How to Make your Cat’s Vet Visit Less Stressful

Worrying about the stress of vet visits is a familiar feeling for cat parents. Cats are creatures of routine. They are territorial and naturally afraid of strangers and unfamiliar places. Vet clinics smell very different from home and may be full of dogs and the sounds of barking from the kennels – you can imagine why a cat may find this stressful.

That said, regular veterinary care is essential for all our animals to ensure they stay as healthy as possible, so vet visits are an inevitable part of your cat’s life. In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can make your cat’s vet visits as stress-free as possible.

So much that we, as pet parents, can do to help our cats be happy and healthy starts before you even get your cat. Choosing a kitten from a calm, well-natured mother and a good breeder is ideal, but your choice of vet is also important. There are two main things to consider here:

Travel times

Going in the car is a daily experience for many dogs, but for most cats it’s a yearly event, so they find it very stressful. The shorter you can make those journeys, the better. Try to choose the closest clinic that you feel happy with.

Are they ‘cat-friendly’?

There can be differences between practices that are specifically set up for cats and those with a more general focus. The organisation International Cat Care (iCatCare) runs a cat-friendly clinic scheme with tiers of how cat-friendly they are. These clinics will have things like separate waiting areas and wards for cats, so they are far from the sight and sound of dogs. They also take extra time for the consultations to let your cat adjust to the environment and use the least stressful handling techniques possible. There are also a growing number of clinics these days that only see cats.

If you can find a clinic that is a good compromise between being cat-friendly and close to home, you will have made a great step in the right direction.

There are several things to consider when it comes to a good cat carrier and how you use it. Never take your cat in the car or to the vet without a carrier. This is incredibly risky and may result in injury or escape if they get frightened. It is also a major risk for car accidents if your cat tries to hide in the footwell by the pedals or starts scrambling around the inside of the car while you’re driving. Below we’ll look at all the factors to consider:

Design of the cat carrier

You need a cat carrier that is:

• Strong and sturdy.
• Big enough for your cat to comfortably turn around in, including when there is a bed inside.
• Easily cleaned. Cats may vomit or go to the toilet during the journey, so you want to avoid things like wicker baskets that are impossible to clean.
• A top section that comes off completely. These allow your vet to leave your cat in the basket where they feel secure but still examine them. Carriers that only have a little front door mean your cat has to be hauled out if they don’t come out on their own.

Desensitising your cat to their carrier by integrating it into daily life

For many cats, the sight of the carrier emerging from the garage immediately suggests something deeply unpleasant is about to happen. They will hide, run away or do anything in their power to avoid getting in. Lots of cat parents get scratched or bitten trying to wrestle their cats into the carrier, and it’s very stressful for your cat, too.

Incorporating the carrier into your cat’s daily environment means they will grow used to the sight and smell of it. Put it somewhere quiet and warm and add a comfortable bed, so your cat can use it as one of their safe places when they want to. Remove the door or just keep the bottom half out so your cat can easily come and go. Occasionally give them tasty treats while they are in it so that they associate it with a pleasant experience.

Train your cat to feel happy in the carrier

If you haven’t been leaving the carrier out as a normal bed and your cat is scared of it, there are ways you can train them to feel more relaxed:

1. Start to make it part of their daily routine as described above.
2. Put their favourite blanket inside with the top section removed and encourage them in with their favourite treats. Be patient and let them leave if they want to.
3. When your cat is comfortable with this, add the top section and keep giving treats.
4. When your cat is happy with this, add the door and leave it open.
5. Then start closing the door for increasing lengths of time. 
6. At any stage, if your cat is distressed or wants to leave, let them. Go back a step and take longer to get them used to it.