Less Stress, More Purr – How to Help Your Cat Have a Stress Free Veterinary Visit

“Every cat owner knows, nobody owns a cat.” – Ellen Perry Berkeley.

We can all agree that being a cat owner is a rewarding adventure. Some cats are quiet (laid back), others are unusually energetic, and a few are extraordinarily wild. Nonetheless, all cats are true experts at unconditional love and enrich our lives, giving us so much to look forward to. However, as cat owners there is one task most of us dread—veterinary visits.

Look back on the last time you took your cat to see your veterinarian. You may remember an epic battle getting your cat loaded into his carrier. Or perhaps you recollect your cat anxiously howling the entire car ride. Getting your cat to his veterinary appointment can be stressful and challenging, understandably so. But it does not have to be that way. Let us help you make getting your cat’s veterinary care a little easier with a few recommendations that will help everyone relax.

At home- Prepare your cat for travel.

Make the cat carrier a comfortable, safe place. Many times, the biggest struggle getting your cat to her veterinary visit is loading her into the carrier. This is more likely if your cat is not used to the carrier or has associated the carrier with an unpleasant experience.

Set the carrier out beforehand, with nice bedding, cat treats and toys. This makes going into the carrier a more familiar experience rather than a scary one.

Invest in pheromone products. Sometimes all your cat needs to relax is a little help from pheromones. Pheromones are natural “happy messages” released in the air by cats and only detectable by cats. Pheromones have been shown to decrease stress levels significantly. A common brand of pheromones used by many veterinary clinics today is Feliway®. There is a variety of products available such as sprays, diffusers and wipes.

Create a “go-bag” for your cat. Dedicating a go-bag/travel kit for your cat is something that will make both you and your kitty happy. The go-bag will ensure you have everything you need on hand to help keep your cat remain occupied and calm at the veterinary office, or anywhere else you may travel. The go-bag should have your cat’s favorite treats or foods, toys and mood enhancing products such as catnip, pheromones and even natural herbal-essence such as Rescue Remedy®.

In the car- Decrease stress during transportation.

Take the fear out of travel. Most cats find that traveling can be very intimidating. However, it is possible to make car rides more enjoyable.

Slowly introduce the car. Depending on your cat’s level of stress when it comes to travel, gradually introducing the car may help him become accustomed to traveling. First, try putting your cat in the carrier in the car and not turn it on. After a few minutes take the carrier back out and release your cat into the house. You can slowly increase the time in the car. Try leaving the car doors open and placing his favorite cat treats or food into the car so that he voluntarily enters. After he seems comfortable in the car, you may put him inside the carrier and then in the car. Try turning the engine on so that he can adjust to the noise. If after a while he seems relaxed, you may begin to take him on occasional short car rides.

Minimize noise and commotion. Cats typically do not like a lot of noise, and unfortunately car rides can be very loud. You can sometimes relax your cat by keeping the carrier covered with a towel. Help keep the environment quiet by turning off the radio and keeping all windows up. Also, if there are other passengers or children in the car, have them assist you by staying quiet and maintaining a calm environment.

In the hospital- Keep your cat comfortable during the veterinary appointment.

Although we cannot avoid the veterinary visit entirely, we can make the time at the hospital more enjoyable. Just as we don’t favor going to see the doctor, cats typically don’t enjoy visiting the veterinary hospital.

Reduce the hustle and bustle as much as possible. Always bring your cat inside the hospital while in the carrier. Keeping the carrier covered with a towel can help decrease stress levels by reducing the impact of other animals in the lobby.

Minimize time spent in the lobby. Depending on how anxious your cat may get, less time spent in the waiting area is usually helpful. The lobby is quite stimulating for cats as they are more sensitive to the noise and odors from other animals. Talk with our veterinary receptionist before your cat’s appointment and arrange to be brought directly into the exam room upon your arrival, if possible.

Use pheromones in the exam room. Although the exam room may not smell of other cats to you, animals are much more sensitive to odors than humans. Wiping down the exam table with pheromones or spraying a product such as Feliway® in the air might help relieve anxiety.

Let them explore. Once in the exam room, let our team know if you would like to let your cat roam. Some cats feel safest when they are kept in the carrier as much as possible while others are more comfortable when they can discover the environment of the exam room. Open the carrier door and allow your cat to come out if she chooses to do so. If she decides to stay inside the carrier that is okay too.

Whip out your cat’s go-bag. Once at the veterinary hospital, the go-bag you prepared for your cat may come in handy. Bring out your cat’s favorite food or snack and offer it to her. Let her graze on some catnip. Offer her favorite toy to play with. The key is to keep your cat comfortable and distracted. Note: If your cat is having any lab work performed, speak with the veterinary staff before offering any food as the veterinarian may prefer that your cat stay fasted until after the lab samples are collected.

At Muller Veterinary Hospital, we are here to make your pet’s veterinary visit as stress-free as possible. Let us know how we can continue to make your pet’s visit with us a positive experience.