When to book a senior check
Why we suggest a yearly blood test from age eight, and what it looks for.
Bringing a nervous cat to the vet
Small changes at home that make the trip calmer for everyone.
For many cats, the hardest part of a vet visit is the carrier. If it only appears before a trip, they learn to hide when they see it. Leave the carrier out in a room your cat uses, with the door open and a soft towel inside, for a week before the visit.
On the day, cover the carrier with a light cloth in the auto or car, and keep it level. A top-opening carrier helps, because we can examine your cat without tipping them out.
At the clinic, cats wait and are seen in a separate room, away from the dogs. We let your cat stay in the bottom half of the carrier for much of the check-up if they prefer. Our vets work slowly and stop if a cat is too stressed; it is often better to finish another day.
At home afterwards, give your cat a quiet room for an hour. If you have more than one cat, the one who stayed home may hiss at the clinic smell. Rubbing both cats with the same towel usually settles it.
