If anyone has owned a cat and has brought them to the vet they probably know how much of a nightmare the whole production can be. Hair, nails, scratching, biting, drooling, vomiting, urinating and maybe if you’re lucky a bit of poo are just some of the perks to look forward when transporting our furry companions to the vet. It isn’t surprising then that this is a common reason owners cite for not bringing them in. Not only are the pets losing their mind but the owners are traumatized! Ok granted, there are some strange kitties that love the carrier and coming to their medical appointments (and as a vet I am eternally grateful for the happy friendly feline patients) but unfortunately they are the outliers. A couple things may contribute to the stress these anxious kitties feel, namely cats rarely leave the house and go for car rides so when we get them in their ‘box’ (carrier) and bring them into the vibrating and noising vehicle they undoubtedly are feeling the “WTF?!”. Another consideration is that apart from regular wellness appointments there are times when we bring in our cats that aren’t doing so well. Now, if you’ve read the blog before you’d know cats are pros at the macho mentality (they hide sickness) and when we as owners finally notice they aren’t acting quite right they are already pretty sick. This can result in the “perfect storm”: a cat that is already feeling terrible, going into a carrier they see MAYBE once a year, into a car they also see MAYBE once a year, feeling strange vibrations and sounds all the way to a place that is SUPER strange to them. The clinic is full of novel sounds, smells, noises and people.

Veterinarians have been working towards making this situation better with “Cat-friendly” practices within their clinics. There is currently an accreditation program to help veterinary clinics provide the best care to our feline patients. Things like making a waiting room that is better for cats (calm, quiet, and free of dogs poking noses into carriers), or making dedicated quiet cat exam rooms with Feliway (feline pheromone that promotes calmness), and ongoing training to keep staff up to date on the latest in cat behavior and handling techniques. Clinics should also be able to help advise clients on the best cat carriers to buy, how to make them more comfortable for their pets (keeping them out in the home and not locked away only to see the light of day at the time of their annual appointment), and using towels and Feliway sprays inside of the carrier to help make cats feel more at ease on the trip in to the clinic.

Even with these “Cat-friendly” practices in place, even with providing our feline patients with the foundation of a fear-free visit there are still some cats that suffer with crippling anxiety during their visit to the clinic. This anxiety can take on many different forms, from frozen in fear to reactive nervousness and overt aggression. None of which make for an effective or useful exam. This is where it is common for a veterinarian to offer anti-anxiety medication. Surprisingly I’ve had a few instances where owners have refused. Now I get it, people have some sort of aversion to medication, I think especially behavior modifying ones. The issue we have is that once the cat starts down the road of anxiety it continues to build, the anxious experience is solidified and amplified. The use of a medication like gabapentin prior to their visit helps alleviate this anxiety and stops that cycle. If we stop the anxiety and build positive experiences we can always work towards lowering this medication (possibly even eliminating its use). Without it we are left with less than ideal exams and a nervous cat that only gets worse with each visit.

If you have a cat (which you obviously take to the vet at least annually), ask your vet questions. Ask them how they accommodate cats in their practice. If you are somebody with strong feelings against anti-anxiety medications for feline patients, consider the benefits we achieve not only in helping facilitate more comprehensive exams but providing a more positive mental state in our feline friends.