You have made an appointment with
your veterinarian for your cat’s annual
wellness visit. You know this visit is important,
but you have been dreading this day.
When the cat carrier appears, Tigger immediately
hides beneath the couch. With
protest you drag him from this safe place
and struggle to confine him to his carrier.
Now the real drama begins. This may be
the only time you ever hear such wailing.
You finally arrive at the veterinary clinic
and can hear the barking before you even
open the hospital door.
There is no need to announce your
arrival. The staff is expecting Tigger and
seems even more stressed than you. As the
large dog in the waiting room lunges at its
leash to reach Tigger’s carrier, your hear
him emit a blood curdling scream. Angela
is always so calm on the phone, but now
she is clearly agitated. She informs you
that she has prepared for Tiggers’ arrival.
Leather gloves, towels and a muzzle are
already in the exam room. Angela takes
Tigger away and you remain in the waiting
room wringing your hands. It has been
many years since you last remained in the
room for Tiggers’ visit. With the fur flying
it is hard to imagine how these poor people
accomplish anything. When Tigger finally
arrives back home he returns to his place
under the couch. It is hours before he feels
safe enough to venture out again.
Understanding cats and recognizing
how they are different from dogs can go
a long way toward making your feline
friends visit to your veterinarian a positive
experience. It is important to realize how
nervous cats can be in a veterinary office
and why.
Cats in the wild are often preyed upon
by other animals. They may perceive that
dogs in the waiting room see them as dinner.
When you take your cat to your veterinarian,
this perception influences the way
your cat feels about their experience-they
are hoping to leave the clinic alive.
The smell of dogs and the noise of
dogs barking can be unsettling and signal
danger to cats. The perfect scenario is to
have your cat’s medical needs attended to
in your home or in a veterinary hospital
that sees only cats.
Cats also have very different illnesses
and medical needs than dogs. Urinary tract
inflammation associated with stress, feline
leukemia caused by a virus and immune
induced dental disease, are a few feline
specific diseases. Having a veterinary staff
focused on the special health concerns
of cats can be very helpful in achieving a
positive outcome.
A quiet veterinary hospital without
the presence of dogs and a veterinary staff
focused on the special needs of cats can
make Tigger’s wellness visit a very different
experience.
Compliment of
Feline Medical Care Center
