So, you’ve been advised by your vet that your cat would benefit from some physiotherapy? This might be because your cat is recovering from an injury, has a form of arthritis or it would help with the general health of your cat. There are many reasons as to why your cat would need physio. Whilst it is more common that dogs have physiotherapy, cats can have it too. Some may tolerate it whilst others may not.
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What is physiotherapy?
Whilst everyone knows humans can have physio, our cats can too. A physiotherapist would assess the movement of the body and use rehabilitation techniques that help restore/improve some function and relieve pain. It can also be used to maintain the health of your cat. However, physiotherapy must only be performed under the instruction of your vet. While maintenance physio is now permitted without a vet being involved, treatment of any illness or injury always requires veterinary referral.
Where do I find a physiotherapist for my cat?
When finding a physiotherapist the first port of call would be to ask your veterinarian if they can recommend someone that’s suitable. Unfortunately the veterinary or animal physiotherapy title isn’t protected so in theory anyone could be one that has an interest. Most veterinary physiotherapists are also human physiotherapists first. To find a suitable physiotherapist that has been veterinary approved would also be a member of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Therapy.
Compare a variety of physiotherapists.
It is always a good idea to compare some physiotherapists and see who suits you and your cat. Consider the location: do you have to take your cat there or will they come to your house? It’s important to keep cats as stress free as possible. If your cat gets stressed whilst travelling or stressed being in a different environment it would be ideal to find a physiotherapist that will come to your house. Another thing to compare is finding out how many feline patients the physiotherapist has treated. Cats are rather different to handle compared to dogs behaviourally, medically, and musculoskeletally. It is ideal to have someone that has a lot of experience in handling cats.
Will my pet insurance cover the cost?
This all depends on your policy, some insurance companies will cover for physiotherapy whilst others do not cover. It’s always worth checking with your insurance before committing for any treatment in case they do not cover this and you will have to pay yourself.
What to expect at your first appointment?
When preparing your cat for its first visit it’s important to keep them as stress free as possible as we want to make this a good successful experience. When putting your cat in the carrier be aware that your cat may be in some discomfort; so take care when handling. It is a good idea to take some of your cat’s own bedding, toys and treats to the visit to keep them as happy and calm as possible and create a good experience at the facility.
Once you arrive at the facility, if the waiting room has a cat only area then wait there with your cat; again this is to keep stress to a minimum and avoid encounters with dogs. When your cat is ready to be examined, place their own blanket on the table so they feel at home. The physiotherapist will discuss with you the behaviours of your cat; and any problems it may have and then perform an examination. As physio treatment has to be performed under the instruction of a veterinarian, the physiotherapist will usually already know the areas of concern.
They will do a pain assessment and score this, and monitor for stress. They will check the range of movement on limbs, flexibility, balance and proprioception. These sessions are often short as longer sessions may distress your cat. Based on the assessment and how your cat tolerates it will depend on how many sessions would be needed and how often. Quite often owners are given homework to do, to gradually increase range of motion and flexibility, for example.
Remember, if in any doubt, follow your vet’s recommendation!
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