Sources of stress within the practice
Owners often refer to the stress of‘ battling’ to get their cat into a carrier to bring it to an appointment. For the cat, too, the experience can be distressing: it may be feeling safe and content at home when it is suddenly and unceremoniously put into a carrier before being taken( often by car) away from home to an unfamiliar, loud place with strange smells and barking dogs from which it is unable to hide or escape( Table 1). With this in mind, it is easy to understand why appointments often begin with a stressed cat and owner.
Table 1. Key points of stress for cats in the veterinary practice.
Practice area
Considerations Reception • The cat ' s journey to the practice
• Barking dogs or dogs allowed to approach carriers
make it a less threatening place. Owners could also be encouraged to use a sturdy plastic carrier with a toploading lid rather than a flimsy canvas carrier or pet backpack. If you have space in reception, you could display / sell suitable carriers.
On arrival at the practice
I have witnessed dog owners letting their dogs approach cats in carriers, with the excuse that their dog is used to cats, as well as cat owners placing their carrier on the floor next to dogs, cats being removed from carriers in the reception area, and even cats being brought to their appointment on leads. VNs can politely ask owners to refrain from such actions, and encourage those with cats to move to a quieter area – either an empty consulting room or, if you have one, a cat-only waiting area. You may also consider posting signs insisting that cats must be secured in a carrier for their safety.
Designated waiting areas
Consulting room
Preparation area
• Unsuitable carrier or being removed from the carrier
• Visual contact with other cats
• Slippery table
• Scent from dogs or other cats on equipment or staff uniform
• Cat being pulled / tipped out of the carrier rather than being allowed to come out in its own time
• Unsuitable handling or restraint
• Other animals nearby
I highly recommend encouraging your practice to provide and encourage the use of a‘ cat corner’ – a separate area in the waiting room that is designated solely for cats, with laminated signs to indicate its purpose. If space is limited, shelving or display stands could be used to partition off a sheltered corner with a few chairs and some blankets available to cover carriers.
In my practice, I used a spare shelving unit to create a stand for owners to place their cat carriers on, as cats feel more secure when high up. I also provided some Feliway spray( Ceva, UK) and blankets for use as carrier covers, along with some advice posters and leaflets. I have had great feedback from owners who love the fact that their cats have been considered and report that they seem less stressed( Figures 2 – 4, below and page 20).
Kennels • Lack of space to hide
• Unfamiliar litter for toileting
• Stress of being hospitalised
Advocating for cats
Before the cat ' s arrival
VNs can advocate for cats before they even leave home for their appointment. For example, we can provide handouts to owners with advice on how to make the process less stressful. This advice could include suggesting that owners leave the cat carrier out all the time and encourage the cat to use it as a bed, to help
Figure 2. A designated‘ cat corner’ in a practice reception area.
18 Veterinary Nursing Journal