This is not medical advice. I strongly suggest that you ask your vet's approval before and after building this project prior to first use. Be sure to clean between use. Always properly clean the hose, medicine cup, nebuliser, attachment, and air compressor. Allow drying naturally (air dry) in a clean space. Ask your vet's advice on all of this.
First off, nebuliser == nebulizer. Same thing. One is English, the other is American.
This do-it-yourself build was not my idea. In fact, I don't even care to figure out who decided it would be better to build their own nebuliser chamber for cats/dogs rather than to pay too much to own a real one. Regardless, after suggesting we make our own, our vet found an acceptable air compressor type nebuliser, told us "a storage container big enough for her to be comfortable", then sent us on our way.
On the internet, I have found a few examples of other chambers others have made. I could only find examples where the cat had asthma. In practice, the idea is the same: delivering medication to the respiratory system. Delmartian was probably the most helpful, although I have to admit I didn't actually check them out until after the build.
A few short days later everything came in the mail. I built her personal chamber, picked up her medication, and the rest is history.
Supplies
Terminology used:
Nebuliser = everything excluding the box, the hose, and the air compressor. (fig 1)
Bite = the rectangular tube-like attachment which normally would sit inside of a human mouth.
The Fabrication
1) Marking -- Place the outlet (with the tubes, mask, and bite detached) against the spot where you would like to attach it to the bin. Place tape to protect the surrounding plastic, mark placing with the pencil or marker, then remove nebuliser's outlet from the side of the bin.
2) Cutting -- If you would like to drill a hole to help the cut, you may. Either use a drill, or screw and screwdriver. I was using the screw and screwdriver method, but the plastic was too strong. I became lazy so instead, I just stabbed the box with a pocket knife. After cutting out three-quarters of the hole, test whether the outlet and attachment will fit through. It's easier to make the hole larger than it would be to make it smaller. As long as they would fit, just use pliers to bend down the
remaining plastic horizontally to use as a stand to support
the attachment.
To replicate this, imagine an analog clock. If you cut
clockwise between 7 and 4, the three-twelfths remaining could work as the support. Bend this down to be horizontal.
N) Carbon Outlet -- Let's face it: kitty exhales. Therefore you're going to make sure that carbon dioxide needs to leave the chamber.
If the bin's lid sits loose enough, you may be okay. I would suggest showing your vet to get their opinion of your specific bin. If you or they doubt there is sufficient out-flow, it is better safe than sorry.
[Update 2020-02-03] When I finally ran the maiden voyage of our Chamber, as I would not want my girl to have hypercapnia nor carbon dioxide (CO2) poisoning, the amount of condensation made me nervous. For the remainder of the first treatment, I left the container cracked to allow air to escape regaining her attention whenever she seemed to almost notice the opening. I am sure this wasted some of the medication, but she has to be in there for forty minutes. Before the second use, I cut another hole on the opposite side of the bin.
3) Cleaning -- Quickly but prudently clean up the sharp edges of the hole and wipe away and debris. It's better to take the time now than to wound yourself, kitty, or damage the parts of the nebuliser.
4) Assembly -- Insert the outlet nozzle of the nebuliser through the hole, and attach the attachment. Using tape which is easy to remove and replace with each use, seal it into place to prevent it from falling out.
[Update 2021-02-21] After about a month of daily use, the cat figured out that she could block the end of the outlet nozzle with her face, effectively sending the air and the medication back into the nebuliser cup only to escape through the seems.
To combat this I decided to make a new nozzle. This time it is essentially just a hose that the vet gave us with a number of holes cut around it. Good luck blocking all of the holes, cat.
[Update 2021-03-11] Now that the holey hose has been in use for two weeks I have a few notes to offer. Firstly, if you have a towel in there for your pet to have something comfortable to sit on, make sure they don't cover the hose with said towel. Maybe my gal is just too intelligent for her own good, but she figured that out during the second use of the new nozzle. Either way, now I just added more holes and bend the hose to make it more of a pain for her to cover. Secondly, tape it. She may move the hose around, pull on it, or even try to knock it. A few times now, my little gal has knocked the nebuliser out of the hole in the side of the chamber. I'm not exactly sure how she manages it, but probably three times now I have heard the nebuliser hit the ground.
5) Air compressor -- Attach the air compressor to the hose and the hose to the bottom nebuliser. With the bin's lid off, run for a few minutes. Check for leaks, movement, and any other possible issues. If it runs well, dismantle, properly clean, and reassemble
the entire chamber.
Use
Read your manual and follow the vet's instructions.
For peace of mind, this is a 3 minute time-lapse of my own cat her second time in the chamber at home:
If the video fails to load, it is posted on VK here. (Opens in new tab)
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