The Ultimate Guide for Taking Your Cat to the Vet

You’ve adopted your first feline friend, and you’ve got years of rewards to look forward to. Furry snuggles on cold winter nights, a purring pall to keep you company, and all the fun antics you can think of. 

Unfortunately, there’s also a less appealing part of cat parenting to prepare for – the veterinary clinic visit. 

Just as we humans would rather avoid a trip to the dentist or doctor, your cat doesn’t like the idea of being poked and prodded either. Add the anxiety caused by going to the vet to the stress of an unexpected car journey with weird new sounds and smells, and you’ve got the recipe for a pretty unhappy cat. 

So, how do you handle the vet visit with as little pain as possible?

This guide will teach you exactly what you need to know when it comes to regular checkups.

First: Find the Right Veterinarian

If you look at the process of the vet visit, from being shoved into an uncomfortable cat carrier or cat backpack carrier, locked up, and driven over bumpy roads to a place full of new smells, it’s easy to see why they get upset.

Fortunately, there are things you can do to reduce the discomfort your feline friend feels.

First, reduce the potential drama by finding the right vet. 

Some clinics have separate entrances for cats and dogs. This reduces the panic that your kitty might feel when stuck in the room with a loud pooch. To find a vet that’s most suitable for your cat, check out the Cat Friendly Practice program pets. 

According to the American Association for Feline Practitioners, these clinics understand the needs of cats, and make vet environments more suitable for felines. 

It’s also worth looking for a vet that’s as close as possible to your home. The shorter the drive, the happier your cat will be. 

Great vets know how to keep all animals as calm as possible. If you can find one that seems to know how to put your pet at ease, stick with them. Look for someone who doesn’t mind examining your cat where he or she feels the most comfortable and is happy to offer treats during the checkup.

Preparing for a Cat’s Vet Visit

Even the most laid-back cat can panic when a car ride to the vet is on the table. Car journeys, loud noises, and unfamiliar smells all create significant discomfort for your cat. To reduce the issues you’ll face, make sure you’re properly prepared in advance. 

Assemble the paperwork to begin with. When you purchased or adopted your cat, he or she should have come with some paperwork providing information about its health. Any cat vaccination information or insights into check-ups will be valuable for your vet. 

Next, try and get your cat accustomed to being handled. You can do this regularly throughout the course of your feline’s life, by petting your cat, picking them up (carefully), and getting them used to being around people as much as possible. 

One of the best ways to prepare for the vet is to get some of your kitty’s favorite treats ready. Convincing your cat to come out of the carrier, or even get back in after the checkup isn’t easy. Having some of their favorite treats on hand will help to entice them to do whatever you need. 

While you shouldn’t over-feed your cat with treats (even during a vet visit), a delicious piece of food can help to build more positive associations with the clinic. It’s good to build connections for your cat between going to the vet and having nice surprises – rather than leaving them with nothing but bad memories.

The Cat Carrier Conundrum

One of the most important tools you’ll need for any vet visit is the cat carrier. No matter how relaxed you think your cat is never travel with them loose in the car. Not only is this extremely dangerous to you, but it puts your cat at risk if anything happens in your journey. Plus, there’s always the risk that they’ll run out into the road once you open the door. 

Choose a suitable carrier for your vet visits. The box needs to be large enough for your cat that they can move around, stand up and relax without feeling cramped. However, remember that you still need to be able to carry it with you. There should be space on the bottom of the carrier for blankets, treats and toys. Plus, plenty of ventilation to help air circulate. 

Look for a cat carrier or cat backpack that’s easy to move around and comes with multiple entry and exit points if possible. This will make it a little easier to place your cat in the carrier and get them out at the vet. 

To boost your chances of fewer carrier issues, start introducing your kitty to their carrier as early as possible – long before they have to go to the vet. The carrier should be out in your home as part of the furniture, so that your feline friend can sniff and explore it as their leisure. 

Make the carrier itself less frightening by putting a blanket with the cat’s smell inside, or clothing from your cat’s favorite person. You can even add calming sprays and catnip into the carrier to make it more enticing for your furry friend. 

Putting treats or a favorite piece of food in the carrier can sometimes convince your cat to take a closer look at your new furniture. You’ll also find that it’s much easier to get a kitten used to their travel box than a full-sized cat, as kittens are naturally more curious. However, don’t push any cat to go into the space faster than they feel comfortable.

If even after a slow introduction, your kitty still avoids its carrier, then you might need to try a different solution. When your cat refuses to get inside of the box, consider wrapping them up in a thick blanket or towel so you can place them inside more easily.

Handling the Journey: Keeping Your Cat Calm

After a while, your kitty should begin acclimatizing to the cat carrier and feeling more comfortable around it. Unfortunately, that’s just one piece of the puzzle when you’re planning a vet visit. Once you’ve convinced the cat to get inside the carrier, you then need to deal with the car journey. 

Carry your feline into the car carefully, avoiding as many knocks and bumps as possible. Make sure that they’re comfortable situated on the car seat and put a seatbelt over the carrier if you can for extra protection. If possible, it might be worth spraying calming pheromones into your car and the carrier a little while before your cat has to start its journey. 

