Cats are curious, playful companions with plenty of personality, making them the purr-fect addition to many homes. If you are considering adopting a new kitten or adult cat, Berkeley Veterinary Center is here to help you with some tips on choosing the right cat for your family and lifestyle.
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Some people think cats make great pets because you can leave them home alone for long stretches of time. Many believe that cats don’t require much interaction, and are content to simply “do their own thing”.
This couldn’t be further from the truth!
Cats are actually highly social animals that thrive in a stimulating environment. They are creatures of habit, loyal companions, and intuitive housemates. Cats give their people so much, and they deserve the attention they need to maintain lifelong cat health.
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Like humans, pets are susceptible to a multitude of dangerous contagious viruses and bacteria. Prior to the advent of vaccines, many pets suffered from these illnesses and often suffered an early death. Thankfully, veterinary science has developed safe and effective vaccines for many diseases, and these have saved countless animals from needless suffering.
While vaccinations have safeguarded countless pets from disease, some pet owners are still skeptical. Are vaccinations necessary for your pet’s health? The team of veterinary experts at Berkeley Veterinary Center is here to explain this important topic.
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As a Certified Cat-Friendly Practice, we see a lot of wonderful, playful, affectionate cats at Berkeley Veterinary Center. There are few things more gratifying than seeing cats being cared for so deeply by their owners. Cat pet-parents tend to enjoy the privilege of cat ownership immensely, often doing anything and everything to ensure that all their cat’s needs are met.
You may assume that “any” cat could be the best pet-match for any and all, but adopting the “right” cat for the “right” person takes a substantial amount of time and consideration.
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When we aren’t feeling well we either spend the day in bed to rest and recuperate, or take ourselves to the clinic. Either way, we generally know when we cannot go to work or be around others.
Cats, on the other hand, try really hard to show the world they are fine –they can’t help it! As a method of self preservation, they are hardwired to mask any signs of “weakness”. Owners might not even realize they have a sick cat until one day Fluff Buddy doesn’t come out of their hiding place. Then what?
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At Berkeley Veterinary Center, a Fear Free experience for you and your furry friends is of utmost priority to us. Did you know that our staff and doctors have undergone special training to ensure that your pet’s stress, anxiety, and fear is kept as minimal as possible during their visit?
Learn about all the extra things we do at our Fear Free Certified facility to make your pet’s experience a great one!
There are so many things that go into helping each pet who enters our practice feel at ease. Fear Free is about adapting to the needs of each individual patient. For example, a food-loving lab is going to require a much different approach than a terrified kitty!
Some of the things that we do to decrease fear, anxiety, and stress in our patients may include:
Treats, treats, and more treats — We utilize food as a reward and a distraction for many of our patients. This helps us to earn their trust and is often enough to keep a pet preoccupied during their exam. Special high value treats like spray cheese and peanut butter are always on hand, but you are encouraged to bring along your pet’s favorites. Be sure your pets arrive to their appointment hungry!
Pheromones everywhere — While you may not notice them, your dog or cat is sure to take note of the pheromone diffusers throughout our hospital. Feliway for cats and Adaptil for dogs help to put our patients at ease.
Getting down — Getting down on your pet’s level helps to create a sense of calm in many of our patients. Don’t be surprised to see us down on the floor. We may also get creative about performing procedures where your pet is most comfortable, such as in someone’s arms or up on one of our chairs. It’s all about getting things done safely and without anxiety.
A smelly undertaking — We hope that you notice the absence of smells in our hospital when you walk in. Your pet is sure to notice as well. We take extra care to remove odors that may cause nose-blindness or feed fear in the animals who visit.
No dogs allowed — Almost nothing is scarier for our feline patients than being greeted face-to-face by an unfamiliar and most unwelcome dog. The barking, smells, and general commotion that comes with canines can increase stress and anxiety in our cat patients. Separate dog and cat entrances into the hospital, separate dog and cat waiting rooms, and a cat-only exam room help to minimize this.
A considerate approach — You may wonder why we don’t just jump in and get the job done. Moving slowly and using a pet’s body language to gauge how they are feeling can help us to get more accomplished during your pet’s visit with less stress and anxiety.
Calming sounds — Sometimes the sounds at a veterinary hospital can be disconcerting for already anxious animals. We do our best to minimize these, often using calming music to help.
Prioritizing wants vs needs — We may have a laundry list of things that we hope to accomplish during your pet’s visit, but your pet will likely have some different ideas. We do our best to prioritize the things that “need” to happen, saving the things that we “want” to happen for last. This allows us to provide the best medicine for your pet, while making good judgements about when to push on and when to maybe try under different circumstances another day.
A Fear Free experience is very important to us. It is a rewarding feeling to work with your pets in a stress-free environment. Creating this experience for our pet patients is rewarding because it helps to build a sense of trust in the dogs and cats we treat and makes them want to see us again. It also allows us to see their true personalities, and to get to know them better.
If you have questions or want to learn more about Fear Free, please give us a call. We would love to meet you and your pet. You can also find more information on Fear Free at FearFreePets.com.
Most of us place a lot of value on family traditions this time of year, like caroling, making gingerbread houses, or binging holiday movies together. In fact, we often strive to top our experience from the previous year! The point is, making holiday memories is fun and important.
Since it’s natural to want to get the whole family involved, holiday pet traditions are becoming more and more popular among pet owners. Looking for some ideas for your own two- and four-legged loved ones? You’re in luck!
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Whether you’ve owned cats for years, or are just delving into the world of being a cat parent, we can all agree that cats are the best. They are smart, loving, energetic, and so much fun to be around. And, either way, there is always more to learn about these creatures who we love so much.
Here are our tried and true tips for new cat owners, and a few ideas even seasoned cat owners might find useful.
Choose a cat-friendly veterinarian and practice. You may or may not be aware of the designation of Cat Friendly Practice, but there is such a certification, and it can make a big difference in your cat’s stress level at the veterinarian. As a Cat Friendly Practice, Berkeley Veterinary Center knows cats. We can guide you every step of the way with the special needs of your new friend. We have invested in how to make cats feel special, including how to use low stress handling techniques. (more…)
There’s something special about cats. Maybe it’s their silky fur and gracefully fluid movements, their love of cardboard boxes, or the way they wind themselves around our ankles when we arrive home after a long day at work. Regardless of the reason, cats hold a special place in our hearts, and it’s hard to imagine life without them.
February is National Cat Health Month, and we couldn’t be more excited here at Berkeley Veterinary Center. Our feline patients are so important to us. It’s our pleasure to share our top tips for cat health and wellness with our readers!
As pet owners, we all know how important it is to bring our pets in for their regularly scheduled wellness exams, but finding the time and energy to get a fearful or anxious pet in for a check-up can be a daunting task. Because bringing and managing a scared animal at the vet’s office is so difficult, many pets end up missing out on wellness visits and other important care.
At Berkeley Veterinary Center, we believe all pets deserve access to regular, quality, and low-stress veterinary care. We are committed to providing a calm, stress-free environment for our patients, which is why we have taken the steps necessary to receive our Fear Free Certification! (more…)
