I am looking for a standardized protocol for moving a feline patient or pet that is in a state of deep sleep. Waffles is gaining weight, which makes her less mobile, and I want to ensure we do not cause injury to her spine or joints during the transfer. I know that handling a cat in a deep sleep is different from handling one that is merely resting. Does anyone have a specific technique for this?
Moose is a large Maine Coon and he is deaf in one ear, so I have to be very careful with how I approach him. I always check his ear position and tail to see if he is truly in a deep sleep or just resting his eyes. You can read more about my specific approach to deaf cats in this thread. If the cat is not fully unconscious, the startle response can be violent.
My Bengals are always moving. They have weird sleep cycles. I check this thread for their patterns. If they are truly out cold, I just pick them up. If they are just resting, they bite. It depends on the cat's breed and energy level. A Bengal is not a ragdoll.
You need to distinguish between a light nap and deep sleep first. Beagle is a 1-year-old tabby and very energetic, so he rarely stays in a deep sleep for long. I wrote about the physical signs of deep sleep, such as muscle relaxation and lack of pupil response, in this thread. If you cannot confirm deep sleep, do not move the cat. The risk of a bite or scratch is too high.
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