my cat goes crazy at the vet

[busanlulu]

my cat, ari, who is just over 2 years old, has never had problems at the vet (except for an innocent hiss here and there). however, when i took him 2 weeks ago for his annual shots and checkup, he went completely insane and it wasn't possible for him to get his shots. he hissed, growled, scratched, twisted and turned around, jumped off the table, etc... it sounded terrible!
so, my vet gave me two sleeping pills and told me to try again a week later, after giving him the pills.
so i gave him 1 of the two pills (1st one was lost after i mixed it with his favourite snack - salmon - and he wouln't eat it). 1 pill didn't seem to make any difference, but i took him to the vet anyway, hoping he'd be alright.
at the vet, he was even worse than the previous week and it was completely impossible to examine him. the vet gave 2 more pills and told me i should give both pills and we'll try once more...

any advice about this? i'm so worried about him. he's never been like this before and at home is a very calm and friendly kitty.
i'm especially worried too, because next year, i'll move from korea back to canada and bring him with me... i'm worried he'll attack the quarantine people at the airport....!

thanks in advance!

[growler~GateKeeper]

What is the name of the sleeping pill you were given?

Were you in the room during the exam? Did Ari only react to the vet's exam? Was he fine in the carrier before he saw the vet?

Was this the same vet you saw at previous visits or a new vet? Is there only 1 vet at the clinic, can you see a different vet?

[meow]

try a different vet. cat's have good instincts. a sleeping pill doesn't sound like the right thing to give. kitty valium does. where you holding kitty? my cat is so bad at the vet now she has to be given a tranqualizer before they can touch her. it breaks my heart. she was a rescue and then was abused by a vet.

[NoahGrey]

My cat goes nuts at the vets too. She has to be sedated. The vet was concerned that she was going to into cardic arrest, so now she is sedated.

Anyone seen the article. Vaccines causing kidney failure. www.onlinevet.com

ACO22

[onster]

Are u sure she didnt have a bad experience at the vets?

I only ask this because I had a cat who was an angel at the vets, never made a peep, pretty much fell asleep on the exam table. One visit he had a urinary infection and they took him out back to get a sample directly from his bladder. I hear horrible yeowling on his end, then when the vet came back they said they werent able to get a sample and kept him overnight.

He was never the same again at the vets...he would turn into the demon cat, it was horrible, i couldnt even touch him then.

My only suggestion would be to try a different vet, because maybe he associates that vet or the surroundings with something bad....a new setting may calm him down.

I know one of our members (AG), has a cat who i believe she gives half a zantac or a prozac before going to the vet because he too is hard to examine.

[NoahGrey]

You can also see if you have any mobile vets in town? Maybe if she is in her own envirnment, you cat won't react as bad. Remember, there are alot of different smells in a vet clinic.

ACO22