ASIDE EXOTIC PETS OUR OTHER MAIN FOCUS IS PROVIDING A CAT FRIENDLY PRACTICE
Around the world much fewer cats are brought to a veterinarian, than dogs. Part of the reason is, that both cats and their owners experience a lot more stress during these visits, compared to dogs. Not many know, that with providing an environment and behaviour that respects the basic needs and reactions of cats, this stress can be significantly reduced.

Fotó: Perényi János
WHAT ARE WE DOING, TO HELP REDUCE THE STRESS OF YOUR CAT DURING THEIR VISIT?

Fotó: Perényi János
The calmest corner of our waiting room is saved for our feline patients, with special shelves for the cat carriers for even less stimuli. They also don’t have to be afraid of curious dogs coming up to sniff them.
We have a special examination room designed with the purpose of providing a calm environment for cats, equipped with a Feliway diffuser to help reduce stress, and where cats are allowed to roam free and explore everything, without risking them hiding under the furniture.


More about Feliway products: https://www.feliway.com/hu
If the carrier in which your cat arrives allows this, during the visit we don’t have take them out of the carrier, it is enough to remove the top half. This way they can stay in the bottom half of the carrier, they don’t have to leave the space where they feel most safe. If we have to take a blood sample or perform a more invasive examination we handle our patients with cat friendly techniques, that are more acceptable for cats. We don’t use force, if necessary we use towels or blankets to hold them. If this isn’t enough we sedate or anesthetise the cats to perform these medical interventions.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO REDUCE STRESS DURING THEIR TRAVEL AND VISIT?

It is important, that the carrier that you use is stable, can be taken apart, if possible has a metal grid door. Inside you should put a soft blanket or towel. Spraying Feliway spray into the carrier and onto the blanket half an hour prior to leaving can make the travel more peaceful.
Cover the carrier so the cat is shielded from dogs on the street and other scary stimuli. The best would be, to train your cat from a young age to get used to the carrier, for example by placing the carrier somewhere in your home where the cat can use it as a hiding place, and doesn’t only see it when veterinary visits are needed.