My purrsonal thank you

Everyone that has voted for my tiny but important vet clinic in years gone by, understands how very passionate I am about bringing home visiting vet services for cats into the limelight. Thankyou for helping me in my attempts to do this. Home-visiting cat-loving vets really are the underdogs (or should that be undercats?) of the veterinary industry. Although many practices & vets are coming round to the idea, it's a slow process & the struggle continues. It will definitely speed things up if we have the support of cat people like you!

​So if you feel that I have made a difference to your cat's quality of life again this year, I'd really appreciate it if you would take a moment to show your support. All nominations add up & to ensure they get to the right place, it's best to enter my name as Jo Lewis & the practice name as The Cat Vet. ​​So a big thanks again from the bottom of my heart for your ongoing support of this emerging specialty!     

Jo   >^..^<

What are the Petplan Vet Awards & ​why you should consider voting for your vet?

For those of you that are unfamiliar with the Petplan Veterinary Awards, think of them as the vet industry equivalent of the 'Oscars'. Every year Petplan acknowledges the difficult job veterinary professionals have. We work long hours in an emotionally, intellectually & physically challenging job ensuring both the animals & humans we take under our wing get the care and support that they deserve. Vets have over four times the risk of suicide than the average person. This is in part because for many of us, caring is not a day job, it's a way of living and so it can be very draining if you can't switch this off.

We are animal lovers & advocates yet very high achievers, so we don't want to fail. The trouble is we cannot save every animal we come across which poses a real dilemma! We have to be very in touch with (& good at controlling) our emotions - showing that we truly care, yet staying calm enough to make good medical decisions. It's definitely not easy flitting from euthanasing a special patient to the joys of meeting a kitten for it's first visit within a matter of minutes. For some clients we act as a rock and a guiding light through some horrible times and this is even more evident when crossing the threshold of a family home and into our clients' private world. Petplan feels it needs to recognise the outstanding vets and practices like The Cat Vet who are committed, hardworking & an inspiration to their clients and colleagues.

Need some inspiration to get your nomination started?

The judging panel get lots of nominations. They are specifically looking for clear examples of:

• Exceptional and consistent levels of care
• Outstanding expertise and clinical care
• Those who have gone above and beyond the normal call of duty
• Outstanding professionalism
• Great interpersonal skills with both colleagues and pet owners

These are the points that are often mentioned after a visit and on my online reviews. Do any ring true with you too?

• Do you share the passionate belief that a home-visiting, cat loving vet minimises stress & improves quality of life for cats & their humans?
• How did you feel when you discovered there was a service like this? Were your expectations met or exceeded? 
• What does it mean to you to know this unique service is available to you & your cat(s) but very few others in the world?
• ​Was it something that was said or the way you or your cat was treated? 
• Was a difficult or traumatic experience made much more bearable for you & your cat?
• What does it mean to have the consistency of having your own personal vet?
• Did you feel that you were truly listened to & that your concerns were shared?
• ​Have the modern support services like phone consultations, emails, online advice & handouts helped you to overcome an issue that had previously been unresolved?

How do I vote & submit my nomination?

You don't need to have had your cat insured with PetPlan to enter. Nominations are anonymous and you can nominate again for the same category or a different category if you wish. 

Nominate online now

Download a paper nomination form