The ominous hissing, the mournful meows, the defensive scratching or biting, the upset bowels — feline stress is just plain unpleasant for cats and you. Many cats get stressed when it’s time for a veterinary visit. Thankfully, there are ways to help cats relax and enjoy the ride — yes, even in the car. Here’s what you can do.

"You want me to go where?" Many cats are frightened of traveling in a car.

1. Transport your cat in a carrier

Putting cats in a carrier on the way to and from the veterinary clinic is extremely important. Cats are often startled by loud noises or other pets, and, if you’re carrying your cat in your hands, you might not be able to hold on if he/she abruptly tries to get away. Also, cats that are allowed to roam freely inside the car face the risk of more severe injury should there be an accident.

2. Choose a hard-plastic carrier with a removable top

Some cats might resist being put into a carrier. But removable tops make getting cats into—and out of—the carrier easier. Simply undo the screws or latches, lift off the top, set the cat in the bottom, and replace the top. This eliminates the need to force the cat inside, which makes the cat — and you — more relaxed.

3. Make the carrier a favorite place

Some cats come to love their carriers. When cats see their carriers as safe, enjoyable places, they’re happy to go into them and feel more safe in scary places, like the car. Use these strategies to create crate-fondness in your cat:

• Leave the carrier out in your house so your cat can access it at any time.

• Make the carrier inviting by putting a favorite blanket or toy in it.

• Every now and then, lay a few treats inside the carrier.

4. Head to the veterinary clinic for “happy visits”

Does your cat seem to bristle at the thought of visiting the veterinarian? Then take it on a few stress-free trial runs. Call the veterinary hospital to ask if the schedule would allow you and your cat to stop in for five or 10 minutes. You won’t be making a medical visit, but rather a mock appointment that allows your cat to experience all the steps of a routine visit without the physical examination. This free-of-charge “happy visit” gives your cat the chance to get used to the sounds and smells of the hospital, meet the veterinary team members, and eat a few treats all while enjoying the safety of its carrier. After some canoodling, you and your cat will head back home.

If a car ride alone puts your cat in a tailspin, entice your cat into its carrier and start by going for a test drive around the block. Continue to take a drive every now and then, gradually increasing the amount of time you and your cat spend in the car. Remember to reward your cat with a treat for being a good passenger. Eventually, you’ll work your way up to doing a drive that will allow you and your cat to make a “happy visit.” Positive reinforcement is the best way to modify feline behavior, so making car rides and veterinary visits pleasant will help decrease your cat’s anxiety.

Source: Kerry Hillard Johnson, FIRSTLINE, veterinaryteam.dvm360.com

At Animal Hospital of North Asheville, we recommend that you cover your cat’s carrier on three sides with a towel before you enter the waiting room and position the carrier to afford your cat privacy. Although we have a waiting room exclusively for cats (no scary dogs), most cats appreciate the towel because it keeps them hidden from the unfamiliar surroundings. We will also use the towel to provide a hiding place for your cat while on the exam table. Please share any individual preferences that your cats has, so we can further reduce any stress that cat may feel during the visit. Thank you for partnering with us to provide the best care for your pet.

Which Veterinarian at Animal Hospital of North Asheville will my pet be seeing?

YOU choose the veterinarian for your pet.

We offer your pet the intimacy that a small practice offers, while also being able to offer the knowledge, equipment, and conveniences that a multi-doctor practice can provide.  Most of our clients want their pet to be seen primarily by one veterinarian so that doctor can really get to know their pet and their family. Our veterinarians enjoy being there for your pets from puppy or kitten-hood until they become old. Not only is the close relationship that develops rewarding, it means that there is the best continuity of care for your pets, and your pets feel more at ease.

We recently started a new initiative of asking each client which veterinarian they want to choose as the primary veterinarian for their pet. Your pet’s electronic medical record is then flagged with the primary veterinarian’s name of your choosing, and each time you call to make an appointment, the Client Care Representative will do her best to schedule the appointment with your pet’s primary veterinarian. Of course, there will be times that your pet’s primary veterinarian will be off duty or busy in surgery, but if your pet needs care, one of our other veterinarians can give your pet the best of care. Our veterinarians discuss cases in rounds, are very familiar with each other’s cases, and with our excellent electronic medical records, there will be good continuity of care. Once your pet’s primary veterinarian is back on duty, he or she will review everything that transpired and follow up with you on the care.

Our eight veterinarians work as a team and completely understand that you may later decide to change your pet to another of our veterinarians. They are all accustomed to our clients changing from one veterinarian to another and work well with that. All you have to do if you would like to change is just ask a Client Care Representative to make the change. If you want to see different veterinarians each time, that is fine, too. Just make the request. We always believe that the pet’s family knows what is best for the pet they love and care for.

Help AHNA Help Homeless People and Their Pets

Animal Hospital of North Asheville is participating in Project Connect for the Homeless. Project Connect is an annual one day event that is held to provide onsite barrier-free services to the homeless population of Asheville-Buncombe while facilitating community awareness and participation. AHNA will be on hand to provide what care we can to the pets that belong to homeless people.

Would you like to help? You can donate dog and cat food!

Please bring donations to AHNA. We will be collecting donations of dog and cat food through September 9th. September 9, 2010 will be our last day to collect!

For more information on Project Connect, CLICK HERE

Recently, Procter and Gamble, owner of Iams and Eukanuba, issued a recall on certain dry pet foods. AHNA immediately identified and contacted all owners of pets who we knew were fed these dry foods to warn them of the recall.

Below you will find a link with more information on the recall as well as a list of UPC codes included in the recall.

http://www.iams.com/iams/en_US/data_root/html/recall_message.html