Preparing your cat for a vet visit

There are many parts of a veterinary visit that you can practice with your cat at home. This could be anything from weighing them to taking a blood sample and everything in between. The more you practice beforehand, the less stress and fear your cat will feel during the visit, making it a much more pleasant experience for everyone.

When training your cat, think about what might happen during a vet visit. Consider any specific medical issues your cat has and if there are particular things they dislike. For instance, if your cat has ear problems, it's beneficial to practice looking gently into their ears in a calm and positive way.

Unlike dogs, cats aren't typically socialised in various environments or accustomed to meeting new people. They feel safest at home, so travelling to a new place with unfamiliar smells and people is a big change. We need to do everything we can to help your cat feel secure in this situation. Practising different handling techniques will help them recognise and feel more comfortable with the situation.

Some general things that are always good to practise include basic handling, getting used to wearing a cone, and travelling in a carrier.

The carrier

The journey to the vet begins at home. If your cat isn't comfortable in their carrier, that's where training needs to start. Leave the carrier out and make it a cosy den. If your cat is still anxious or has had negative experiences with it, you'll need to train them to feel okay inside. Start by letting them explore the carrier. As soon as they move towards it, look at it, or take a step inside (depending on their comfort level), reward them with a treat, a kibble, or some play – whatever your cat values most.

Try not to lure your cat towards the carrier if they find it unpleasant, as this might encourage them to push their boundaries for a treat, making them more anxious. Instead, toss the treat away from the carrier. This gives your cat the opportunity to come back and approach the carrier again, earning another reward. Continue this training until your cat enters the carrier willingly and feels comfortable staying inside, even with the door closed, for increasing lengths of time.

The examination

During the examination, the vet will check your cat over. This often involves looking into their eyes and mouth, gently feeling their abdomen, handling their legs and paws, and listening to their heart. For specific issues, like lameness or ear problems, those areas will naturally be examined more closely.

To practise this, start calmly and always follow your cat's lead. If your cat struggles to stay still on a table, that's the first thing to practise. Gently touch different parts of their body and reward them with a treat. If you notice a particular area causes discomfort, focus on practising there, but be careful not to push your cat beyond their limits, as this could lead to fear or anxiety, making future examinations more difficult.

Looking into the eyes and mouth can be a little unsettling as the cat's head might be gently held, and the vet may need to open the mouth. Practising this beforehand can be very helpful.

Taking your cat's temperature is also often part of the examination. While tricky to practise perfectly at home, you can practise gently holding your cat and lifting their tail. It's also useful to know your cat's normal temperature, so taking it at home occasionally can be beneficial.

Unfamiliar objects

During the examination, the vet will use various objects that might seem strange to your cat. This could include the microchip reader (which beeps when it finds the chip) or the stethoscope (which feels cool against the chest). You can simulate these at home. Use your phone as a pretend chip reader and a spoon or similar object as a stethoscope.

Approach your cat slowly with the object, let them sniff it if they wish, and gently place it against the relevant body part. Reward them with a treat afterwards.

Blood tests

Blood samples are often taken to rule out certain diseases, usually from the front legs or neck. While difficult to practise fully at home, you can practise holding your cat, getting them used to the sound of clippers, applying a tourniquet around the elbow area, and gently wetting a part of the leg.

For a blood test, your cat needs to remain still for a period. Practise holding them loosely and gently, as cats can become more resistant if held too tightly. It can help to softly support their body with one hand and gently cradle their chin with the other. Practise this on a table with your cat facing away from you, as this mimics the typical procedure. Remember to keep practice sessions short to avoid boredom, and always reward stillness.

Some cats are very sensitive to the sound of clippers, so it's good to acclimatise them. You can do this by simply turning on clippers you own or playing a similar sound from your phone. Start with the sound at a distance, gradually bringing it closer as your cat gets used to it. Reward them with a treat when the sound stops, helping them associate the noise with positive experiences.

To simulate taking a blood sample, you'll need to apply gentle pressure above the elbow. This can be practised using a hair tie or rubber band. Don't tie it too tightly; slide it over the leg like a loose ring and pull it slightly to the side at the top of the leg. Avoid wrapping it multiple times. Again, train at your cat's pace, ensuring they don't find it unpleasant, and reward their participation.

The final step before a blood draw is cleaning the area. You can practise this by wetting a cotton ball or paper towel with water and gently wiping the front of the leg, followed by a reward.

X-rays

Certain medical conditions require X-rays. Positioning depends on the location of the issue, but often involves the cat lying on its side or back. Practising these positions is helpful, as they can be challenging for cats and stillness is crucial for clear images.

You can train your cat to lie flat on their side by luring them with treats or gently guiding them down if they're comfortable. Offer plenty of rewards and practise on both sides. Lying on their back can be trickier. You may need to assist them, as lying completely straight on their spine on a hard surface can be difficult. Help them onto their back and practise keeping them straight. Proceed slowly and ensure your cat remains comfortable, otherwise, it could make the actual visit more stressful.

The cone

If your cat has had a procedure, they'll often need to wear a cone to prevent licking. This can be very distressing if not practised beforehand. Encourage your cat to put their head into the cone themselves. You can start with a paper cone or similar, rewarding them when they curiously poke their head in. The next step is to get them used to wearing it for longer periods.

An important consideration if your cat wears a cone after their visit is that you may need to remove it temporarily to allow them to eat or groom non-surgical areas.

Why it's important to prepare for the visit

You might think it's unnecessary to train for something that happens infrequently, but a single negative vet visit can have a significant impact, potentially causing lifelong fear. A positive side effect of this training is that it also strengthens the bond you share with your cat. And it's fun!