My TOP TIPS to ensure your visit runs smoothly
It might sound like an obvious statement but your cat must be present at the time of the visit!
A good starting point is ensuring your cat is confined to indoors and to inform everyone in the household that you have a vet visiting and the importance of keeping the cat(s) confined.
Confine your cat indoors!
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- Make sure you provide water and appropriate toileting facilities ... discovering a wet duvet as you are about to settle into bed for the night is not fun I can assure you!
Make your cat feel at ease!
- Select a quiet room with adequate lighting - kitchens and living rooms are usually a good choice.
- Bedrooms and rooms that cannot be closed off or have many hiding places should be avoided.
- Draw the curtains if your cat is very timid/nervous, but open them half an hour before the visit so they have time to acclimatize and so I can see what I'm doing!).
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Avoid distractions!
Just like a visit to a vet's consultation room - both of us need to bring our undivided attention to the table.
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Special needs patients - nervous, potentially aggressive kitties!
Some cats are more anxious than others and can be very difficult to handle. Many cats that are unmanageable at a vet practice can be more successfully examined when approached within the calm environment of their home. For others, being in their own territory can make them equally defensive and sometimes even over-confident. These are the little critters that can be a real challenge to examine and treat!
I have treated many such cats in a clinic setting where other vets have failed. I am familiar with handling feral cats and have special equipment (including some rather heavy duty long leather gloves!!) that can be used to gently and safely manage such cats. On rare occasions, some may need mild sedatives to allow an examination and may be best examined at a clinic but rest assured I will do everything possible to avoid this.
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and finally...
Follow my general advice about making your cat feel at ease and consider in addition that:
- Anxious cats can benefit from being confined to a single room in the lead up to the the visit arrival time.
- It can also be useful to book a visit for a time when you have a spare pair of hands available.
- A medium to large towel can be a useful, gentle way of wrapping a fractious cat.