Oh, the irony...
By TheRealDawn
@dawnald (85135)
Shingle Springs, California
November 10, 2011 10:37pm CST
So on Saturday I took Tiger and Kit Kat to the low cost vet clinic. It's run by the rescue that I volunteer for. I took them there because they both need work on their teeth, and the rescue can get the work done much cheaper than the vet. Kit Kat had gone ballistic on the vet last time I had her there, so I warned them about her. Tiger had never, ever given anybody any trouble (other than hiding when he knew something was up).
I was sitting in the "waiting room" (a living room - the clinic is in a private house - the garage, actually), when they called me back to help them get my cat. It was Tiger. They weren't paying attention, and he gave them the slip, and got behind some shelves.
Well I wasn't worried. I've hauled Tiger out of the closet, out from under the bed, in and out of carriers many times. He's been nervous, but he's really never given me a lick of trouble. He's suck a scaredy cat, I've never seen the smallest sign of aggression from him.
So we're trying to prod Tiger into going into the carrier, and he got spooked. So I decided to just go in there and scruff him. Wrong thing to do. He got upset and bit me. Which is where I should have gotten smart and backed off and tried to coax him out. Instead I went in there and tried to scruff him again. The huge bite mark in the palm of my hand may have been a clue that that was the wrong thing to do.
I'm one of these wussy people who faints at the sight of blood, and by the time I had washed it and wrapped it, I had to lie down. Meanwhile, the vet tech who let him get away in the first place had sprayed some Feliway (a pheromone thing that calms cats down), coaxed him onto her lap, and gotten him into the carrier.
So after I drove the cats home, I went to an Urgent Care, got myself a tetanus shot (had been over 10 years) and a prescription for some anti-biotics, went to the pharmacy and got the prescription, some Betadine ointment, bandages, and a few extra curricular items while I was waiting.
But oh the irony, almost 4 years at a cat rescue, never been bitten, and I get nailed by my own cat! 
7 people like this
19 responses
@GardenGerty (157652)
• United States
11 Nov 11
Now you have learned the truth about never assuming anything. I hope Tiger got his work done. I am really glad you went and got your shots and the antibiotic.It sounds like a major pain in more ways than one.
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
12 Nov 11
You better have that pheramone spray ready, cats are smart boogers.
@allknowing (130077)
• India
11 Nov 11
Even the most domesticated pet will behave differently in new surroundings. I am happy that your cat got treated anyway despite all what you went through. My pets too behave differently at times. I get the vibes and so know how to behave!
3 people like this
@finlander60 (1804)
• United States
11 Nov 11
When we have to bring one, or more, of our cats to the vet it sometimes gets real interesting. I have yet to be bitten by one of them but I have been scratched. What I really dislike is when one of them decides to play hide and seek with me, usually without informing me first. That can get interesting in a car with lots of nooks and crannies and other hiding places. One decided that he could hide up inside the dashboard.
2 people like this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
11 Nov 11
Ouch, that sounds painful.
This reminds me of the first time I pinned down a neighbor's papillon (I had been dog sitting for this dog for months) I pinned her down because I caught her in the trash and when she realized she was in trouble, she grabbed a piece of trash she had and ran into her kennel. I was not going to let her get away with that, so I reached in and pinned her down, but not before her teeth found my arm. But I am more stubborn and when I finally got her down, I firmly told her "NO" and then grabbed the trash to throw away. Ironically ever since that happened, this dog has not peed or pooped on the floor, she seems happier, especially when I praise her, and she has not given me any trouble at all.
I know you can't do that with cats, especially ones that are scared, but your situation did remind me of when I recently got bit.
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
12 Nov 11
Oh no, I'd never to do to a cat, but your situation reminded that it is also dangerous to do this to a dog who has never been corrected this way. The poor thing was also either abused or hit by a car, because her leg is twisted, and I know some would probably think I was being mean. But it's like an unruly child who had been abused. Sure we can't go in and be a drill Sargent on the kid, but they can't be allowed to do what they want either. Plus, if anyone has a problem with it, I just tell them that this dog has not only not messed on the floor, but is happier and she even cuddled up with me, something I found she has never done with the owners. So there was no trauma, but she respects that I won't put up with her misbehaving, but I also won't mistreat her either, and in return, I think she respects that too.
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
11 Nov 11
LOL, you silly woman! Should have let the vets deal with it in the first place.. not sure why they didn't bother with the pheramone thing in the first place, duh! Glad you got the bite seen to though!
2 people like this
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
12 Nov 11
They thought since it was my cat that he'd come to me...
@savypat (20216)
• United States
11 Nov 11
When you tangle with the basic emotions of any pet, no matterh ow they have acted in the past it's best to be careful. I'm sure you know this but if you needed a refresher course your sure got it. Benn there , done that a few times myself. 
2 people like this
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
12 Nov 11
Note to self: animals can be unpredictable...
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
12 Nov 11
I bet cats and dogs know us better than we know our selves. I bet they know what we want to do and if they don't want to comply they don't.
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (45574)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
11 Nov 11
Tiger was just trying out his dental work.
Hope your hand doesn't hurt too much and that it heals quickly.
