If taking your cat to the vets was less stressful, do you think you would go more often?
Findings from Cats Protection’s CATS (Cats and Their Stats) Report 2024 suggest that stress is a big barrier for cat owners when it comes to visiting the vet. Around a quarter (26%) said that the stress experienced by their cat, or themselves, was a reason why they don’t visit the vet as much as they’d like to. Stress comes in a close second behind the cost of the visit, with 28% citing cost as a reason for not visiting the vet as often.
Cats are great at hiding pain, and it can be difficult to tell when they are starting to feel unwell. That’s why it’s so important to keep to those regular vet visits to ensure that nothing is missed and that problems are caught early. If we can remove some of the stress experienced by cats in going to the vet, we can potentially improve the lives of millions of cats across the UK, helping them access much-needed care.
Why do cats behave like they do when they visit the vet?
It’s normal for cats to feel frightened during veterinary visits. For a cat, their sense of safety comes from feeling secure in a safe and familiar environment. Removal from their familiar surroundings will make them feel anxious and on edge.
Pets don’t understand why they need to have check-ups or that a veterinary procedure is being done for their own good. Their automatic reaction to being prodded and poked by a stranger, often under bright lights, surrounded by the smells of chemicals and disinfectants, is going to be that of fear.
Cats demonstrate fear in different ways
Cats generally respond to fear with ‘fight’ (lashing out, hissing, biting), ‘flight’ (fleeing or running away) or ‘freeze’ (cats may shut down and attempt to ignore their surroundings). It’s not comfortable for a cat to be in a state of fear, whichever way they choose to demonstrate it. If fear and anxiety are not addressed early on, it will only get worse over time. Cats can become harder to manage safely, and it becomes extremely difficult for owners and vets to help them.
For some owners, there may be a degree of embarrassment over their cat’s behaviour. This can also put people off taking their cat to the vet. It’s important to remember that your cat’s reaction is completely natural. They are afraid, and they are not deliberately trying to create a scene.
Fortunately, there are ways to make the visit to the vet less scary for your cat
Some of these tips are easy to implement but be warned! Some can take time and perseverance. It is well worth investing the time and effort though, so that your cat is able to get all the care they need in as stress-free a way as possible.
1. Setting the scene
The first step is to contact your vet and ask them if they have any special measures in place to help cats feel calmer, such as ‘cat-only’ appointment times. Some veterinary practices may have been given ‘Cat Friendly Clinic’ accreditation, issued by the charity International Cat Care. To obtain this accreditation, clinics must demonstrate that they have put certain cat friendly measure in place, such as having a cat-only waiting area, and have staff trained in fear-free cat handling techniques.
Discuss any concerns you may have about your visit with the veterinary practice. This will allow the veterinary team to be better prepared for your cat’s visit. They may be able to offer some additional tips, like when to avoid heavy local traffic, to make the visit that much smoother.
If your vet knows your cat well enough they may prescribe anti-anxiety medication prior to the clinic visit. Talk to your vet about whether medication is an appropriate option for your cat.
2. The cat carrier
The cat carrier can easily become a trigger for your cat’s stress. Even the act of getting the carrier out of the loft or garage can make some cats bolt straight out of the cat flap. Cats will quickly come to associate the cat carrier with any previous negative experience at the vets.
Choosing the right cat carrier can help. It’s much less stressful for a cat to exit a cat carrier on their own, or to be lifted gently out of the top, then for the carrier to be tipped up to get them out. Pick a carrier that has a top-opening or removable top, and this will make life a lot easier. Sometimes, cats can be examined while they are still inside the carrier if the lid comes off, and this can be a lot less stressful for them.
It’s really important to make sure the carrier is safe, secure and study. Fabric carriers, backpacks and harnesses just aren’t up to the job. It’s really common for cats to toilet in the carrier, or to get a bit car sick, so a carrier made out of wipe clean plastic is ideal. Place a towel in the bottom of the carrier. Use one that smells like your cat, ideally taken from their usual cat bed.
If you have more than one cat, invest in getting a carrier for each of them. Even cats that get on well will prefer to be surrounded by their own particular scent when they feel stressed.
The next task is getting your cat used to the cat carrier. Don’t leave the carrier tucked away in some dusty cupboard somewhere; set it up as a safe place for your cat to investigate whenever they like. Place it in a private, quiet place, with your cat’s usual bedding inside and maybe a few treats and toys to tempt them in. Then just leave it out for them to use whenever they feel like it. They’ll start to associate their carrier as a place of safety.
With a bit of time and patience, it is possible to train your cat to go into the cat carrier. If you are interested in giving this a go, International Cat Care have developed a series of videos that can help you.
3. The little things that count
Your cat should always travel inside their cat carrier. If you can, place a lightweight cover over the top of the carrier, as cats feel safer when they can’t see the things that may alarm them. Make sure your car is at an appropriate temperature before bringing your cat into the car. It can be a good idea to play calming music (think Classic FM) to help drown out some of the scary road noise. Try to make the journey as short and as smooth as possible.
It’s a good idea to time your visit so that you don’t need to spend a long time in the waiting room (although sometimes, clinic emergencies can mean a wait is necessary). If it’s a really loud and noisy waiting room, and it’s going to be a long wait, you could ask whether it might be possible to stay in the car until you are ready to be called in.
4. Reading the signs
If you can recognise the signs of stress for your cat, you can adjust your handling of them accordingly. If the early signs of stress are ignored, it’s likely that your cat’s behaviour will escalate. Rough handling, like scruffing, will only heighten your cat’s fear and anxiety. You can find out more about how to read your cat’s body language here.
If your cat is miaowing loudly, don’t be tempted to open the carrier until you are in the safety of an enclosed consulting room with the vet. Instead, reassure them with a calm, quiet voice and think about whether there is anything you can do to make them more comfortable by reviewing the previous steps outlined here.
5. Back at home
Your cat is likely to remain unsettled for a period of time once they are back at home. It’s important to let them retreat to a familiar, safe area where they can be left alone to decompress. Make sure they have easy access to their litter tray, water bowl and food bowl and then let them have some privacy. They will need time to groom themselves to get rid of some of those hospital smells before they will begin to feel truly relaxed.
Cats that have had a longer stay in hospital, or that are coming home after an operation, may have special care instructions that you must follow at home. Talk to your vet about what is needed and whether there are stress-free ways to carry out these care tasks.
It’s also a good idea at this point to think about what went well with the visit, and what perhaps didn’t go so well. What could be done differently next time? If your cat still seemed very stressed, you could ask your vet whether next time, anti-anxiety medication might help. Some vets also offer home visits, and some owners may wish to enlist the help of a qualified behaviourist. To find a behaviourist, check out the Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC). You can search for behaviourists near you on the ABTC website.
Further resources:
Taking your cat to the veterinary clinic
How to make vet visits less stressful for your cat | Blog
Helping nervous cats at the vets | Battersea Dogs & Cats Home
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