Watch the video below to learn more about techniques we use for restraining cats!
Cat Side Restraint
This restraint works well for nail trims and some medication administration.
It is important to have control of the head to prevent biting and feet to prevent scratching.
There are some variations of the side restraint.
Variation 1
The first variation shown should be done on cats that are fairly well-behaved. To do this variation, one hand supports the front paws and body, while the other hand controls the hind body. The cat is gently rotated to its side and cradled with the arm that is supporting the hind end. The hand supporting the hind end then moves to restrain the back feet.
Variation 2
The second variation provides better head restraint and should be used when there are concerns of biting. This variation begins similar to variation 1. Once the cat is on its side, one hand is placed behind the head for control. The other hand holds and controls the paws, depending on which area you are working with.
Kitty Burrito
This restraint works well for oral medication administration and ear cleanings. It allows good access to the head with minimal risk of being scratched. You will need a large bath towel to do this restraint. Place the towel on a flat surface, and place your cat in the middle of the towel. Wrap one side of the towel over the cat. Then, wrap the other side of the towel over - making sure to keep the head accessible and the legs wrapped into the towel.
Calm Cozy Cat Wrap
To simplify the kitty burrito process, the calm cozy cat wrap can be purchased and used. This wrap provides restraint while also having openings to allow access to different parts of the body. We use this in the clinic on some disagreeable cats to allow for examination, blood draws, etc. If you are interested in purchasing a wrap, visit calmcozycat.com/.