Maintaining your cat's good health requires yearly exams, even if they are not due for vaccinations. Early detection of disease is more difficult in cats compared to dogs, because cats naturally hide signs of illness. 

We are grateful for our feline patients who calmly take their vet visits in stride! For those who do not, we continually ask ourselves "How can we make this easier for them?" Sometimes the answer is a calming medication mixed with a little food before the vet visit. If your cat is very stressed by the car ride and/or the visit to the vet, ask us for more info on this option. 

Getting your cat to the vet starts with getting them into the carrier. We prefer the traditional airline cat carriers that have a removable top. During your cat's exam, we remove the top and allow your cat to remain in the bottom portion, where they feel more secure. This type of carrier is also easier to clean and disinfect in case of a urine or stool "accident". A towel or cat bed can be added for comfort. We often allow our anxious cat patients to remain in their carriers for short drop offs, where they feel more secure, rather than placing them in a cage.

The carrier should be large enough for your cat to stand up and turn around in. The pheromone product Feliway Classic, available as a spray, can be applied to your cat's carrier 15-30 minutes BEFORE putting your cat in the carrier, to help with anxiety. Feliway pheromone is also available as a plug-in diffuser, for a calming influence at home or in a new environment. For additional tips on transporting your cat, click on "Getting Your Cat to the Vet".