4 Surprising Things Cat Veterinarians Wish You Knew

As a veterinarian and a self-proclaimed cat whisperer, I’m happy to say: The future is feline! Not exclusively, of course; I love my canine clients, too. But cats often require a different approach to health care, and the industry is evolving to deliver it. From specialized cat veterinarians to feline-only clinics, now you can find care that caters to the unique needs of our feline friends.

But why do cats need special veterinary care? How do they benefit from it? And what can pet parents do to make vet visits less stressful? Keep reading to learn why your kitty fears the vet, how stress impacts their health, and surprising ways to keep your cat healthy and happy.

Why Is My Cat Scared of the Vet?

If your pet turns into a scaredy cat at the first hint of a vet visit, you’re not alone. That’s because today’s domestic cats (Felis catus) remain quite similar to their African wildcat ancestor (Felis silvestris libyca).

Modern felines are hardwired to act as both a predator and prey animal, thanks to eons of evolutionary biology. They are generally solitary and territorial creatures, sensitive to change, and keenly attuned to threats around them.

These traits make cats particularly susceptible to fear and stress whenever they leave home. But trips to the vet clinic are especially stressful because they expose cats to unfamiliar sights, smells, and stimuli. This can make cats feel vulnerable or under attack.

Here’s what that looks and feels like in real life.

Your cat has a vet appointment today, and you’re already dreading it. She was not happy about her last visit, and it took you both at least a day to recover. 

She senses something’s up when you withhold breakfast (a must for certain medical procedures). So she paces at her bowl, wondering why you won’t cave to her demands.  Then, when she tries to go outside, you keep her in. Now she’s on high alert.

The moment she sees the carrier, she bolts under the bed. Time is ticking and you don’t want to be late. You manage to wrangle her into it, but not without some battle scars on your arms.

Once in the car, she yowls the whole way. At the clinic, barking dogs, strange people, and disinfectant smells overwhelm her senses. By the time the vet examines her, she’s either frozen in fear or lashing out.

Now, imagine that happens every time you bring your cat to the vet. It doesn’t take long for your pet to associate the trip with negative feelings and memories. No wonder you’ve got a stressed-out scaredy cat on your hands!

How Vet Visit Stress Affects Your Cat’s Health

Stressful vet visits aren’t just unpleasant (for both you and your pet). Stress can also affect your kitty’s health and make it harder for your vet to assess them properly. 

Here’s how:

• When a cat is anxious, it typically raises their heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and breathing rate. This can skew some blood test results, causing an increase in white blood cell counts (called a stress leukogram) and blood glucose (called stress hyperglycemia).
• Fearful cats may hide their pain or signs of illness as a protective mechanism. They may also be combative or too tense for a thorough examination. Both reactions could cause vets to overlook or missinterpret symptoms and miss or misdiagnose conditions.
• A severe stress response can endanger cats with conditions like heart disease or asthma.

A calmer cat means a more accurate health assessment. That’s why reducing stress is a top priority for feline veterinarians.

What Is a Cat Vet and Do You Need One?

All regular veterinarians receive the training required to treat cats and dogs. However, some take extra steps to specialize in feline care. Here are some of the terms and certifications you might encounter if you’re looking for a cat veterinarian.

Cat Friendly Certification

The Feline Veterinary Medical Association (FelineVMA), formerly the American Association for Feline Practitioners (AAFP), is a leader in feline medicine and welfare. The association offers in-depth education and training on how to provide feline-friendly care, including Cat Friendly Certificate Program (for veterinary professionals) and Cat Friendly Practice Program (for veterinary clinics/hospitals). 

Diplomate in Feline Practice

The American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABPV) provides advanced training to veterinarians seeking to specialize in a particular species. Veterinarians who complete this rigorous program earn the title of Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (DABVP) in their chosen field. A Veterinarian with a DABVP in Feline Practice is a cat specialist vet.   

Cat-Only Veterinary Clinics

A cats-only veterinary clinic offers a quieter, low-stress environment designed for feline comfort and care. A cat vet clinic typically follows FelineVMA guidelines and may have cat-friendly certification. 

Fear Free Certification 

Although not cat-specific, the Fear Free organization was founded to educate veterinary professionals on techniques to reduce fear and stress in veterinary patients. Their certifications include Fear Free Certified Veterinary Professional and Fear Free Certified Veterinary Practice.

Now that we know all the lingo, the question remains: Does your cat need a cat vet?

Our answer: It depends. If your regular vet provides quality care and incorporates feline-friendly practices that support your cat’s needs, that’s purr-fect! However, if you don’t feel your veterinary team embraces a feline-friendly approach, you might want to seek a vet for cats or cat care clinic. 

4 Things Cat Veterinarians Wish You Knew

While seeking out a cat vet specialist could be the key to less stress, there are steps you can take to help, too. Here are four secrets to easier vet visits cat vets wish every pet parent knew.

1. All cats need to go to the vet…even if they seem healthy

To help keep your cat healthy, they should have a veterinary check-up at least annually. However, some pet parents mistakenly believe indoor felines don’t need frequent checkups.

According to one study, over half of the cat owners surveyed had not taken their cat to the vet in over a year. Only 37 percent reported taking their cat to the vet for a routine checkup within the past year. Surveyed pet parents listed anxiety about disastrous vet visits as one of the key reasons for low visit frequency. [1]

However, cats are experts at hiding pain and illness. Routine exams help detect common issues early, including:

• Dental disease
• Kidney disease
• Heart conditions
• Arthritis
• High blood pressure
• Obesity

Without regular vet visits, cats may suffer in silence until small health issues become larger health problems. And by then, it may be too late for effective treatment.

