Bringing your cat to the Vets can be stressful for you, and your cat… but it doesn’t have to be! There are lots of things you can do at home to reduce your cats stress levels before they even arrive at the practice. Here are my top 5 tips!
Make the carrier part of the furniture!
Has your cat ever spotted the cat carrier coming out of the garage and bolted? That’s because they likely have a negative association with it! It only comes out when a Vet visit is needed, and this usually accompanies travelling in the car.
Keep their carrier in the home so they may freely access it and as such, it becomes part of the furniture! The carrier will smell familiar and may even become a safe space to rest or sleep. Offering treats whilst they’re in the carrier can further reinforce the positive association with it. You will find there is much less resistance when you need to put them in the carrier to come to the Vets!
Cat friendly carriers!
Carriers which can be opened from the front and at the top can make it a lot easier to place your cat in the carrier and indeed, get them back out again! The carrier should be sturdy, so avoid back packs or cardboard boxes.
Pheromone therapy!
Spraying Feliway inside the carrier 20minutes before use can help to relax your cat whilst in transit to the Vets and whilst they’re in the waiting area. This in turn will help them feel more relaxed when they arrive at their appointment.
Blankets!
A familiar smelling blanket from home can be used to cover the carrier so your cat feels safer and more secure. We have blankets in our waiting area so please help yourself! We spray them with feliway too to help them relax whilst they’re waiting.
Treats and toys!
Feel free to bring along your cats favourite treats or toys to the appointment. We want them to feel as comfortable as possible whilst they’re here, so familiar items will help to reduce their stress and anxiety.
For more tips, I would recommend following the link below to the Icatcare website for more tips and tricks for making visits to the vets puuuuurrrrrfect!
