For cats, a vet visit can be, on one hand, an extremely daunting trip outside the comfort of the home and on the other hand, a fun and exciting trip with unique sights and scent. Normally, cats are kept indoors (with the exception of few who go on walks outdoors with their owners) and territorial in some sense. So they would naturally be weary and nervous outside their home as they are not in their “territory.” They don’t associate leaving their home to fun experiences such as going to parks and playing with their fur friends, like how dogs are.
As a veterinary nurse, I’ve seen so many nervous, frightened and aggressive cats at the clinic and I thought this post might be useful to some cat parents who are looking for ways to make their cat’s vet visits more enjoyable or positive. Nobody wants to see their cat panicking and in distress at the clinic. It can get really ugly. It’s almost like a vicious cycle, when your cat is stressed, you will be stressed, your cat senses it and becomes even more stressed.
Of course, the veterinary clinic itself has to create a calm environment and use techniques that are less stimulating or scary for the cat. However, a huge contributing factor with how the cat reacts at the clinic is in the owner’s control – their actions and decisions/habits. It’s the little actions and daily habits that matters. They accumulate to create positive associations with vet visits. You can’t expect your cat to enjoy their first trip outside the house without first getting them used to their carrier! Take baby steps, eventually you’ll see the difference!
Without further ado, these are the 8 tips to make vet visits less stressful for your cat:
1. Choose a suitable carrier
I strongly recommend a strong, lightweight and waterproof carrier. It should be large enough for your cat to stand up and turn around to adjust its sitting/lying position. There should be a large and easy-to-remove top/front opening so that it wouldn’t be a struggle to get your cat out of the carrier. Lastly, the carrier should be easy to clean so that you can use and clean it frequently.
I do not recommend a cardboard carrier. It is only for temporary use. Any persistent cat can rip it apart for an escape! Avoid a sling bag carrier for your cat unless you are very sure your cat is always comfortable having its head stuck out and having barely any room to move about.
Soft or hard carrier is fine. For comfort, you can add paddings/towel on the base for your cat to lie on.
2. Help your cat develop positive associations with its carrier
Use the carrier on a daily basis/frequently. Don’t keep it hidden in the storage and only take it out when you are about to bring your cat to the vet. Place it in an area where your cat likes to sleep or play. It should become something familiar to them, almost like how you feel when you have to leave your house with your phone!
Here are some ways you can revamp the carrier to incorporate it into your cat’s daily routine!
- Treat it as a bed – place a comfy towel/blanket inside
- Set it up as a dining area – place food/treats inside
- Create a play area – throw in some of your cat’s favourite toys
3. Handle the carrier with care
Avoid swinging the carrier or banging it into things while transporting the carrier. Sudden and rough motion can be stressful or shocking for your cat. Not to say how sensitive cats are, even for ourselves, sudden and abrupt motion of carnival rides can give us a shock. It can cause us to feel nauseous as well.
During the trip, there may be many unfamiliar sights that can scare your cat. To reduce visual stimulation, you may cover the carrier with a towel (feel free to spray some Feliway!).
4. Bring some familiar items
Cats are highly sensitive to smell. They have almost 40 times more odour-sensitive cells than our human nose possesses.(1) The familiar, safe and comforting smell of home can allow them to feel more calm.
Bring along your cat’s favourite toys, towel, blanket or brush. Anything easy to carry along for a vet visit!
5. Reduce the stress of car rides
The car ride is where your furkid would be for most of the travel time to and fro vet visits. And that makes it one of the most crucial periods to reduce the stress level of your cat!
Below are some ideas you can start adopting for your next vet visit or outdoor trip with your cat!
- Spray your car interior with some Feliway (a type of synthetic cat’s pheromone) to calm your cat.
- Secure the carrier – place on the footwell or fasten with a seat belt.
- Avoid sudden acceleration, braking or sharp turns.
It is to prevent nausea and unwelcome surprises for your cat.
- Ensure the air-conditioner does not blow directly into the carrier
The odd and unfamiliar sensation can give them a scare.
- Avoid loud noises/music while in the car
Talking to your cat in your soft soothing voice may help!
- Cover the carrier with a towel to reduce visual stimulation
Besides being highly sensitive to scents (in point 4), they are also highly sensitive to noises and sights. They are able to hear frequencies as high as 64,000 Hz, while humans can hear as little as 20,000 Hz(2). Also, a cat’s sensitivity to light (and thus sight) is about six times greater than that of a human’s.(3)
6. Stay calm
Cats are sympathetic and intuitive creatures. They can sense if you’re nervous or stressed and will become anxious too. Going to the vet can be a rare once per year trip for you and your cat so it can be a little daunting and unfamiliar for you.
- Avoid being rushed, prepare early!
Anything that can be prepared and placed in the car or at the door (in case you forget), should be done way before the appointment time. Like treats, toys, towels, Feliway spray etc.
- Book an appointment – unless it’s an emergency! – for a quieter time of the day if possible.
You don’t want to be waiting 1-2 hours just to see a veterinarian for the routine vaccination! Your cat wouldn’t want to be placed in a carrier that long either!
- Find a clinic you are comfortable with and stick with it for routine checks.
You’ll be more familiar with how to get there and the staff at the clinic. You’d see how they handle and treat your cat in their own loving and fun way, and you would gain trust in them. Strike a friendly conversation with the staff there, it’ll help to loosen things up which can make the experience more enjoyable and less stressful for you. Your cat can sense that you’re relaxed and they will be too. The familiar smell and sight can also be reassuring for your cat.
7. Reduce the amount of food before the vet visit.
Imagine being in a carrier during the whole trip – leaving home, taking the car ride and entering the clinic. There would be a little jerkiness here and there, and yes, cats do get motion sickness just like we do! They may associate the vet visit with the negative feeling of nausea and may hate going to the vet just because of it. In order to reduce the motion sickness effect, and prevent nausea and vomiting, feed your cat less before the trip.
Half the portion or you may even consider letting your cat miss its breakfast for a couple of hours. This is when treats work wonders. Reward your cat with some treats in the car or at the clinic, it’ll start to associate the positive experience with the vet visit. Also, a hungry cat will appreciate the treats even more!
8. Prescribed anti-anxiety drugs may help
Depending on the cat’s health profile and level of anxiety, your veterinarian may offer calming medication for your cat, normally taken before the vet visit. Though most drugs are relatively safe with few side effects, stronger drugs with sedative effects may not be suitable for cats with kidney or organ dysfunction.
Always speak to your vet to help you weigh the pros and cons!
Works Cited
1. Purina. “Cat Senses: This Is How Cats Experience the World.” Purina, https://www.purina.co.uk/articles/cats/kitten/play/cat-senses. Accessed 28 March 2022.
2. First Vet. “How Well Do Cats Hear?” FirstVet, 11 October 2021, https://firstvet.com/us/articles/how-well-do-cats-hear. Accessed 28 March 2022.
3. Cornell University. “Feline Vision Problems: A Host of Possible Causes.” Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/feline-vision-problems-host-possible-causes. Accessed 28 March 2022.