Product Review - Klaw Kontrol

Product Review - Klaw Kontrol 02/09/2010

Lucky will be helping me reviewing the Klaw Kontrol Bag today, as I had already used it on Bugsy in the morning, and wanted to use in a second subject to make sure it worked as well on her as it did on him.
*** Of course, the cat is dot included! ***
Ok, seriously now... This bag is AWESOME if you have a cat difficult to administer medicine to, and you need to do it on a regular basis, which is my case. I can not stress how AWESOME it is.... Absolutely AWESOME.
For those who don't know, Bugsy is an 18lb Ragdoll, who is very hard to give meds to... and I mean... very hard... When I found out that I was going to need to give him meds 2x a day for 14 days, and then once a day for life, I went into a depression. Seriously.
On the first day home I had to take him back to the doctor to give him the meds, as I couldn't do it... He is not mean, doesn't bite, but he is extremely strong, and will not let you give it to him. He has got a will.
So, when I saw this bag online, I thought it just might be my salvation.... boy, was I right or what???
The bag is made of nylon, and has one top zipper, two side vents, two from side zippers for the front paws, an adjustable collar, and a bottom-back zipper, that allows you to pull the tail, and access to the butt for temperature taking.
To put the cat in the bag is not hard at all - you just open the top zipper, put the cat in, close the collar first, then pull the zipper closed.
By the third time I used, Bugsy already knew what to do - once I laid the bag open on the floor, he would just lay on the top of it, perfectly in place, and I would close it.

To give meds, you would leave both paws inside of the bag (I forgot one paw out in the picture, sorry), so your hands would be completely free - one to hold the head, and the other to give the medicine, in my case with a syringe. I do it sitting on the floor, with him on my lap, facing the other way (he is facing the same way I am facing).
OMG OMG OMG - This has been a Life saver! I can not tell how much easier this bag has made both of our lives! It is SO much quicker, easier, less messier, less traumatizing to give him his meds that it took a huge strain out of our relationship. In turn, he is a lot less stressed out, and hanging around much more.

When cutting nails, all you need to do is pull a paw at a time through the respective zipper, and go for it!
Kitty might complain and try to get off, but will not be able to do so... You can then do it very quickly.

The bag on the picture looks big on Lucky, because it is big for her. This one is the XL, for Bugsy, who is 18lbs. I do however feel I can use it on her without a problem; for Hope on the other hand, it would definitely be too big.

At first I thought the bag ran a little on the smaller size, but now, I don't know if it is because I am getting better at putting it on, or if it gives it a little, but it is fitting better on Bugsy.... On the first day it was tight tight. It says it fits a 25lb pet, but I am not sure if it does. This is the only reservation I have.

Another thing: It is made of Nylon, not Iron, so the one or two claw do go through sometimes... No biggie... I see no damage to the bag so far...

All and all, I can not recommend this enough if you have a cat, and you need to give medication on a regular basis... I can not imagine the world of a difference this bag must make if you nave to give SubQ fluids for example... It is truly a great item. I am not sure how long it will last yet, but so far it has proven itself well worth it! For paws up up up!
The bag comes in Small (5-10lbs), Large (10-15lbs) and X-Large (15-25lbs)

Comments

Rumblemum

02/08/2010 11:45pm

Rumblemum here - how well do you think it would be on a large, SUPERSTRONG cat that struggles? Rumbles does NOT like doing things that he doesn't want to (which is pretty much most things that are not his idea) so this seems ideal, but we struggle to get him into his cage! Seriously, it takes two of us, and we almost can't do it. And he's not even full grown yet *shudder*

Thanks for the product review!

Sweet Praline link

02/09/2010 12:08am

That looks like an excellent idea!

So nice to meet you! Come by and visit any time.

Cheysuli link

02/09/2010 12:12am

I think the Woman has advertised these on the main website. We were wondering how practical they were. She is now considering actually getting one and doing a full review!

Freya & Teego link

02/09/2010 4:01am

That looks like a really good invention! Thanks for bringing it to our attention - I've never heard of anything like that before...

Everycat link

02/09/2010 4:47am

These bags are wonderful. Over here in the UK they are called "catbags" and we've seen some vets use them. One vet told us that the size issue (the bags looking a bit small) can actually help calm really scared cats, as they seem to respond to all over, even body pressure well (fits with Temple Grandin's theory about firm, even pressure calming large animals+humans) When I was a very wild cat, the vet used a cat bag on me to steal my blood and I was fine, no screaming or struggling at all. I bet Bugsy is happy about being in the bag too!

W.Wuudler

Marg link

02/09/2010 5:47am

That bag looks like a wonderful thing. I will have to come back the next time I have someone hard to give a pill to. I have one cat right now that I have to give pills to, but she is pretty good. Glad you found it.

angel and kirby link

02/09/2010 10:03am

That looks like a great product. Neither of my two like to get meds or claws clipped. They also do not like to be in the cat carrier. I wonder if this would cause the same panic.

Amy & The House of Cats link

02/09/2010 2:19pm

Oh my gosh I wish I had known about this before - Floyd was usually pretty good about taking his meds (which is good because even at his sickest he was pretty strong) but Kirzon - that is a totally different matter. I think I lost about 10% of his medicine to spillage/wrestling (most of the time into my hair) when he was wriggling as I tried to squirt it in. It is now at the top of my list of thing I need to get!

Cat of Nine Tales link

02/09/2010 2:39pm

Oh, how I wish I had something like that with my bad boy Bustopher. He had a real hard time being pilled. Thank goodness we have a handle on our current kitty population since most of them came to us as little kittens who were ill and being fostered. They had been pilled a lot as kittens and can handle it pretty good with a plunger. At our house Meds = Treats :)!!!
~Lisa Co9T

Nikita Cat link

02/10/2010 2:05am

A very interesting story about an interesting product.

Would you believe I've never been sick so never have had to deal with pill taking that I, or Daddy, can remember in my 12 years?

Gattina link

03/06/2010 9:45am

I saw your link on Herman's blog and the bag interested me because I have 4 cats and they don't like to take medication neither. I only doubt that they would lay on the open bag again once they knew for what it is good. I think they would run away when they only see it. But it looks as a great idea !

Happy Cat Family link

03/06/2010 12:55pm

Hi there Gattina!
Please don't take me wrong, I don't want to make myself sound like a nut saying that now Bugsy does like to take his medication, LOL... No... He is still a cat! He still does run away from ME when he notices it is medication time... He HATES medication time! I don't go after him with the bag though... I leave the bag on the floor... But it does have a true calming effect and he did come to like the bag somehow, because I pick him up in my arms, lay the bag on the floor, and I swear to God, he will go to the bag, lay on it, and calmly wait for me to fasten it, and etc.
Does he calmly open his mouth for the meds? of course not... But he is completely restrained at that point, and it takes me 2 seconds to open his mouth and squirt the medication in. That's the beauty of it.
I see you are in the UK... If your cats take medicine, I HIGHLY recommend this bag... I am not sure where to get it there... Another person stopped by my blog and said it is called The Cat Bag in there.
It saved my relationship with my cat. let alone clothes (his meds stains), and his beautiful fur. But most importantly our relationship.
I was even able to finally clip his claws for the first time!