By Dr. Heather Kovac
The Drake Center is proud to be both a "Fear Free" certified veterinary hospital as well as a "Cat Friendly Practice"! These titles mean we are committed to providing our patients with the most comfortable veterinary visit possible. Today I want to talk specifically about our feline patients and how you, as an owner, can help us provide this superior level of care. For many cat owners, a trip to the vet is a stressful event and for some it even means hesitating in making an appointment for both sick visits and wellness care for their cat. It all starts with getting your cat into a carrier. Here are some tips to make this task go more smoothly so both cat and human can have a more pleasant experience:
1) Purchase a sturdy plastic carrier that has an opening both at the front and on the top.
It should also have a base and top that can be separated by unscrewing or unsnapping the fasteners. Carriers that have an opening on the top make it so much easier for us to remove the cat from the carrier once they arrive at the hospital. Here is an example of an ideal cat carrier.
2) The carrier should be clean, free of bad odors and spiderwebs, and stored in the house at all times--not in the garage or storage shed.
If there is room in the house, the carrier should be out and available at all times for the cat to investigate and hopefully enter on their own on a daily basis. This allows them to see the carrier as just another piece of furniture and not a scary trap that smells bad.
3) Place a cozy blanket or clean towel in the carrier to make it even more comfortable for the cat.
A pheromone product such as Feliway can be sprayed on the bedding or wiped on the inside of the carrier before the vet visit to even further provide comfort.
4) Entice the cat into the carrier using yummy special high-value treats such as canned tuna or salmon, Temptations treats, Churu lickable treat, or canned cat food.
This is also something you can train a cat of any age to do with patience and praise.
5) Place a large towel over the carrier which helps the cat feel safe and secure and limits visual stimulation.
Keep the carrier covered during transport.
6) Take some practice runs with the cat in the carrier long before the vet appointment.
Start small by just closing the lid and picking up the carrier and walking around the house. Then move on to taking the carrier to the car but don't start the engine. Then move on to starting the engine and going around the block. If that's going well, move on to longer car rides.
7) Once you arrive at the hospital, ask to be placed into our feline-only exam room immediately.
Do not place the carrier on the ground, instead, place it on a bench or counter. Cats do not like to be down low as they feel threatened and cornered. Do not allow dogs to approach the carrier. Continue to keep the carrier covered until you are in the exam room.
8) Once in the exam room, use quiet voices and let the cat take their time to get acclimated to the room.
Open the door to the carrier but do not pull the cat out. Let the cat come out on their own if possible. Having a door on the top/lid of the carrier allows the cat to easily be picked up and out without stressful pulling and clawing. If the carrier lid comes off completely, we can usually let the cat stay in the lower half of the carrier during the examination which typically provides comfort for the cat.
All of our staff and veterinarians are trained in feline friendly handling techniques to minimize stress during the visit.
At each veterinary visit, we will be assessing how your cat behaves and will talk to you about possible ways to make future visits more pleasant. We often prescribe an oral sedative for cats to be given at home prior to the visit if we feel that would make things go more smoothly. Don't hesitate to ask us about ways to make veterinary care for your cat more feline friendly; call us at 760-753-9393.
The Drake Center for Veterinary Care is an AAHA-accredited animal hospital located in Encinitas, CA. The Drake Center loves being a source of information for all pet owners across the country; however, if you have any questions regarding pet care and do not live in Encinitas, CA or surrounding cities, we encourage you to contact your local veterinarian.