August 22nd is Take Your Cat To The Vet Day! We know, most of our feline patients would no doubt prefer to celebrate Get Your Kitty A New Toy Day, proper veterinary care is crucial to her health and well-being. However, Fluffy is a bit of a homebody, and doesn’t much like being taken away from her domain. Veterinary clinics can also be unsettling to cats. There are a lot of new sights, sounds, and smells to process, not to mention the scent and presence of other animals, some of whom may be ill. We do everything we can to make visits easy for kitties. However, there are also some things you can do to make appointments a bit easier for your pet. Here, an Aurora, CO vet discusses taking your furball to the vet.
Make The Carrier Comfy
Adding comfy bedding and a few toys to your kitty’s carrier will make it more comfortable for her. You may also want to help your furry friend form ‘pawsitive’ associations with her travel carrier by leaving it out between visits.
Crack A Window
Just like people, kitties sometimes get nauseous or carsick. Roll a window partway down, so Fluffy always has fresh air flowing to her.
Meow-Along
While many dogs consider car rides one of the best things ever, cats are generally much less enthusiastic about them. Your kitty may protest the indignity of being put into a carrier and taken on a car ride by meowing loudly. Talking to your furball in a gentle, soothing tone may relax her. Playing a radio softly can also help calm your feline pal.
Kitty-Calming Products
If your furry buddy gets extremely anxious on car rides, ask your vet about using kitty-calming products, such as sprays and collars. These mimic the scent of ‘happy pheromones,’ and can be very soothing to nervous pets.
The Car Ride
When driving with Fluffy, try not to stop or start too suddenly. If possible, avoid routes with a lot of bumps and/or potholes.
Special Treat
No matter how upset your cat is on the car ride, she’ll probably immediately relax when she gets back home. A new toy or a special treat will get Fluffy’s little motor going again.
Please reach out to us, your Aurora, CO vet clinic, for all your cat’s veterinary care needs. We are here to help!
