Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How to stop cats purring during vet exams with running tap noise
By Little, C J L et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2014·Barton Veterinary Hospital·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Purring in cats during auscultation: how common is it, and can we stop it?
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of cats was observed during veterinary exams to see how often they purred, which can make it hard for vets to listen to their hearts and lungs. Out of 30 cats that purred, placing them near a running tap was the most effective method, stopping purring in 81% of cases. Other methods, like blowing air at their ears or using an aerosol spray, worked less often. This information can help vets manage purring during check-ups, ensuring they can perform necessary examinations without interruption.
People also search for: why is my cat purring at the vet · how to stop cat purring during exam · cat purring treatment options
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: When cats purr during examination it is difficult to perform auscultation. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of purring in cats during examination, and identify interventions that could be used to stop purring. METHODS: Cats seen at a first opinion clinic were enrolled in the study and their purring status recorded. Thirty of the purring cats were exposed to up to three different interventions in an attempt to stop purring in a randomised controlled trial including blowing at the ear, use of an ethanol-based aerosol near the cat and proximity to a running tap. RESULTS: The 30 cats in the trial were subjected to a total of 54 attempts to stop purring, proximity to a running tap caused 17 of 21 (81%) cats to stop purring, blowing at the cat's ears worked in 2 of 15 (13%) cats, spraying an aerosol close to the cat was effective in 9 of 18 (50%) cases. In 2 cats (7%), none of the interventions interrupted purring. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This study provides evidence that placing a purring cat near a running tap and in proximity to the discharge of an ethanol-based aerosol are effective measures to stop purring in order to allow auscultation.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24329568/