Most cats do not enjoy being taken from their comfortable environment, placed in a carrier, and hauled off to the veterinarian, where strangers poke and prod them, dogs want to sniff them, and the smells of unknown cats fill the air. Since we can’t communicate to our cats that they’re simply visiting the doctor and that they’ll be back home soon, it’s probably a terrifying experience for them.
Here are a few tips on how to make the veterinary visit less stressful for your cat:
- Start early. If you get your cat as a kitten, it’s a great idea to get your kitten accustomed to riding in the car and being in the cat carrier. Bring your kitten to our office on days when you don’t have an appointment, just so she can get some love and affection from the staff. She’ll begin to associate coming here with positive feelings.
- Make the carrier comfortable. Get the carrier out a few days before your cat’s veterinary visit. Leave the door open and put treats and toys inside. This will help your cat enjoy getting into the carrier, rather than be afraid of it.
- Keep kitty calm. Some cats do better at the veterinary hospital when an owner places a blanket or a towel over the carrier, so she can’t see the other animals in the waiting room. Another way to calm your cat is to use a natural feline pheromone product, like Feliway. You can use Feliway’s diffuser (just plug it in at home), or it comes as a collar and a spray.
Your feline friend should visit us at least once every year. Contact us to schedule your feline friend’s routine wellness exam.