We can help to make your cat’s visit to the vet an easy experience.
Does your cat hate coming to the vet?
We recognize that most cats are extremely stressed by a visit to see us. Getting into the carrier, riding in the car, dealing with noise and the smell of dogs – it all adds up to a cat that either balls up in fear or strikes out in anger. It may seem that the journey to visit us is more dangerous than the disease you are trying to treat!
Animal Care Clinic can make the visit easier!
We employ many techniques to keep cats at ease so they can get the preventive and medical care they deserve, and you can have peace of mind knowing you are doing what is best for your kitty
- Separate waiting and examination area – no dogs allowed!
- Feline pheromones that only cats can smell – makes them feel at home
- We take our time – no fast changes or movements for our feline friends
- Darker & quieter rooms set the mood
- Minimal restraint & a strong understanding of feline behavior help us to manage even the most cranky kitties
- Special tips & client education on how to transport your kitties to see us
- Feline behavior service to help you with problems at home
Resources:
To learn more about cat friendly veterinary medicine & how a visit to Animal Care Clinic can be easy on your cats, click on the links below, call us or come in to see us. We think you’ll be amazed! The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) now has a certification to earn the title of a “Cat Friendly Practice.” We are very proud to announce that we have been certified as a Cat Friendly Practice!! This is a relatively new certification. The AAFP site has some good information for cat owners, some of which we have linked here below.
- AAFP brochure – Getting Your Cat to the Veterinarian
- AAFP – Feline Behavior Guidelines
- Friends for Life Brochure – Caring for Your Older Cat
- Pain Medication and Your Cat
The Catalyst Council is another group that is working to raise the level of care and welfare of cats. Their Facts, Fun, and Resources page has some great links, videos, and other fun cat stuff you may want to check out!
It is a myth that cats do not need to see the veterinarian on a regular basis. Cats tend to hide their illnesses better than dogs until they are very sick and it is more difficult to have a positive outcome. Prevention and catching diseases early will generally mean a better outcome. More cat health facts/myths, wellness information, and tips on making the process of bringing your cat to the vet can be found at Have We Seen Your Cat Lately?
Indoor-only cats do tend to live longer than those allowed outside, however there are some behavior and medical problems we tend to see more frequently in indoor kitties. Providing plenty of environmental enrichment will decrease stress and fewer medical problems. A great resource is the Indoor Pet Initiative site created by Ohio State University School of Veterinary Medicine.
Cats & Carriers: Friends not Foes
This first one takes you step-by-step on how to get cats to see that carriers are not scary things. So often the only times cats see the carrier come out is immediately before a visit to the veterinarian. We’ll help your cat to see the carrier as a safe place to help make veterinary visits or travel anywhere easier for you and your cat.
5 reasons to take your cat to the veterinarian
Ongoing regular checkups keep your cat happy and healthy. Learn ways you can help from trusted leaders in feline care. Here are five reasons not to postpone veterinary exams.
Feline Nutrition
We understand that cats are NOT small dogs. They are very different animals and have different nutritional requirements. Unfortunately obesity is a very common observation in indoor cats. Keeping your cat at a lean and healthy body condition can extend the years you spend with your cat. Use the Pet Nutrition Alliance Calorie Calculator to find our how much it takes to keep your cat healthy.
Cat Parasite Prevention
Parasite prevention is another concern we deal with daily on the Central Coast. Not only do we think this is a great place to live, but so do fleas and other parasites. Even indoor cats are at risk for some of these parasites. At your next visit ask us what is recommended for your cat’s lifestyle.
Cat Health Problems
And finally, this video discusses some common medical problems we see in cats. Cats are extremely good at hiding symptoms of disease and so we often don’t know a cat is sick until the medical condition is advanced. Regular veterinary visits allow us to catch diseases early on when we can do more to help your cat and help them to live a happy and healthy life.
Behavior:
Feliway is a synthetic cat pheromone product. We often recommend using it in conjunction with various behavior related issues, including spraying, scratching, anxiety and multi-cat households. We will use it in our exam rooms and other cat areas within our hospital to help ease cats. Check out their website for cat behavior info, stress behaviors, and rebates. A great resource for cat behavior and training is Sophia Yin’s website! She is a veterinarian and extremely well-versed in behavior. She has an entire section of articles and videos dedicated to cats. Her information includes everything from kittens and general behavior to behavior problems and training tricks! This site is a great place to start for anything relating to behavior!
Health:
As far as online cat health information there a several resources we have found that are our favorites! Cornell University Veterinary School has a Feline Health Center with great info pages on general health care, infectious diseases, and medical disorders. Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine has an entire section with great info on cat health. There’s a whole section just about enriching the lives of indoor cats. They really understand how cats are unique creatures and special as pets.