Don’t let your cat become part of this statistic. If stressful vet visits are standing in your way, use the GreatPetCare Vet Finder tool to find a highly-rated vet near you who’s a good fit for your kitty.

Of course, life gets busy and sometimes your cat’s routine preventative care takes a back seat. A GreatPetCare account can help you stay on track with a free personalized pet health profile and access to appointment and medication reminders, your pet’s health records, care plans, and more. 

2. Pre-visit medication can help ease cat anxiety about vet visits 

If vet visits are a nightmare, consider pre-visit calming medication to help ease your pet’s fears. This can be especially effective for cats who can’t shake the memory of prior poor experiences at a vet’s office.

 “Pre-visit medications such as gabapentin can be super helpful in reducing fear, anxiety, and stress for cats,” says Dr. Julie Liu, DVM, a Fear Free and Cat Friendly certified vet.

Dr. Liu says she prescribes such medications routinely because they impact the emotional welfare of her patients at My Family Cat, a feline behavior housecall practice she owns in Austin, Texas.

“Meds can also reduce stress related to the carrier and car travel,” she adds. “They are generally safe and inexpensive to give, and help remove barriers that prevent cats from getting the care they need.” 

While medication isn’t a cure-all, it can make a huge difference when combined with feline-friendly handling techniques.

3. Your cat’s carrier can make or break the visit

Cats don’t like being forced into…well, anything. They need to feel safe, secure, and in control of their situation. That’s often the opposite of what many felines feel about carriers.

Unfortunately, most cats only see their carrier when it’s time for the vet—which means they associate it with stress. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

“The carrier should be a sanctuary for your cat: one that is clean, cozy, and safe,” says Dr. Mansum Yau, DVM. A Vancouver-based Fear Free and Cat Friendly vet, Dr. Yau is also the author of “The Ins and Outs of Cat Carriers: A Veterinarian’s Guide to Cat Carriers.” 

Her tips:

Preparation is key. “At least a few days before your vet appointment, take your cat carrier out for your cat to get acclimated to it. Better yet, leave it out all the time for them to use as a cat bed” she says. “Waiting to take it out right before you have to leave can result in your cat running away to hide and you being late or missing your appointment altogether.”   

Keep things positive and comfy. Remember to use positive reinforcement, comfy towels, a calming pheromone spray, and pre-visit meds if needed, Dr. Yau suggests.

Safety, above all. Remember how important security is to cats? “Always clean your carrier and check it for damage before and after use,” Dr. Yau says. “If there are pieces missing, please don’t use zip ties. Carriers need to be replaced when there are parts that are missing, broken, or rusty.”

4. Your uncooperative cat isn’t a “jerk,” just scared

Unfortunately, there is a broad misconception that cats are intentionally uncooperative and difficult. However, the word misunderstood is much more fitting. 

Cats’ brains are naturally wired to survive. So, while it may surprise us when a normally calm cat lashes out during a vet exam, in reality, they’re reacting out of fear.

When stressed, cats go through three stages, each one increasingly intense:

1. Inhibition: Freezing in place, trying to be invisible
2. Avoidance: Hiding or trying to escape
3. Repelling: Hissing, swatting, or biting when cornered [2]

A cat that reaches this stage is overwhelmed by fear and has resorted to survival mode. This is why low-stress handling, proper restraint techniques, and sedation (when necessary) are essential for a positive vet experience.

How to Find the Best Cat Vet for Your Pet’s Needs

You want to ensure your cat is in good, knowledgeable hands, with a veterinary team that understands and respects feline needs. While it’s unrealistic that they will always meet all criteria perfectly, you should be able to get a sense if your current clinic is feline friendly. Ignoring your cat’s distress or using heavy-handed handling to “get the job done” at all costs are red flags. 

Here are some tips on spotting a feline-friendly practice: 

• Look for FelineVMA members, Fear-Free Certified, or Cat Friendly Certified veterinarians.
• Is the practice environment set up to soothe your kitty? Some practices are fully cats-only, while others may use a separate cat waiting area (or some other method to minimize exposure to dogs). Some clinics may have special days or hours when they only see cats. 
• Does the clinic use calming synthetic feline pheromones (like Feliway)? 
• Does the practice offer guidance on how to minimize stress when bringing your cat to the clinic? 
• What to look for: gentle and low-stress handling, allowing cats time to acclimatize, recognizing and responding to signs of fear and stress, and adjusting their approach accordingly. 
• Use of pre-visit anti-anxiety medication and sedation in highly stressed cats, rather than physical restraint.
• Are there towels and soft surfaces easily available for exams and procedures?
• Do they use special treats or toys to engage and distract cats that show interest?
• Do the veterinarians have experience with and provide clear guidance on feline-specific conditions, preventative care, behavior, pain management, and nutrition?

The Bottom Line

Vet visits don’t have to be traumatic for you or your cat. With the right preparation, a good vet, and a feline-friendly approach, routine checkups can be much smoother.

Remember: Regular vet visits save lives. Whether it’s choosing a cat specialist, using pre-visit meds, or making the carrier a cozy retreat, small changes can make a world of difference in your cat’s health and happiness.

REFERENCES

1. Volk, John O et al. “Executive summary of the Bayer veterinary care usage study.” Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association vol. 238,10 (2011): 1275-82. doi:10.2460/javma.238.10.1275
2. Rodan I, Dowgray N, Carney HC, et al. 2022 AAFP/ISFM Cat Friendly Veterinary Interaction Guidelines: Approach and Handling Techniques. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. 2022;24(11):1093-1132. doi:10.1177/1098612X221128760