To make being in the car a little less overwhelming, make sure that it’s at a nice temperature for your cat – they shouldn’t be freezing or overheated for the entire journey. Also, keep any noise to a minimum. Loud music will further distress your furry friend, just as excessive outside car noise might. Instead, soothe your pet with the sound of your voice.

When travelling to the vet, some pet parents will benefit from covering the carrier with a large blanket or towel. Dark and private spaces may put your cat at ease when he or she is feeling overwhelmed, and it also reduces their exposure to certain stimuli. 

Drive carefully, avoiding speed bumps and potholes wherever you can. However, remember that even if you’re extra careful, there’s a chance that your cat may throw up or go to the bathroom in the carrier. It might be helpful to take some wipes and a second set of blankets for the journey back – just in case.

When You Arrive at the Vet Clinic

When you arrive at the vet, avoid bumping the carrier against your legs and rushing into the waiting room. Keep your cat’s carrier covered if you can, and report to the reception before taking a seat in the waiting area. Ideally, you’ll have a separate waiting area for cats and dogs.

If there are other animals in the room, then try to stay as far away as possible – no matter how much you want to pat them. The smells and sounds of the waiting room are likely to frighten your cat. However, it’s important to maintain a soothing tone of voice as you speak to your cat to let them know everything is okay. 

If you have a particularly anxious cat, you might be able to keep them outside in your car until it’s nearly time for your appointment. Try to avoid arriving at the clinic too early, as this just gives your cat more opportunities to soak up the anxiety in the room. 

Just as we suggested with the car journey, keeping your cat’s carrier covered with a blanket or towel will help to reduce their exposure to stressful experiences in the waiting room. The less they can see and smell, the more comfortable they’ll feel. If you are using a blanket, don’t be tempted to keep peeking in and disturbing your furry friend. Give them some privacy. 

Keeping your fingers close to the vents or the front of the carrying case will give them something familiar to smell. However, don’t be tempted to open the carrier door and let your cat roam around. No matter how much she or he meows and cries, opening the carrier puts you at risk of your cat running away or starting a fight with another pet.

During the Vet Appointment: Questions to Ask

The first vet visit with your feline friend will usually involve collecting as much information as possible. Your vet will look at the paperwork and pet insurance information that you’ve brought with you, and ask you questions about your furry friend’s health and background. You might also need to give some information about the cat’s home environment, and let your vet know if your cat ever goes outside.

Remember, your vet isn’t being nosy or judging you, but creating a full picture of your pet’s health, so they can provide the best advice and guidance. During your first vet visit, your vet will want to establish a baseline for what’s normal to your cat, so they can determine if they’re having any issues in the future. 

Your vet may need to take the cat out of the carrier to conduct a quick check-up. They may also ask you to remove the cat from the carrier, as your feline friend is less likely to be aggressive towards you. Sometimes, you can simply open the door to the carrier and let your cat roam around when they feel comfortable. 

Feel free to gently pet your cat and speak to them as they step outside of the carrier, this will help to put them at ease. At the same time, make sure that you ask your vet any questions you might have about caring for your new pet. You could ask questions like:

You may also want to ask some basic questions about the expenses you’re responsible for when you take your kitty to the vet. You may already have cat or pet insurance set up for your furry pal, so if that’s the case, talk to the front desk about how you make claims. Most of the time, they will be able to give you helpful information on what to do when you receive a bill. 

It’s also worth speaking to your vet about any hereditary issues that your cat might have and what you can do to deal with them as well as possible. Some cat breeds do come with more common illnesses than others, so it’s important to keep this in mind when you’re adopting.

After The Vet Visit: What’s Next?

When the exam room part is over, it’ll be time to (Carefully) place your cat back into the carrier. You might find that they’re much easier to get into the box when you’re going home than they were when you were trying to get them to the vet. Give your feline friend one of their favorite cat treats while you’re still at the vet to reward them for being brave. 

After you’ve finished paying and getting the paperwork sorted out, get your cat back into the car, and cover the carrier again if you had a blanket over it before. Remember to keep the drive as gentle as possible, and don’t make any stops along the way. This isn’t the time to pick up extra groceries or drop in and see someone. 

When you get home, put the carrier down and allow your cat to come out at its own pace. There’s a good chance they’ll bolt off to one of their favorite hiding places once they realize that they’re back home. Don’t follow them and try to get them out of that space. Give them the time they need to chill out after a stressful experience. Your cat will come to you when they want some reassurance. 

If you’ve got multiple pets in the household, try to prevent the other animals from bothering your cat, too when you first get home. Keeping them in separate rooms at first can reduce the risk of aggression from your cat. It’s also worth noting that other animals (particularly other cats) might act strangely towards the one that’s been to the vet too. They’ll usually smell a little different, which can be confusing to your other pets. 

Most cats will return to being their normal selves after a day or so when they’ve been to the vet – depending on whether they had to have anything done. Be patient with them and try to offer plenty of treats, kitty food and comfort when they want it. 

Now you can all relax – at least until it’s time for your next vet visit.

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