Know Before You Go – Successful Vet Visits for You and Your Cat

You might be feeling anxious about taking your cat for a visit to the vet, whether for a routine exam or for a specific health concern. You have to think about putting the cat in the carrier, the car ride, the waiting room – and then the actual exam itself. If you’re feeling nervous about all of these things, imagine how stressed out your cat is going to feel! But there are ways to reduce the stress level – before, during and after your visit – that will benefit both you and your cat.

BEFORE THE VISIT

One theory as to why cats dislike water so much suggests that because the species evolved in dry climates, they had little exposure to rivers or lakes. Aside from drinking water, felines didn’t see much water and as they evolved, it continued to be an element they were unfamiliar with and to this day, cats innately avoid it.

THE NOSE KNOWS

The first thing you should do is make an appointment with your vet. This isn’t as obvious as it seems because many veterinary practices are busy, and if you expect to be seen without an appointment, you may have to wait a while, which could become quite stressful for your nervous feline friend. So in choosing which practice is right for you, consider ones that have designated waiting areas just for cats.

When you call the vet to make your appointment, be clear about the reason you are bringing your cat in for a visit, whether it’s for a specific concern or a routine exam.

Ask the receptionist if there are any prep instructions prior to the visit, for example, your vet may want you to collect a stool sample from your cat, or they may ask that you not feed your cat before your appointment.

Once your appointment is set, it’s important for you, as the pet owner, to understand the expectations of what is to be covered during each annual and semi-annual visit.

• Comprehensive Physical Exam. If your cat doesn’t have a prior medical history to reference, or if he or she has issues due to poor health or advanced age, this type of examination allows vets to familiarise themselves with the cat’s current physical health and advise on any necessary treatment or action. Microchipping, spaying and neutering, dental health, grooming, nutrition, breed specific health problems, and behaviour are often discussed during this part of the visit as well.
• Vaccinations. These are usually administered at your first visit or upon adoption, and subsequently at regular intervals depending on the protocol recommended by the veterinary practitioner, where you live, your cat’s lifestyle and other factors.
• Annual Exam. This routine visit is comprised of a general health check, assessment of vaccine needs, and a status check to ensure that parasite preventatives such as deworming, flea and tick prevention meds are up to date.
• Problem/Treatment. This kind of visit is scheduled if you notice something specifically wrong with your cat and you want to bring him or her in for the vet to evaluate the issue and, if needed, prescribe medication.

The next thing you will want to do is prepare your cat for the visit. Most importantly, you should remain calm and relaxed. Your cat can sense if you are feeling nervous or stressed and will respond accordingly. You can prepare your cat by “rehearsing” a clinical exam to get him or her used to being touched, specifically on the face, ears, paws and tail.

In general, it’s a good idea to keep the carrier in a location where your cat will have constant exposure to it and can get used to it at their own pace.

However, if the carrier is only used or taken out for trips to the vet, your cat will begin to catch on and become fearful at the sight of it. Place some toys, treats or a favourite blanket inside and if your cat goes in, give him or her warm praise. You will also find it much less stressful to use either a top-load carrier or one that opens easily.

THE VET’S OFFICE

Even if you have other animals at home, your cat may not be comfortable with the other animals you will likely encounter in the waiting room at the veterinary practitioner’s office. Keep your cat inside the carrier while you wait to reduce your cat’s stress level and keep the carrier away from other curious pets. The best place for your carrier might actually be on your lap! If your cat is easily upset, let your vet know and ask if they’re able to bring you into an exam room to wait, or you can see if they have designated areas for cats available. You can also consider waiting in your car until you are called in.

Once you are in the exam room with the vet, give your cat a few minutes to get used to the surroundings and comfort your pal while he or she is being handled by the vet.

You should pay attention during your cat’s exam and help the vet when asked. Above all else, continue to remain calm. There will be times where it might be better to step aside and give the vet space needed to build a one on one relationship with your cat while being handled.  Remember that each trip we make to the vet, regardless of its purpose, is a team effort!

COMING HOME

What to do after your cat’s exam depends on his or her health. If there is a condition or if your cat has had a health emergency, your vet will likely tell you signs to watch for and when to call if there are changes or signs. The vet will show you how to give your cat their medications, share with you useful reading material, and also let you know when to return for a follow up visit.

If you get home and you’re worried about something, don’t be afraid to call the vet’s office and ask questions.

At home, it’s important to provide time and space to let your feline pal get reacquainted with his or her environment. Don’t rush your cat out of the carrier, but instead, let him or her come out at his or her own pace. If you have other cats at home, there are a few other steps you may need to take to prevent any hostility between your felines. Because one cat has been out of the house, the returning kitty may smell like a stranger to the other cat (or cats). Even cats who are the best buddies can become aggressive and violent when one returns to the house with an unusual scent.

One precaution you can take to avoid a cat fight, is to massage the cat who is going to the vet with a soft towel prior to leaving home. The idea for this is to completely saturate the towel with the cat’s scent. Once you’ve given the cat a good rub-down, put the towel in a plastic bag and seal it. When you return from the vet visit, massage the returning cat again with the same towel – essentially, putting his or her scent back on the fur. If you forget to do the pre-vet rub-down, you can also massage your cat with an item of your clothing that has been close to your skin, like your shirt. Putting your scent on your cat will also be familiar to the other cats in the house and they will be less likely to be hostile. If there is still some aggression between the cats, it’s best to keep them separated and reintroduce them slowly. Sometimes all they need is a little time to cool down – and after a day at the vet, you might need that too!