I have to relay to you the experience that I had when I took Pooker to the Vet last year. Along with calm little Duke in his carrier, my Alpha cat, Pooker was put into his individual carrier, and neither of them realized that they were going to the ‘hated’ Vet's office. Each time I have taken them, I have had the first appointment of the day, so there were never any other animals in the waiting room. Well this was in the afternoon, and when I got there, there WERE’NT any other animals there. I had never seen how Pooker would react to another creature, except that I was told by the previous owners, that he didn't seem to care for dogs.

Well, I arrived there and set both carriers on the floor… and they were nice and calm.

After about 10 minutes in the waiting room, a lady came in with her little 8 year old girl and a small Shih Tzu dog. The little girl was holding the dog and bounced through the door. I could hear the beginnings of a growl coming from next to my leg. He (the puppy) looked so innocent when she put him down and he was so anxious to investigate the carriers that were on the floor next to me. He scampered over toward the carriers and actually reached Pookers. It was then that the carrier came a full foot off of the floor and crashed down along with the LOUDEST and most FEROCIOUS sounds that I've ever heard from an animal… Well, that dog disappeared under all the chairs at the far corner of the room. They couldn't get him to come out, he was shaking so badly, and Pooker was still screaming and snarling his head off as I finally took him in to see the doctor… The Vet was really happy to see my 25 lb furball of dog-hating feline in such a good mood.

The same thing happened the last time I took them in. This time, the waiting room was full of dogs and Pooker was snarling so bad and LOUD that I had to put a towel over the openings so he couldn't see the big dogs that wanted so badly to play with the little kitty. After the snarls started, ( even with the towel ) the dogs cowered next to their owners and the owners were holding protective hands down around the dogs. I was so relieved to be able to take him in to see the vet, and he was screaming and growling all the way. And Duke is always a perfect angel. The embarrassment was indescribable.

At home, Pooker is the sweetest, most lovable, and the most gentle creature you could ever want to meet… but please don’t bring your dogs around.

It’s gotten now that I hate going to the Vet as much as he does. We have since renamed him ‘Sh*thead’.

Copyright © Lorretta C.
June 26, 2005