At Garston Vets, we understand how different the needs of our feline patients are to those of dogs. From getting in the car to being in a new environment with different sights, sounds, smells, and people, a visit to the vets can be somewhat stressful for the majority of cats. That is why we have put special measures in place that has allowed us to achieve the status of Cat Friendly Clinic from the International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM) – the veterinary division of the worldwide feline charity iCatCare.
What is a ‘Cat Friendly’ veterinary practice?
ISFM has recognised that cats have unique natures and needs and in 2012 created a Cat Friendly Clinic status. An accredited Cat Friendly practice has reached a higher standard of cat care in that the staff understand the needs of cats and have made visits to the practice more Cat Friendly.
What is a Cat Advocate?
A Cat advocate is a member of staff that ensures that a cat’s visit to the practice is as calm and stress free as possible. Each site at Garston has its own Cat Friendly nurse.
What are some of the things Garston Veterinary Group have done to make it a Cat friendly practice?
- We have placed cat towers in reception to place your carriers on. Cats prefer to be up high, it also prevents dogs from approaching them. Towels are also provided to cover your basket to help your cat feel more relaxed and calm.
- Cat only appointments are available at each site every week. No dogs are allowed in the waiting room (apart from in an emergency) This will create a calm and relaxed environment for stressed and anxious cats. Call our reception team to book one!
- Cat only kennels. A quiet and relaxed kennel room for your cat to stay whilst staying with us. Hiding holes are provided for each cat in each kennel. Kennels are also placed so that each cat is not looking at another one.
- Cat friendly nurses at each site to ensure Cat Friendly handling techniques and provide a wealth of knowledge to other staff members and our clients.
What is the benefit of bringing your cat to a cat friendly practice?
Reduced stress means cats are easier to handle and restrain so procedures can be completed more efficiently. You will also be reassured that your cat’s well being is our main priority.
What is the best way to bring your cat into our practice?
- A top opening carrier. This makes it easier to getting your cat in and out. Your cat can stay in the base for its examination if necessary to feel safe.
- Use a familiar smelling towel/blanket to help it feel calm.
- Cover the basket for the journey and in the waiting room.
- Only have 1 cat per basket, even with bonded cats (avoids defensive aggression)
- Use Feliway spray, a synthetic feline pheromone.
Now some fun cat facts:
House cats share 95.6% of their genetic makeup with tigers. You read that right, TIGERS. They also share some of the same behaviour habits such as scent and urine marking, prey stalking and pouncing.
Cats can jump 5 times their own height. Now that’s impressive!
Most cats have 18 toes, 5 on their front paws and 4 on their back paws. However, some cats can be born with “extra toes”, a condition called polydactylism.
Cats have a whopping 32 muscles in each of their ears, allowing them to swivel their ears to hone in on the exact source of a noise. Additionally, cats can rotate their ears to 180 degrees!
Cats usually sleep around an average of 15 hours PER day. This means that a cat spends roughly 70% of their lives sleeping. Must be nice to be a cat!
At Garston Vets, we understand how different the needs of our feline patients are to those of dogs. From getting in the car to being in a new environment with different sights, sounds, smells, and people, a visit to the vets can be somewhat stressful for the majority of cats. That is why we have put special measures in place that has allowed us to achieve the status of Cat Friendly Clinic from the International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM) – the veterinary division of the worldwide feline charity iCatCare.
Cat-friendly appointments
Most cats are very happy in our spacious waiting rooms, however, to support nervous cats we offer designated cat-friendly appointment times at all our surgeries, on the following days of the week:
- Frome Vets – Tuesdays
- Melksham Vets – Thursdays
- Trowbridge Vets – Wednesdays
- Warminster Vets – Wednesdays
- Westbury Vets – Thursdays
Our cat-only appointment times include veterinary consultations and nurse appointments, and keeping our waiting areas dog-free reduces potential stresses for cats and owners (Note: if we do have any dog emergency cases during these times we will let you know on arrival).
Contact us to book a cat friendly appointment slot
Cat-friendly services
Our many veterinary services for cats include important annual feline vaccinations and a health check with the vet, comprehensive parasite protection for cats to help keep fleas, worms & ticks at bay, and nurse clinics for weight & diet, dental care, and feline diabetes. Your cat could also benefit from our Cat Wellness Plan – find out more.
Our surgeries where we admit animals for the day to perform operations, or to hospitalise them overnight, all have separate heated catteries situated a long way away from our kennel rooms for dogs. That really adds to being cat friendly!
Top tips for how to get your cat into a basket
Read our team’s advice on how you can help your cat remain calm for a trip to the vets:
- Get your cat accustomed to their carrier or basket – keep it out at home as part of the furniture for them to sleep in, and you can even feed your cat inside.
- Use a top-opening carrier for lifting your cat in and out more easily.
- Cover the top with a blanket to help hide new sights, sounds, and smells.
- Handle your cat’s carrier gently, secure it well within your car, and drive carefully.
- Use a pheromone spray or keep a piece of clothing or material from home that smells familiar inside the carrier.
- On arrival move to a corner of the waiting room and keep your cat carrier off the floor – we have supplied special cat shelving in our waiting areas for this purpose. If you prefer you can always let us know you have arrived, and then wait in your car with your cat until your appointment time.
