Transport and vet visits

Studies show that cats do not receive veterinary care to the same extent as dogs do. It can be, for example, connected with the cat's lower status, as an animal you don't want to spend money on - but it is also largely connected with the fact that the cat owners think it is traumatic for the cat because it is so afraid of being transported to the animal clinic and being examined and treated there. But luckily we can do something about that.

Why is transport a particular challenge for cats?:

- The owners have chosen a transport box that is too small and uncomfortable - It may even be borrowed and smell of strange cats.

- The transport box only comes out when something unpleasant is about to happen, most often a vet visit.

- The owner has not taught the kitten that the transport box is a nice place, by giving it a lot of positive experiences with it. The owner can transport-train their kitten, just as most dog owners eventually do with the puppy. Unfortunately, many owners still think that you can't train a cat, but fortunately you can - and it can be both pleasant and fun for both cat and owner. We would like to help spread that message.

Why is the visit to the vet a particular challenge for cats?:

The mere fact that the cat has to move away from its familiar and safe territory, to which it is so closely connected, makes the visit to the vet a big challenge for the cat. A dog, which is a pack animal, will typically feel fairly safe when it has its people with it - it's not always like that for cats, which are not pack animals.

Lack of transport training: Unfortunately, there are not many cat owners who know that you can train your cat to be comfortable with the transport to the animal clinic and they don't even know how to train the cats for that.

Lack of handling training: Many cat owners do not think at all that they can train their cat to be comfortable with the type of handling they will experience at the animal clinic.

Many of the sensory impressions the cat experiences at the clinic are perceived as dangerous for example strange surroundings, bright lights, other animals, strange people, etc.

Smell: The smell of strange cats - and even strange cats, which are afraid, can be very stressful for a cat. In addition, we use medicines  and strong cleaners and disinfectants which smell alien to the cat, we humans don't smell familiar either, etc.

Hearing: The sounds of other animals can seem very frightening, e.g. dogs barking or parrots screeching. We have many machines that make noises, the doorbell rings, the telephones ring, strangers talk to their animals or tell them off, etc.

Taste: Food that tastes different than the cat is used to. Treats, which we try to lure the cat with, do not always have a positive effect either, medicine can be unappealing to them to eat, etc.

Feeling: We touch the cat in ways it is not used to - and we often do things that hurt such as injections and blood samples.

 Finally, a lack of knowledge about or focus on cat-friendliness at the clinic also contributes to the cats developing a fear of vets: We are very good at focusing on the cat's physical health and the examinations and treatments we would like to carry out to help the cat - but we are unfortunately less good at taking its mental well-being seriously and helping the owner achieve a less stressful vet visit - so hopefully they will come again so the cat can get the vet help it needs.

What can we do to remedy the problem?:

 Recommend behavioral counseling about transportation:

 - It can help the owners of kittens and young cats to prevent transport anxiety.

 - It can help the owners of adult cats who have already become frightened by treating the transport anxiety.

Recommend behavioral counseling about vet visits

 - It can help the owners of kittens and young cats to prevent fear of the vet, i.a. via handling training.

 - It can help adult cats, who have already become frightened, to treat their fear of the vet.