Looking After Our Feline Friends - International Cat Day 8th August

We are members of the International Society of Feline Medicine and many of our practices have been awarded the internationally recognised Cat Friendly Clinic status. We take great care to ensure that our feline friends feel as comfortable as possible in our practices. If you're an RVN, VNA, or a Vet with a thing for felines, we would love to hear from you. View all of our current opportunities online!

Why is being Cat Friendly Clinic important?

As most cat owners know, cats can be delicate, shy and often prefer quiet and solitude. As territorial creatures, they can also feel unsafe and suffer stress, anxiety or fear when in unfamiliar surroundings. This means they can become highly sensitive to new sights, sounds and especially smells. Bringing or travelling with a cat to the vets whether, for a check-up, test or procedure may therefore seem like a daunting task, especially if you know your furry friend isn’t too keen on leaving the comfort of their own home!

However, when a client visits one of our Cat Friendly practices, they can rest assured that their cat will receive particularly special care from our trained team who understand how to handle and treat your cat in a calm, respectful and caring way to make their visit as comfortable and stress-free as possible.?All our Cat Friendly practices will also have either a dedicated cat waiting area or appropriate barriers between cats and dogs in mixed waiting areas.?Additionally, in every clinic, we have had at least one ‘Cat Advocate’ who ensures cat-friendly standards are maintained and who is here to offer you reassurance and useful tips for a stress-free visit.

What makes a vet practice a Cat Friendly Clinic?

An internationally recognised Cat Friendly Clinic is one that has proven to understand and consider the very specific needs of cats and has made visits to the vet practice more cat friendly. Cat Friendly Clinic accreditation is awarded by the International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM). Being a Cat Friendly Clinic gives our clients peace of mind and reassurance, showing that:

• We’ve achieved certain minimum accreditation standards as laid out by the ISFM.
• We’ve thought about the specific needs of cats and minimised the impacts of unfamiliar sights, sounds and smells in our practice.
• We’re trained in the gentle and sensitive handling of cats to show respect and care and to minimise stress.

We’re always available to talk with clients about any concerns and answer any questions they may have, offer cat care advice for their visit as well as tailor-made recommendations on, for example, giving their cat any medications at home. For more information on our Cat Friendly practices, click here.