Cat Friendly
APPOINTMENT
Take the stress out of the vet at our feline friendly practice:
The team at Latah Creek Animal Hospital is committed to reducing stress, fear, and anxiety for cats during their office visits. Our exceptional team of cat advocates follows a specific set of initiatives to make cats as comfortable and happy as possible.
We strive to make every visit a pleasant one for all of our patients, training all of our staff in gentle techniques. However, for feline appointments, we go even farther with the following:
- Calming pheromones and a feline-friendly environment (bring out the catnip!)
- Trained team members who understand cats
- Reduced stress for pets and their caregivers
Feline Friendly Practice
Latah Creek Animal Hospital is proud to be a certified Cat Friendly Practice. This program is leading the movement to make veterinary care less stressful for cats and their caregivers. Our compassionate team strives to provide a fear-free experience for all patients. Using a feline-only exam room, calming pheromones, and team members trained in feline friendly and fear-free techniques greatly decreases the stress and anxiety in both our feline patients and their pet parents.
Established by the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) and the International Society for Feline Medicine (ISFM), the Cat Friendly Practice® program is a global initiative designed to elevate care for cats by reducing the stress for the cat, caregiver, and also the entire veterinary team.
Cat-Friendly Attitude
The veterinary team is trained to speak softly, avoid direct eye contact with your cat, and move slowly. They know these actions help keep your cat calm and feeling in control. If any team member sees your cat becoming stressed or anxious, they will pause the check-up, let your cat take a break, and resume when she is calmer.
Educated Team Members
Our Cat Friendly Practice® have Cat Advocates who ensure team members are trained to understand and handle them gently and respectfully. They can answer your questions and explain the specific cat-friendly features at the practice.
Gentle Handling
Team members use a “less is more” approach when examining your cat, without using heavy restraint which could frighten, stress, or arouse your cat. Your cat’s check-up may take place on the table, floor, or in the veterinarian’s lap wherever your cat is most comfortable.
Advice
Cat Advocates provide you with feline-specific tips, like how to get your cat comfortable with the carrier before the visit. They can also advise you on how to transport your cat to the veterinary office in a way to reduce stress associated with the visit for both you and your cat.