DEAR JEANNE: My 3 year old Birman, Zephyr, is affectionate, playful, sweet and also the most turbulent and stubborn cat I have ever shared my life with. At home, I can brush his teeth, groom him and trim his nails with no problem. He doesn’t necessarily like it, but he’s calm and tolerates it.
At the vet, it’s another matter. I took him for his annual checkup this week. He was fine when the vet tech came to pick him up and put him on the counter, but then the trouble started. While the vet was examining him, he began to struggle and complain. They brought out a towel to wrap him up and he really started to struggle. He yelled at the vet tech, which I’ve never seen him do before.
The vet called in another technician, one who had known him since he was a kitten. She let him feel her hand, speaking to him in a calm voice. She picked it up without wrapping it in a towel and spoke in a calm, reassuring voice as they examined it. His meow became quieter and he didn’t struggle as much
Now my vet wants me to sedate him before every visit. I hate doing this. Do you have any suggestions for ways to make vet visits less traumatic for everyone?
—Paula Mints, San Jose
DEAR PAULA: I have shared your experience and concerns with Jennifer Woolf, who works for the Veterinary Information Network (VIN).
She recommends requesting this specific veterinary technology and calming approach at every visit, when possible.
Dr. Woolf also says that if you weigh the benefits of sedation with the stress your cat feels, sedation can be positive. Your cat gets the treatment it needs and avoids any drama.
In the meantime, she suggests making sure your cat is comfortable in a carrier and in the car — two things that can trigger anxiety — and practicing it. Start small, she says, by simply getting the cat used to the car and carrier without even leaving the driveway. Prepare for short trips.
You can also make short, friendly visits to the vet’s office, ask the staff to give him treats, and then leave. This will help associate the office with positive things.
Finally, if you are opposed to sedation, my suggestion is to look for a veterinarian who makes house calls.
DEAR JEANNE: We have had a hummingbird feeder hanging under our roof overhang for years that seems to supply all the local hummers. It hangs from an 18 inch wire hanger.
Three days ago we found a 4 inch green praying mantis securely attached to the feeder, waiting for a meal. When I saw that, I moved (the insect) to a shrub about 15 feet away. The next morning, it was back.
Are mantises capable of catching a hummer, and how would the mantis access this tall feeder?
— Chuck and Diane Préas, Danville
DEAR CHUCK AND DIANE: Yes, mantises are capable of catching and killing hummingbirds. They are skilled climbers and, although it is not obvious when sitting, mantises have wings and can fly.
The simplest solution is to do what you did: monitor the feeder and remove the mantises when you see them. You can also purchase baffles or dome-shaped covers to exclude praying mantises.
Animal Life takes place on Mondays. Contact Joan Morris at AskJoanMorris@gmail.com.
