Feline Friendly Vet Visits

Morris gets a little curious when you bring out the pet carrier.

Visiting your cat's vet can be a positive excursion. At NOAH, we work with clients to reduce fear and emphasize comfort. Read Dr. Lesser's recommendations below. With some planning and extra attention, seeing Fluffy's doctor can be a pleasant experience.

Before the Vet

Getting Fluffy comfortable seeing the vet begins before you schedule an appointment. From the moment you get her, make sure she is comfortable being handled. Perform regular "check-ups" at home, so she gets used to the procedure of an exam. You don't really have to know what you're looking for, just hold her and do a paw-to-paw feel, including looking into her ears, nose, and mouth if possible. Check her paws for cuts or scrapes, hang nails, and in general, get your feline comfortable with handling.

The SleepyPod, cat bed & carrier.

The crate is often the first sign to your cat that something she doesn't like is about to happen. From the start, get her comfortable with the carrier. Leave it out and open for her to explore and sleep in. If you don't own a carrier, our clinic usually has one available to borrow, though we do recommend getting one for her to call her own. We recommend carriers that open from the top. A specialty carrier, called the SleepyPod, receives high marks from us! The carrier also doubles as a bed, so she will feel much safer with the familiar scent and surroundings.

The Trip

Some cats love riding in cars. Some, simply, do not. No matter where Tigger falls on this scale, we always recommend keeping him contained and safe when traveling in the car. Like the carrier, have Tigger get used to a car before you need to take him anywhere. Start by leaving the carrier door open and letting him explore. Once he's had a chance to check it out, build his familiarity by taking him on short drives, starting with something down the block and eventually building in duration. Consider stopping by your vet's office to explore the exam room, to show him that some visits may be fun with toys and treats. We welcome the visit and are happy to help show Tigger that there's nothing to be afraid of.

Paws loves going for a joyride.

Getting Tigger comfortable with a car ride will mean he's nice and calm once you arrive at a vet appointment, giving us a better opportunity to provide a comprehensive exam.

The Appointment

To minimize over stimulating him, drape Tigger's carrier in a blanket or towel from home. You can spray it with a calming feline pheromone made to mimic the pheromones that cats release when they rub up against someone or something. We use and recommend Feliway, which is available in spray or a full room diffuser.

Once in his exam room, remove the towel or blanket and place the carrier on the floor with the door open. Our nurses and vets know that it is easier to work with a cat who is calm and has come out of their carrier on their own. We encourage cat owners to let Tigger out of his carrier and let him inspect the room before our nurses or doctors enter. This gives him a chance to acclimate to a room with someone he feels most comfortable with: you.

During the exam, it's best to have Tigger examined where he is most comfortable. That could be your lap, on the floor, on a bench or perch, or if Tigger chooses to not come out of his carrier, the top can be removed. The rest of the exam can continue while Tigger remains in his bedding in the bottom half. It's also best to take Tigger out of his carrier only once. Each time he will want to become acclimated to the room and the activity of going back and forth may increase his anxiety.

Dr. Lesser performs a check-up on Sasha.

When being examined, allow Tigger to remain in a natural position, keeping him as calm as possible. Some underweight cats or older cats with arthritis prefer to be on thick padding or cloth beneath them, rather than the cold, hard surface of an examining table. This is why our clinic's tables have a cushioned mat for Tigger to sit on, making the examination much more comfortable.

General tips

Throughout the whole process, stay calm and speak in a calm voice. Move slowly with the fewest changes in her environment. Some cats are particularly fearful of travel and/or being examined. For those patients, we recommend anti-anxiety and motion sickness medication to make the trip pleasant.

We hope this information helps ease some concerns over scheduling your cat's next vet visit. When your cat visits our clinic, our staff and nurses are trained to make them feel welcome and comfortable. From including the owner in the examination process to keeping a feline exam room with a Feliway pheromone diffuser, we take pride in how we treat our patients and always hope your cat's visit is a pleasant one.

A healthy Trixie is a happy Trixie.

Contributors:
Dr. Jennifer Lesser, DVM
Norwich Regional Animal Hospital, White River Junction, VT
www.norwichanimal.com

Dr. Ilona Rodan, DVM, DABVP
Cat Care Clinic, Madison, WI

Animal Planet
www.animalplanet.com/pets/less-stressful-vet-visits.htm.