If you have never seen a muzzled cat, you are probably in the majority. Cats hate muzzles, so vets don't like to use a muzzle with a cat lover present. (Vets love cats too, but they are not above 
protecting themselves when necessary). As pictured, the muzzle is still upside-down, but I added this photo so that I can clearly show the importance of right-side-up vs. up-side-down. Imagine that you have a three-eyed cat, aptly named Cerberus (three eyes--three heads; cat--dog; close enough), and then take a close look. You will see that the little fellow's eyes are exposed. Not only that, they're bugging out--clearly the poor thing is terrified.
Now, if you take a look at this photo, you will see that Cerbie's bobbles--I mean eyes--are completely 
covered. Yes! The muzzle is applied correctly, which is good news for two reasons: first, the little hole at the end of the muzzle is positioned so Cerbie can breathe, and second, the muzzle also acts as a blindfold. Like birds that are quieted when their cage is covered, or horses that calm down when blindfolded, cats that can't see their surroundings immediately relax...okay, that last part is bullshit. They just can't see their target anymore. (Unless they're wrapped in a towel or zipped into a cat bag, they do still have claws, remember?)
Anyway. It's always a good idea to make sure the patient is okay after it's been wearing a muzzle for awhile; the experience can be very stressful. Quiet, please... ... ... .... Phew! Heart still not beating.
Okay, that poor sweater deserves a breather. Here it is in all of its non-muzzled glory: gorgeous, yes? Just Debbie Bliss doing what she does best ("Aran Coat" from Classic Knits for Kids). It's lovely from any angle (see "Finished!" for a mostly-unobstructed front view), but the back view really is the stunner. The yarn is merino, very nice, although I have no idea what brand, as it sat, unlabeled, in my closet for about a decade....
Comments