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 Does your cat turn from Sweet Kitty to
Psycho Cat when his annual vaccination day
rolls around? Well fear not – there are
things you can do to make the experience
less traumatic.
·
Avoid busy times. The longer your
cat sits in the waiting room, the more
anxious he’ll become. If possible, schedule
your appointment when the clinic is not as
busy. Generally, Saturdays and after work on
weekdays are the busiest times, so if your
schedule is flexible enough that you can go
during the least hectic hours, the less
stressed your cat will be.
·
Maximize carrier comfort.
Your cat will probably feel more secure if
he can remain in his familiar carrier.
Choose the kennel-type carrier, where the
top and bottom disconnect – that way the
veterinarian can remove the top and your cat
can remain in the base. This type of carrier
will also reduce anxiety because the
veterinarian won’t have to reach inside to
extract your panicky cat. Also be sure to
line the carrier with a towel from home.
·
Enlist pheromone help.
Feliway contains synthetic feline
facial pheromones, which are scent chemicals
that cats release from facial scent glands.
These help calm the cat and create a sense
of familiarity. Just spray a squirt of
Feliway in the inside corner of the
carrier 20 minutes before placing your cat
in there.
·
Provide peace and quiet.
If the waiting room is filled with animals
and noise, your cat might prefer remaining
with you in your vehicle (just make sure
never to leave the cat in the car alone!).
If you have a cell phone, tell the
receptionist that you’ll be waiting in the
parking lot and will come in as soon as she
calls.
If you don’t want to wait in the car, bring
a towel to place over the carrier so kitty
will feel hidden. If the sound of barking
dogs in the waiting room truly sends your
kitty into panic mode, consider looking for
a cats’ only clinic in your area or one that
provides separate waiting areas for cats and
dogs.
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