Finally, while their leg is flexed, practice placing pressure on the inner thigh of the bottom leg using your pinky. Next, get your cat used to having their leg held and flexed at the knee while your hand rests on their abdomen. Using your opposite fingers, briefly hold the top hind leg at the hock, then treat and release. With your cat lying down, practice hugging their chest from behind with one arm. First, your cat will need to be comfortable lying down on their chest while their hind legs are stacked and facing to one side. The last common site for feline blood draws is their medial saphenous vein, which runs on their inner thigh. Most cats don’t like having their legs held, so watch for signs of stress, and keep sessions short and positive. Using your other hand, rub the top of their stabilized forearm and treat. Slowly increase the time their leg is held until you’ve reached 30 seconds. While facing your cat, briefly cup their foreleg with one hand, then treat. You should also teach your cat to accept cephalic handling by working from their front. Practice using treats until your cat is used to restraint and having their leg held/rolled for 30 seconds, then repeat with the other leg. Next, try “rolling” the vein with your thumb from the inside of the leg towards the outside by moving the skin just below the elbow. Gradually get them used to having their right leg gently pushed forward a few inches. Standing next to your cat, hug their head from underneath with your left hand while your right hand picks up their right leg under the elbow, then treat.

After they’re used to the pressure, apply the Y, rub back and forth on one side of the neck with your opposite fingers, then treat and let go.Īnother common blood draw site is the cephalic vein, which runs on top of the forearm. Gently press your hand against your cat’s throat just above the collarbone, then treat and release. While facing your cat, move your thumb apart from the other fingers to make a Y. Next, train from the perspective of the person drawing blood.

How do you draw a cat