that butterbean is sooo good at hiding from me. Mimosa knew just how to kick to make the bladder pop out of my fingers. With her I would trap it agaisnt her pelvis to help express it. Butterbean and Black Cherry Whisniak both have screwy pelvises (pelvi?) so I can't do that with them, I try to get a hold on it with thumb on one side and fingers on the other.
Black Cherry cusses at me Butterbean will chomp me if i'm not careful. but as soon as we are done all is forgiven.

glad to hear you are making progress!

and as a side note, you will never hear the term 'self expression" the same way again :lol:

by **Sasha's Mom** » Thu Sep 13, 2012 9:32 am

Nytsur wrote:Ok...

Progress is being made, things are looking up.

I can express little Nigel's bowels pretty easy (on both of us), but getting him to empty his bladder has not been a fun process. He yelps and yowls and that makes me think I'm hurting him, and so I stop and give him a break. This brief break is invariably when his bladder decides to relax, as well...

Any suggestions on what I might be doing wrong, or what I can do to help Nigel relax and become accustomed to this process?

Have you tried allowing Nigel to be IN the litter box while you attempt to express? You may need to put the litter-box on a counter-top so it is comfortable for you, but this may help Nigel make a connection with your manipulation of his bladder and him helping you out a little.

Sometimes the bladder can slip behind the intestines and "hide". Emptying his bowels before expressing is always a good idea, if possible. You don't need to squeeze hard. Try small pumping motions while pushing the bladder toward the tail end.

Another thing, RELAX, but BE THE BOSS. Nigel needs to know YOU are in charge, in a loving but firm way. Tell him he has no choice in the matter and you're doing this because you love him! That's what all parents do, eh?

by **critters** » Sat Sep 15, 2012 6:32 am

BendyMom wrote:Every cat I've expressed has cussed and cussed and cussed at me.

Indeed! Getting used to playing "Tiptoe Through the Guts" can be hard, but I think a full bladder feels like a water balloon. Once you get expressing down it seems to be hard to forget. I hadn't done it in years but could do it this summer.