It is very important to get your kitty to the vet at least annually. Cats are notorious for having conditions that can cause pain, such as dental disease, or conditions that need early detection, such as kidney disease. We are very aware that the biggest hurdle is often that your cat is afraid of leaving the house and coming to the vet office. We are here to help with that! Here are some steps to reduce and eliminate fear and stress of vet visits:

• Have a carrier that easily unzips or has an easily-removable top. Cats are very easy to examine in their carry bags or carriers, but this is only possible if the carrier is easy to unzip or dissemble.

• Leave the carrier out in your house in a quiet place, so it remains familiar. Put treats in occasionally. You’ll probably notice that your kitty actually spends time in there voluntarily, and this makes it a good place, not a scary place.

• When you come to our office, we will get you into our cat-only room ASAP. We don’t allow dogs in there, so it is only cat smells and decorations, and we have lots of cat toys in there. When you arrive, place the carrier on the ground and open it up. Most cats, even if nervous, will come out and investigate, or even play. This makes the visit much more enjoyable.

• When we enter the exam room, we will first allow your cat to investigate us, but talking for a few minutes while the cat sniffs and walks around. 

• Sometimes a cat is very willing to be examined, but is afraid of certain diagnostics, such as having blood drawn. In these cases, it is very easy to give them some sedation to perform the procedure, in order to eliminate any fear.