Taking your cat to the vet is often stressful for both the owner and the cat. As a result, all too often the annual check-up is postponed indefinitely. However, a regular check-up is so important because cats often mask health problems for a long time. As a result, the cat does not visit the vet or does so too late and thus does not receive proper medical care.
Why is a vet visit stressful for a cat?
- Cats generally do not like being transported in a basket or cage.
- Cats often do not feel safe when taken from their safe known environment.
- Cats are very sensitive to unusual noises and smells.
- Cats do not like the presence of strange dogs and cats.
- Cats like to be in control.
How do you make the journey to the vet less stressful?
- Always place your cat in a transport cage.
- Each cat should have its own cage, unless they belong to the same social group.
- The best cages can be opened from the top as well as the front and can be easily taken apart so the cat can stay in the bottom of the cage during most of the examination if she wishes.
- Get the cat used to the cage by leaving it open in the enclosure and placing toys, treats and food in it.
- Place a clean soft towel or mat on the bottom of the cage.
- Spray pheromones (Feliway) in the cage 10 – 15 minutes before transport.
- Place the cage in the car on the floor at the rear seats to avoid movement and injuries caused by the airbag.
- Be particularly careful when moving the cage: keep it as horizontal and as stable as possible.
- Place a towel over the cage: this soothes your cat and avoids eye contact with other animals.
What does Iscavets do to make your cat’s vet visit more pleasant?
- We work by appointment: waiting time in the waiting room and contact with other animals are limited.
- We use pheromones in the consultation rooms, on the examination table mats and in the hospitalisation: this has a relaxing effect on the cats. We only use adapted scent vaporisers in the practice.
- We let the cat come out of the transport box spontaneously as far as possible.
- We use special microfibre mats on the examination table – and with success! The pooches love it and are much more relaxed.
- We take a kitty-friendly approach to the examination and perform our operations with minimal restraint.
- We adapt our approach according to the cat’s temperament.
- We stay calm ourselves so the cats are calmer too.
- We never punish as this does not help and makes the cats more anxious.
- The practice equipment is cat-friendly where possible: modern anaesthesia equipment, extra silent shaver, blood pressure measuring device, dental radiography…
- Hospitalisation is cat-friendly, with pheromones, a comfortable surface, the ability to hide without eye contact with other cats, and with the possibility of making an extra-large enclosure for cats that need to stay longer at the practice. Contact with dogs is avoided to the maximum. Soon, a separate hospitalisation for cats will even be provided.
- We follow regular courses to constantly adapt our approach to the latest insights.
- We provide extensive information on the needs of cats at different stages of their lives.