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (45574)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
12 Nov 11
Well, then he was trying to tell ya he didn't need no stinkin' dental work!
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
12 Nov 11
Not so bad probably, $15 co-pay, $10 prescription, and some first aid supplies...
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
12 Nov 11
Cats are smart creatures, this next visit may not be any easier. Good luck is all I can say. He musta really really been spooked becuse that's the only time cats bite, I've heard.
Poor kitteh!
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
13 Nov 11
He'll be at a veterinary office the next time, not a clinic in somebody's garage...
@celticeagle (159400)
• Boise, Idaho
12 Nov 11
Well, that little scamp!I have been around cats all my life(that's sixty years now as of the sixth), been bit and scratched, never went to the anywhere for a tetanus shot or anti-biotics. Looking back I probably should have since our cats were wild and lived outdoors for the most part. You don't seem like a fainter to me. Hmmm.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
12 Nov 11
and yeah I don't do well with blood at all,especially if I"m hungry.
@celticeagle (159400)
• Boise, Idaho
13 Nov 11
I'm not too into blood either. Thanks for the Birthday wishes. Weird being 60 now. Youre second cat bite. Our new kitten bites us nearly daily. He is such a stud muffin. So cute! Likes to nibble on us. hehe
@changjiangzhibin89 (16544)
• China
12 Nov 11
It is real a unexpected thing for you to be bitten by your own cat.How come the cat bit his keeper? moreover they had sprayed some Feliway on him.Maybe he hated the clinic,then took out it on you.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
13 Nov 11
They didn't go get the Feliway until after he bit me.
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
12 Nov 11
He was scared out of his mind. Probable didn't even realize it was me...
@changjiangzhibin89 (16544)
• China
13 Nov 11
It seems that the Feliway didn't do its work.
1 person likes this
@WildHorses (718)
• United States
11 Nov 11
It's usually what we know and take care of on a regular basis that we take for granted nothing may ever happen with our own. We would think that any mishaps would happen with those that are not really ours. I don't recall ever having a bite from one of our cats when growing up but they used to scratch the dickens out of us when we would give them a bath. Even with the dog I help take care of, a three-year-old Dachshund, while rough housing she forgets those are my fists she's biting into and those canines dig in deeper than they should. Hours later I can see slightly deep marks that could have cut into the skin.
1 person likes this
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
12 Nov 11
Oh bless your cat's heart and yours too. I can see that a cat wouldn't like to be scruffed, though I know their parents do that when they are young. I just guess he didn't want to be handled that way or at all. I'm glad he calmed down and you are on the mend now too. 
1 person likes this
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
12 Nov 11
Poor baby. Hope he is okay now.
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63252)
• United States
19 Nov 11
I always seem to get bitten by the cats here at the house - for one thing, you tend to be a bit more wary of cats you don't know, and how would you know a cat who had never even offered to bite someone before, would get you?
I had one of mine get away at the vets and they sent me in to get him - no problem. but if I take a feral or semi-feral in, I have them shut the doors so there's less space to hide if they do escape.
@scarlet_woman (23465)
• United States
19 Nov 11
my vet almost got the paws of feline fury last time i had to take him in.
by the multitoed boy too.
i warned him they'd better let me hold him while they examined him,because he doesn't like strangers doing it-particularily where shots and thermometer are involved-and damned if that cat didn't ball up those extra toes,grab him by the tie,and start pulling him in (next would have been the face)..
after that,he decided it was "best if i restrain him"..
..told you so..
..told you so..
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
11 Nov 11
At least Tiger didn't get wedged in the carrier like Ellie-Babes one time (Mum borrowed a carrier off someone and it was waay too small) but I do sympathise. It's not nice getting nailed by any cat, especially from a cat that's normally so docile like yours. It is ironic, I agree.
That Feliway is brilliant by the way. I could've done with some earlier when Flojo spotted next door's cat on the wall. Her tail practically trebled in size. Fortunately, she didn't go after the cat, she was more scared of it than anything..lucky for me.
As for Ellie, she's a lot slimmer now as Mum has stopped feeding both her cats tuna, she uses the complete munchies instead.
That Feliway is brilliant by the way. I could've done with some earlier when Flojo spotted next door's cat on the wall. Her tail practically trebled in size. Fortunately, she didn't go after the cat, she was more scared of it than anything..lucky for me.
As for Ellie, she's a lot slimmer now as Mum has stopped feeding both her cats tuna, she uses the complete munchies instead.1 person likes this
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
12 Nov 11
yeah well too bad they didn't think of the Feliway sooner 
@sswallace21 (1824)
• United States
11 Nov 11
WOW, what an adventure you had. I've never had a cat escape a vet. I had 1 that bit the vet. She didn't like being poked and proded by the vet. She was a mild mannered cat until he started the poking. She just wanted her shot and back into her carrier. Those darn vets don't listen to their clients requests. No wonder they get bit or the pets try to escape. I hope your hand gets better soon. Best Wishes!!
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
12 Nov 11
Kit Kat did that too, that's why I thought she would be the one to spook, if any...
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
12 Nov 11
He was being frightened not evil, but it sure did hurt.
