Based on an article that first appeared at

It’s no secret that most cats do not enjoy being taken from their comfortable environment, placed in a carrier, and hauled to the veterinarian, where strangers poke and prod them, and the smells of unknown cats and dogs fill the air. The good news is there are things you can do to keep your favorite feline from being filled with fear.

First and foremost, talk to your veterinarian and ask for some tips. That's why we're here. From the instructions we provide on transporting your cat to our hospitals to the individualized approach we take with each cat, we do our best to ensure they don’t mind returning at their next visit.

Since we can’t communicate to our cats that they’re simply visiting the doctor and that they’ll be back home soon, it can be a terrifying experience for them (and it’s often an equally unpleasant experience for cat owners, too). We're using this blog post to hopefully turn things around for you and your precious pet.

Why Regular Veterinary Care is So Essential For Cats

Because visiting the veterinarian can be so difficult for cats, cat owners often avoid taking their cats in for regular preventive care examinations. In fact, many cats only see a veterinarian when their owners can tell they are sick. And since cats hide illness so well, once they show outward signs of disease, it’s often too late for effective treatment, and their owners end up spending more money trying to combat the problem.

Tips For Making Veterinary Visits Easier For You and Your Cat

You are your cat's person, so you know their likes and dislikes, and that's the first step towards making veterinary visits easier. And although every cat is different, there are some common things that our time in veterinary care has shown us to make kitty visits easier on everyone.

Three things that will help you with your cat's visit to the veterinarian are:

1. Start early. If you obtain your cat as a kitten, it’s a great idea to get your kitten accustomed to riding in the car and being in the cat carrier. Bring your kitten to your veterinarian's office on days when you don’t have an appointment so that they can get some love and affection from the staff. They’ll begin to associate coming here with positive feelings.

2. Make the carrier comfortable. Get the carrier out a few days before your cat’s veterinary visit. Leave the door open and put treats and toys inside. This will help your cat enjoy getting into the carrier rather than be afraid of it. The last thing you want to have happen is for your cat to associate the carrier solely with going to be poked and prodded.

3. Keep the kitty calm. Some cats do better at the veterinary hospital when an owner places a blanket or a towel over the carrier, so she can’t see the other animals in the waiting room. Another way to calm your cat is to use a natural feline pheromone product, like Feliway. You can use Feliway’s diffuser (plug it in at home), or it comes as a collar and a spray.

As veterinarians, the last thing we want to see is a stressed-out kitty and owner. Let us help! If you have any other questions about making vet visits easier and how to get your cat on the path to wellness, give us a call.