Pet Page / From the SPA
All strung out
By Christine Foster December 26, 2008 San Miguel de Allende

Cats have several more lumbar vertebrae than we do and this is part of the secret of their flexibility. It’s also one of the reasons why they don’t mind hanging out in bags. Honest. Vets will back me up on this. I used to carry my cat down to our boat in a string bag—the kind the French use for a bottle of wine and a baguette. String bags were first made mandatory for French shoppers so their Nazi occupiers could see what was in the bag, but cats like them because they can see out. They look rather daft, but, also, strangely relaxed.

This is important of course because when a cat panics, no sane person tries to hold on. I found a website selling Cat Comfort Bags, but let’s face it, any strong, soft fabric bag makes a good cat carrier and can do wonders to calm the cat, keeping both it and humans safe. Any bag—string style or solid—can make it possible to medicate, examine and restrain almost every cat, even feral ones. Ready to put your cat in? Here goes.

First, place your hand and arm into the bag. Pet the cat on the back of his head and neck with the bag, then gently grasp his scruff with your bagged hand and hold on. Now, using your other hand, pull the bag over the cat’s head and body and let go of the cat. Gather the open end of the bag together under the cat and hold the loose end closed. Tie a string around the bag or tie a knot in the bag so the cat is contained. He may wiggle about a bit but will usually calm right down.

To give medication or to treat ears, just allow your cat to look out of the bag, then buckle a pet collar around the bag so he can’t get out. When the vet is ready to examine the cat, it helps to keep his eyes covered (the cat’s, not the vet’s) while uncovering the cat’s body, area by area, for treatment.

With a feral cat that has been captured in a trap, you can put a very large, sturdy bag right over the trap. Open the trap and tip or jiggle it to get the cat to move into the bag to “hide.” Hold the cat by the scruff— through the bag!—and most cats (I am told!) will then allow you to uncover their hind ends to check sex and neutering status. You can give the vaccinations in the cat’s hindquarters then, too. Even nails can be trimmed, apparently, if you hold the scruff and only take one foot out at a time, keeping the cat’s eyes covered. (Not sure I’m up to try this on a feral, but bags are way better than carriers, that’s for sure.)

Eager to try it? Or need some time to practice on something ultra-tame first? Two little ones who don’t need bagging yet—just hugging and cuddling—are featured here. We have several litters of kittens on the waiting list, unusual at this time of year, so don’t put off adopting a new baby until spring. Come down and see these merry winter mischief makers now.

 They are curious, friendly, adorable and ready to help you make the purrfect start to the New Year.

Visit them at Los Pinos 7, a right turn off Calzada de la Estación. Adoptions begin at 300 pesos, including sterilization and vaccinations. Call 152-6124 or visit the website at www.spasanmiguel.org.