Being able to take your cat to the vet without anxiety would be amazing. A lot of cats don’t like visiting the vet, they get very anxious. Lots of new sounds, smells and people not to mention the car journey to get to the vets. Your cat may be quite quiet and even shake with fear or perhaps they could be very vocal, letting you know they are not happy. Here are some tips on how to take your cat to the vet without anxiety.
Step 1: Preparing to take Your Cat to the Vet Without Anxiety
There are a few things you should do in advance to help make the experience as smooth as possible for both of you so you can take your cat to the vet without anxiety. First, make sure you have all of the information your veterinarian will need about your cat’s health and history. This includes their weight, age, and any current medical conditions. Also make sure you have all of your cat’s medications and treatments with you, so that the veterinarian can properly administer them if needed. Finally, be prepared to answer any questions your vet may have about your cat’s health.
Write down any questions you want to ask your vet or information you want to give them so you don’t forget when you are in the consulting room. If you know your cat is particularly anxious about visiting the vet, covering their pet carrier with a blanket so they feel safer is a good idea to keep them a bit calmer.
Step 2: Travelling to the Vets
Travelling to the vets can be particularly stressful for cats. I know from personal experience as soon as I get the pet carriers out both Sammy and Luna leg it as fast as they can! So now I have to shut them in a room before I get the pet carriers otherwise they hide in places that they know I can’t get them out of!!
To help with taking your cat to the vet without anxiety put a soft blanket in their pet carrier and a favourite toy that smells like home. Also play some soft calming music in the car as well. If your vets have several branch surgeries like ours does, pick the branch closest to you so you have the least travelling time unless of course you need to visit the main hospital for treatment.
Step 3: Greet the Vet and Staff
When you arrive at the vet, it’s important to be friendly and respectful. You should greet the vet and staff members, introduce your cat, and explain what’s wrong. Be sure to keep any questions or concerns you have about your cat confidential.
Step 4: Find a Quiet Space in the Waiting room
After you have checked in with reception see if you can find a quiet space to sit and wait to be called in. A lot of veterinary practices and hospitals are now classed as cat friendly and they have a dedicated area for cats to wait for their appointment away from dogs who may be noisy and might make cats more anxious.
Step 5: Talk to Your Vet About Your Cat’s Health Issues
If you’re like most cat owners, you probably worry about your cat’s health and want to make sure they are getting the best care possible. As mentioned before prepare a list of questions so you can make best use of your time with the vet. Note down any symptoms you think your cat my be displaying like vomiting, over grooming, hunched in pain, drinking more, eating less etc. The more information you can give your vet the better able they will be to help and treat your cat.
Step 6: When you get Home After you Take your Cat to the Vet Without Anxiety
When you get home and let your cat out of their pet carrier, be sure to give them lots of praise, cuddles and strokes so they know they did really well and were really brave going to see the vet. You could also give them a small treat as well if their diet allows that.
Taking your cat to the vet can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. These tips will help make sure you can take your cat to the vet without anxiety and have a good experience at the vets. This will mean they are less scared and can get the treatment they need as and when necessary.
