Use of clipnosis for the immobilization of cats in the clinical setting

The management of stress in cats during veterinary clinical consultations represents a frequent challenge due to their alert nature and the fear generated by an unfamiliar environment. This condition can interfere with diagnostic accuracy and the performance of clinical procedures, in addition to provoking defensive behaviors that may endanger both the veterinarian and the owner. clipnosis, defined as a behavioral inhibition induced by pressure on the skin of the neck, is proposed as a non-pharmacological alternative to induce temporary immobility and facilitate clinical handling.  The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of clipnosis in domestic cats of different age groups, relating the duration of immobility, stress levels, and compliance during routine clinical procedures. The research was conducted at the Veterinary Clinic of the Catholic University of Cuenca, with a sample of 30 cats evenly distributed into three groups: kittens, adults, and geriatrics. The technique was applied under controlled conditions, recording immobility duration, stress levels using the Cat Stress Score and tolerance to nail trimming, oral drug administration, and trichotomy for blood sampling. The results showed a statistically significant relationship between age and duration of immobility (P = 0.025), with adult and geriatric cats exhibiting a higher proportion of times exceeding three minutes. Regarding stress, significant differences were observed among groups during clipnosis application (P = 0.018), with higher levels in kittens. Cooperation improved notably during the trichotomy procedure, particularly in geriatric cats (P = 0.001), whereas no statistically significant differences were found in nail trimming and oral drug administration (P = 0.329 and P = 0.128, respectively). In conclusion, clipnosis represents an effective tool to facilitate certain invasive procedures in cats, although its application should be selective, considering both the age and the welfare of the feline patient.