Routine visits are an important step in checking on your pet’s health. If we can detect disease early, we are more likely to be able to treat it and keep your pet healthy. Cats are experts at hiding illness that may go unnoticed until it’s too late. However, if the vet cannot thoroughly examine or perform diagnostics on your cat due to stress, an ailment may get missed.
Many cats will automatically associate the carrier with a bad time, so leave it out days in advance to avoid tipping them off. Give them treats in the carrier as well to desensitize them.
Before every cat visit, I will place a towel on the exam table and spray it with Feliway. Feliway mimics a feline pheromone that promotes calm behavior and reduces stress. Feliway cat can also be used for urine spraying, scratching, hiding, or intercat conflicts. Using Feliway in the cat carrier and car can also reduce stress prior to the vet visit.
With cats that are more anxious and fearful at the vet, gabapentin can be administered prior to the appointment. Traditionally used for nerve pain, gabapentin will work on the GABA receptors to calm your little purr monster for a less stressful visit. Ask your vet about gabapentin if your cat gets anxious at the vet or for travel!
Gabapentin has been clinically shown to reduce stress, decrease aggression, and increase compliance of cats during examination. Published in JAVMA 2017. Increased compliance will translate into a more thorough exam and increased safety for the cat, and staff.