cat-friendly-practiceWe are proud to hold a Cat Friendly Practice Gold certification by the American Association of Feline Practitioners. We have gone above and beyond to ensure that a visit to our hospital is stress-free for you and your cat. Our hospital was designed with the comfort of your cat in mind, and our staff is trained to handle your feline friend in a way that will make their visit much more relaxing than a typical visit to the vet. To become a certified Cat Friendly Practice requires meeting a series of standards set out by the AAFP. Because we hold to these standards, you can expect a visit to our hospital to be a refreshing change from other veterinary visits with your cat. Read the AAFP Owner Brochure to learn why you and your cat deserve a cat friendly practice.

We understand that even with an appointment at a Cat Friendly Practice, actually getting your cat to our hospital may be stressful. This is why we encourage all of our cat-owners to read the AAFP’s brochure, “Getting Your Cat To The Veterinarian.” If you would like even more educational information on caring for a cat, you can view all of the AAFP’s Educational Cat Owner Brochures online.

As a cat friendly practice, we have met the following guidelines (content provided by the AAFP: How Can I Benefit):

  • They make an effort to have a calming environment.
  • They have incorporated a waiting room/area that reduces stress associated with noise, other pets or unfamiliar smells (methods can include feline-only area, separate space with barrier blocking visual contact, cat-only appointment times, going directly into the exam room, etc.).
  • Staff are trained to understand the individualized needs of cats including feline specific facial and behavior cues.
  • They implement the Feline-Friendly Handling Guidelines to facilitate a more positive experience.
  • They use a slow approach to achieve positive results.
  • They develop an individual plan based on your cat’s specific needs, preferences and behaviors.
  • They implement ways to make you and your cat be as comfortable as possible.
  • Staff continually obtain education on the most current feline research and guidelines.
  • They will help ensure that you are a valuable member of your cat’s healthcare team and help you understand your cat’s needs and what you can do at home to ensure they get the care they need.
  • Many use synthetic feline facial pheromones for a calming effect.
  • Many have a feline-only examination room that provides a safe, non-threatening area where cats can be examined calmly and effectively.
  • They have experience to recognize subtle, early signs of fear or anxiety and adapt appropriately.
  • Their cat ward, hospitalization area and operating room have been assessed to include appropriate feline equipment, tools and procedures.