When it comes time for your cat’s annual check-up, do you find yourself becoming as anxious about the visit as he/she is? Veterinary visits for your feline friend don’t have to be stressful! We can help set your cat up for a successful examination starting from before you even leave the house using low-stress handling techniques to make your kitty feel safe and secure.
Cat owners are often reluctant to have wellness exams done due to the burden on both patient and pet-parent. Cats are often uncomfortable out of their known territory, and don’t enjoy car rides, loud noises, or the sights or smells of other animals at the hospital. For this reason, we offer both mobile visits (we see your cat in your own home), as well as a separate waiting area for feline patients where they are shielded from unfamiliar individuals. Our feline-only waiting area provides complimentary Feliway towels (a calming pheromone) to place over your cats carrier to help them relax in a dark and quiet space; and our cat friendly exam room provides calming music designed just for them! We have a variety of delectable treats to offer your cat as they snuggle up and get to know us, helping us to bond with our patients to make treatments and procedures a breeze.
Even with all these measures in place, it is not uncommon for many cats to be reluctant to be handled for certain things. As most of cat owners already know, many cats enjoy attention or handling from humans ONLY on their own terms! For this reason, we use low-stress handling methods to try to keep cats comfortable with being manipulated during the exam and treatments. This often includes wrapping them in soft towels both to provide safe restraint and a comfortable hiding place. Many times our staff might recommend the use of mild sedatives or anti-anxiety medications that can be easily mixed into food BEFORE the visit to increase our success with accomplishing things like blood draws or other minor procedures. We can help you make an individual treatment plan for your cat based on his or her needs, likes and dislikes. Using sedation helps us provide more complete medical treatment, is safer for both staff members and patients, and allows us to maintain our passionate relationship with your pet.
Author: Dr. Marjorie van Saun