Picture this… You start off your day by chasing your cat around the house, after about 45 minutes you finally corner her, scoop her up, and attempt to push her into the carrier. She sprawls out her legs and protests, you shed a tear and think it’s never going to happen, but eventually, you pry her little legs from the side of the carrier, drop her in, and slam the cage door before she can back out. You now catch your breathe before calling the vet’s office to let them know you finally got your cat in the carrier but will be late for the appointment.
You start on your way to the vet, hands and arms riddled with battle wounds, listening to your cat’s heartbreaking meows while trying to keep your on the road. The 10 minute car ride seems to last for eternity.
Finally, you make it to the clinic, and as you take your seat, you breathe a sigh of relief as you feel the worst is over. But upon arrival, there are ringing phones, people bustling around, and a dog investigating your cat’s carrier. Your poor cat cowers to the back of her carrier and trembles in fear.
You are then called into an exam room and spend 10 minutes attempting to get your cat out of a carrier that earlier she refused to go into. .The veterinarian makes his way into the room and whips out several scary instruments and probing devices. Your cat feels like she is in the middle of an alien abduction and fights with all her might in the battle to stay alive during the white-coat invasion.
The whole ordeal has stressed both you and your cat out. You decide not to schedule her next exam, because you just can’t handle all the stress again!
Sound familiar? Believe it or not,there ARE ways to reduce your cat’s stress level when it is time for a visit to the vet!
Here are a few tips to get your cat to the vet with minimal stress:
- Leave your cat’s carrier out in a familiar area and add soft bedding or clothing with your scent on it for a day or two prior to your appointment
- Place treats, catnip, or toys inside the carrier at home
- Cover your carrier with a towel or sheet when transporting your cat
- Spray or wipe the inside of your cat’s carrier with a calming pheromone such as Feliway Choose a Certified Cat Friendly Practice that specializes in low-stress handling and environments for cats
- Remain calm – your cat can sense that a situation is stressful by how you react
- Watch this video for more ways to make your cat’s visit to the vet low stress or stress free.
Our Commitment to You and Your Cat
Providing your cat with a veterinary team that is committed to a low-stress visit is something that you may want to consider when choosing a veterinary practice. At Berkeley Veterinary Center, we are committed to providing you and your cat with the most stress-free visit possible, which is why we recently became a Cat Friendly Practice through the American Association of Feline Practitioners.
We have taken the extra steps to become a gold status Cat Friendly Practice which means that we have met a comprehensive checklist of performance criteria to verify that our team members are especially qualified and dedicated to making every visit as pleasant and beneficial as possible for you and your cat. We are the only AAHA Accredited {insert link} and Cat Friendly Certified Practice {insert link} in Ocean County.
To learn more about scheduling an appointment for your cat at our facility visit our website or call us at 732-269-3600