Tips for taking your cat to the vet

Is it that time of year when Fluffy has to go to the vet for his or her annual vaccinations? Or maybe Fluffy has been unwell and needs to be seen to immediately by one of our vets. Either way, we know it can be an ordeal to get Fluffy to the vet and back home. We’ve got a few tips below that might make your trip to the vets a little smoother.

Types of carriers:

When you arrive at the vet, what we generally do is start off by asking you few questions to get a good history of how your cat is doing. While we gather history, we will open the door to the carrier so Fluffy can relax and slowly find the courage to exit the carrier. If your cat is quite nervous and not wanting to come out of his/her carrier, we may try to slowly guide them out. If this does not work, we then remove the top of the carrier so we don’t have to drag them out (which can be quite scary for a cat). This is why it is important to look for a carrier that you are easily able to disassemble and remove the top of. This way, we are able to perform a physical examination while your cat is still sitting within his or her carrier where they feel safest.

Gorgeous little Kepler came in recently and was brought to the vet in this sturdy and convenient carrier! As you can see, there are 2 buckles on each side and this allows the top half of the carrier to be removed. These are very convenient especially when patients are anxious to come out of their carriers, or are elderly and arthritic and keeping them in their carriers for their physical examination allows them to remain comfortable.

Kepler ready to head home after a quick visit to us. Thank you to her parents who kindly allowed us to use these photos for this month’s blog post.

All carriers are acceptable as long as it is able to keep your furry friend confined safely en route to to the vet. However, being able to remove the top half of the carrier makes it easier to assess a frightened cat as we are still able to perform a physical exam while they are still hidden in the bottom half. Carriers such as this one make it harder to remove the cat from the carrier without adding stress to them.

The ideal carrier:

has a removable top
is made of a sturdy material (i.e. plastic, not fabric)
has a firm flat floor (for soft carriers) so cat can sit comfortably
has clips on the side for easy removal, not screws or zip ties
large enough for the cat to turn around in, but not too large that the cat will roll around during transport

It can be difficult to get your furry friend used to their carrier, especially when they know that it means it’s time to go to the vet when the carrier is brought out! It is important to get your cat used to being around and inside the carrier. Leave your carrier out in a low traffic area of the house and place a comfortable blanket and their favourite toys and treats inside. This will slowly entice him or her to enter the carrier in their own time. Keep in mind, it may take weeks to months for your cat to become comfortable with the carrier, so ensure you are giving them ample time to adjust. You can also remove the top half of the carrier and use the base of it has a comfortable resting spot or bed. Another option is to spray a blanket with a pheromone spray called “Feliway”. This spray helps cats to mark things as their own and makes them feel safer. When you do notice your cat going up to the carrier for the first time, or starting to become accustomed to it, make sure to reward them with treats, pets and/or play time- depending on what your cat really loves. Positive reinforcement is key! If your cat is a little bit wary and is taking a little bit longer to approach the carrier, don’t force them in as this will make them even more unwilling to do so.

Sometimes, cats can get quite anxious and stressed at the hospital. We use low stress handling techniques at Perth Cat Hospital but sometimes this isn’t quite enough. If a patient is overly anxious (and especially if they start becoming aggressive), this will hinder our ability to perform a thorough physical exam. In this case, a medication called “gabapentin” may be recommended. Gabapentin is normally used as a pain relief, but works tremendously as an anti-anxiety or sedative medication as well. This medication is very easily disguised in some yummy, smelly wet food and most cats take it without any issues. If you think your cat might get a little too stressed at the vets, this might be an option for you.

Before the day of the visit to the vets, you may want to try a little practice run in the car. If your cat is especially anxious in the car, you may want to try driving around for as little as 1 to 2 minutes then rewarding them with yummy treats. Slowly build up to 10 to 15 minutes over a few days/weeks and make sure to keep those treats flowing! And before you leave the house, remember to bring your vaccination card and any important documents you may have. This ensures we have all the right information for your furry friend.

At Perth Cat Hospital, we only treat cats. This makes a huge difference to your cat’s stress levels. Make sure to keep your cat inside the carrier and to cover the carrier with one of our Feliway infused blankets that we have in our waiting room. Try to avoid placing the carrier on the ground as cats are vertical animals and prefer to be high up. Our waiting room has been purpose built with raised locations for you to rest your carrier. Avoid putting your cat face to face with another cat’s carry box as this can be stressful too.

Now you’ve brought Fluffy to the vet and everything checks out! You’re back home but you’re noticing that your other cat is now acting a little bit differently, and sometimes aggressively, around them. This can happen sometimes because Fluffy was in a new environment and has picked up some new smells that your other cat is not familiar with. This behaviour should settle within a few days, but if you are concerned, you should separate the two cats especially when you are not around to supervise them. Once they settle down, you may reintroduce them slowly and keep a close eye on them to ensure no one gets hurt. Providing lots of treats tends to help!

Lastly, it’s important to bring your cat to the vet regularly for check ups. This is not only to make sure they are healthy and have no underlying issues, but bringing your cat to the vet regularly for short, uncomplicated checks helps them to get used to travelling and being at the vet.

Dr. Renee has two fur babies, Lady Stop and Chihiro Ophelia Princess of Genovia (Chi Chi for short). She has a strong passion for surgery, medicine and behaviour. She hopes to share some of her knowledge with you in her monthly blog posts!

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