Despite the fact that cats have become the most popular companion animal species in America, routine veterinary visits for felines have steadily declined.  Cats are sadly not receiving the same basic preventative care that dogs get.  This is partly due to the fact that cats hide sickness very well, making pet owners think that cats don’t require veterinary care.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Cats can suffer from a myriad of issues, but many of these problems can be avoided with good preventative medicine.

Many owners leave their cats at home simply because cats can be notoriously difficult to transport to the veterinary hospital.  We understand that cats can get stressed very easily.

New Fairfield Animal Hospital is now offering “cat-only” hours to accommodate our feline friends.  Please call 203-312-9000 and ask the staff if you feel that these hours would be beneficial for your pet.

Also, here are some tips to make the process easier:

1. Use a top-loading cat carrier that has a completely removable top half.  This will allow the cat to remain in the bottom of the carrier if necessary.

2. Create a comfortable environment in the carrier with blankets or other special items.

3. Leave the carrier open and accessible for several days prior to the veterinary visit.

4. Reward positive interactions in the carrier with treats and praise.

5. If your cat’s problem is mostly the car, start with short rides and try to keep the experiences positive.

6. Drape a blanket over the carrier and withhold food just before the appointment to reduce motion sickness.

7. Use a synthetic feline pheromone such as Feliway to reduce anxiety.  We’ve been using this spray to reduce post-operative stress for our surgical patients.

8. Avoid loud or intrusive dogs in the waiting area.  Alert the receptionist if you feel that your cat should be taken into a room or even in the back if necessary. (Or schedule during our “cat-only” appointment time!)

9*. And here’s one final tip to reduce stress and avoid potentially serious injury to your cat…

Use a carrier.  And keep your cat IN the carrier in the waiting room.

Nothing will invoke dissatisfaction from the veterinary staff like a cat running loose or being held in your arms in the waiting room.  We understand that your cat is very nice and is acting very calm at the moment.  We also know that big dogs sometimes walk through our doors.  We would like to avoid any unsavory encounters between the two.

Hopefully these tips can make your cat’s next visit to our hospital a little bit easier.  See you then!