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At some point in their lives, your cat may require supportive subcutaneous (SubQ) fluid therapy either at their veterinary clinic or in your own home. This treatment is often prescribed for dehydration or other medical conditions. Ask your veterinarian if you have any questions regarding the process. Preparing your cat through positive reinforcement training can make this potentially stressful procedure a more predictable and less frightening experience for both you and your cat.

Why Train Your Cat for Treatment?

Teaching your cat where and how to station for treatment:

• Gives your cat choice and control
• Creates consistency and predictability
• Reduces stress

Items needed:

• Treatment station (cat bed, chair, countertop, or accessible place on the floor or platform)
• Clicker or marker word (such as “yes”)
• High-value treats (solid and lickable)
• Lickable mat
• Fluid bag, fluid line, sterile needle for subcutaneous fluids
• Topical anesthetic (if needed)
• Helper to offer distraction, if needed

Step-by-Step Guide

Phase 1: Set Up and Use a Treatment Station

• Choose a spot your cat finds comfortable and easily accessible. 
• Train your cat with treats and the clicker or marker word to use a treatment station. 

 Phase 2: Introduce the Fluid Bag, Line, and Needle

• Place the assembled fluid set near the treatment station.
• Sprinkle high-value treats around the equipment to create a positive association.
• If your cat will not eat treats, move the setup further away, but keep it visible. Reward your cat in place at the treatment station. Pet your cat if that is something they enjoy.
• As your cat touches the fluid setup, mark and treat for the interaction.
• Hang the fluid bag near the treatment station and higher than your cat for proper flow. Mark and treat your cat.
• A helper can help distract your cat if you are learning to administer fluids.
  • This person should be someone your cat knows and likes
  • During the injection phase, the helper can be responsible for marking, treating, and offering a lickable mat if needed.
  • If you think your cat may be stressed by this step, end the session and let your cat leave the treatment station.
  • Hang the fluid setup above the treatment station, and mark and treat your cat for returning to the treatment station at the next session.

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and

Phase 3: Skin Tenting

• Pet your cat with slow strokes over their shoulders (avoid the back and hindquarters). Mark and treat.
• Gently lift the skin between the shoulder blades. Mark and treat, watching for any signs of tension.
• Gently lift the skin slightly higher, but do not pull it tight. Mark and treat.
• Back up a step if your cat tenses or avoids contact.
• Over multiple sessions, progress to lifting the skin until sufficient for injection (like a tent). Your cat should choose to hold still for skin tenting and stay relaxed.

Phase 4: Needle Pressure and Preparing for Injection

• With the skin tented, touch the capped needle tip to the skin. Mark and treat.
• Tent the skin and apply gentle pressure to the tent with the capped needle. Mark and treat.
• Attach the needle to the fluid line and repeat. Mark and treat.
  • Watch for any startle responses that may occur from the movement of the line.

Phase 5: Get the Fluids Ready

• Warm the fluid bag in a warm water bath to body temperature. Test temperature on your wrist; it should feel slightly warm, not hot.
• Flush the line to remove any air bubbles.
• Attach a new, sterile needle to the end of the line.
• Make sure the fluid bag is still positioned above your cat.

Phase 6: Inserting the Needle and Fluid Administration

• When your cat stays relaxed with skin tenting and added needle pressure, it is time to prepare for a real injection.
• Have your helper use a lickable treat and mat to distract your cat.
• Insert the needle with a confident, smooth motion, parallel to the spine and into the tented skin, not straight down.
• Hold the needle and skin with one hand and gently massage your cat’s skin with the other while you open the clamp on the fluid line.
• Keep calm and make gentle contact with your cat (soothing voice, soft petting).
• The sensation might alarm your cat as the fluid enters under the skin. For added distraction, your helper may position the lickable mat gently under the cat just before the fluid enters.
• As the fluids are injected, a temporary fluid lump appears at the injection site. This is normal and will be absorbed within several hours. This lump may shift to either side of the shoulders or to the top of a foreleg, but these, too, will be absorbed into the cat’s system over the next day or sooner.
• If your cat becomes upset, pause or give them breaks.

Phase 7: Finish and Reward

• Close the clamp after administering the fluid.
• Remove the needle smoothly and apply finger pressure to the injection site for a few seconds to prevent leakage.
• Celebrate with a high-value treat, extra petting or play.

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Tips:

• If your cat becomes stressed, break up sessions into smaller steps and revisit the last successful step to give your cat more frequent breaks.
• You can use topical anesthetics (such as lidocaine/prilocaine) on the site 10 minutes before the injection is needed.
•  Sensations of the fluid entering below the skin surface may not be minimized but the feeling of the needle insertion can be diminished.
• Select needle size based on your cat’s comfort and the amount and speed of fluid administration. If your cat is sensitive, start with a smaller gauge, then increase as needed. Cats may react less to smaller needles, but larger needles can administer the fluid faster and be less stressful overall.
• Use a consistent routine: same time, place, treats, and equipment.
• Daily practice helps create a predictable routine, even if you are not giving fluids each time.
• Never force or restrain your cat. A loose towel wrap is okay if your cat finds it comforting and can choose to hide their head.
• Always let your cat set their pace. Go slow and be patient to help build your cat’s trust.

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A combination of Low Stress Handling® techniques and positive reinforcement will make supportive care easier on your cat and strengthen your bond.  If you need additional guidance, consult with your veterinarian or a board-certified veterinary behaviorist.