Fenland vets helps keep moggies 'feline' fine with cat friendly approach

A fresh focus on felines has ensured a Fenland vets is among the country’s top practices for cat care.

Paddons Veterinary Surgeons in Wisbech has achieved a silver award in the Cat Friendly Clinic programme from the International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM).

The moggie makeover means a more chilled out experience for cats and clients during visits, with a segregated waiting area, away from barking dogs, and specific, elevated cat carrier spaces. Blankets are available to shield carriers and reception staff are on hand with advice on keeping cats calm.

In kennels, cage fronts can be covered, and cages have ‘hideaways’ inside for the kitty to retreat into, to reduce stress and provide a more secluded environment.

Veterinary team members have also been trained in feline friendly handling and examination techniques, aimed at keeping cats as soothed and relaxed as possible.

Even the Elm Low Road practice’s telephone hold ‘music’ features purring kitties. Veterinary nurse Steph Block is Paddons Veterinary Surgeons ‘Cat Advocate’ and has a certificate from the ISFM in feline nursing. She has spearheaded the cat friendly approach, steering the practice towards the silver award.

A self-confessed kitty addict, with two cats of her own, she said she was proud of everyone’s efforts in helping achieve the accreditation.

She said: “Cats can get very anxious when put in a carrier and taken out of their normal surroundings. This can affect their behaviour and make a veterinary appointment and any examination more difficult. As a Cat Friendly Clinic our aim is to do all we can to reduce that anxiety and make the veterinary experience as stress-free and comfortable as possible.

“We have introduced higher level carrier spaces as cats prefer to be elevated and have blankets to muffle sound and minimise eye contact with other pets. The segregated waiting area also keeps cats away from dogs, which can be a major stress factor.”

Cat Friendly Clinic is a worldwide programme from the ISFM, the veterinary division of the charity International Cat Care.

Established in 2012, the programme recognises that because of their unique nature and needs, taking cats to the vets can be very stressful, both for cats and their owners. This programme aims to address these issues by creating more cat friendly veterinary clinics and so reducing the stress for cats and making veterinary visits easier for cat owners as well.

Steph said: “I like to think by being a Cat Friendly Clinic, under the guidance of the ISFM and having the support of International Cat Care, means as a practice we are providing the best possible veterinary care and advice for our clients and contributing to improving the overall welfare of cats for generations to come.

“The accreditation is an internationally recognised award. This makes us unique with our practice approach, not just for cats but for all our patients, because being cat friendly means an overall more positive environment for them all.

“We’ve had some great feedback from clients who have been delighted with the separate waiting area and calming and gentle approach.”

Cat Friendly Clinic has its own website where owners can find their nearest veterinary clinic and veterinarians can learn how to make their clinics more cat friendly and learn how to gain Cat Friendly Clinic status.