Feline Friendly Handling
We are very passionate here about adhering to "Feline Friendly" handling techniques to help minimize the stress of vet visits for our patients.
What is Feline Friendly handling? It is the interaction with cats while understanding, interpreting and appropriately responding to the cat's emotional states and giving them a perceived sense of control and safety.
It starts in the exam room where we open the carrier and let the kitty decide if they want to come out on their own. If they don't want to come out, we don't force them. We never pull or dump them out. We take the lid off the carrier and the kitty can stay in the bottom half where they feel safe. The doctor can then examine them right there! (We recommend the hard plastic carriers that come apart for this reason.)
If they do come out on their own, we allow some time to walk around the exam room to explore and scent mark before picking them up to weigh them or put them on the exam table. They need to feel in control.
If the kitty is still fearful or anxious, we find that wrapping them in a soft towel is all we need for restraint. This method, called a "Purrito" allows the doctor to examine the kitty and gives us access to their back legs for blood collection and blood pressure measurement, while protecting us from their defenses.
We allow them to keep their chest and front legs in contact with the table so their head can remain in a normal, upright position. And as much as possible, keep all four feet on the table. This helps them feel secure.
We avoid direct eye contact as this can be perceived as a threat. Lots of blinking and sideways glances will help them feel at ease.
We never scruff the kitty or use full body restraint techniques such as cat bags, mesh "cat grabbers/tongs" or multiple staff members holding them down.
We never use muzzles, Elizabethan collars or leather gloves.
If these methods still don’t help alleviate the stress for the kitty, we will ask the cat parent to administer some calming medication at home before getting kitty ready for the appointment. This medication is very safe and proven effective.
Lastly, if the kitty is just too stressed to come to the clinic, we can come to them. We often find that kitties who needed to be sedated or were fearful at the clinic, were much more relaxed and allowed handling in the comfort of their own home.
What is Feline Friendly handling? It is the interaction with cats while understanding, interpreting and appropriately responding to the cat's emotional states and giving them a perceived sense of control and safety.
It starts in the exam room where we open the carrier and let the kitty decide if they want to come out on their own. If they don't want to come out, we don't force them. We never pull or dump them out. We take the lid off the carrier and the kitty can stay in the bottom half where they feel safe. The doctor can then examine them right there! (We recommend the hard plastic carriers that come apart for this reason.)
If they do come out on their own, we allow some time to walk around the exam room to explore and scent mark before picking them up to weigh them or put them on the exam table. They need to feel in control.
If the kitty is still fearful or anxious, we find that wrapping them in a soft towel is all we need for restraint. This method, called a "Purrito" allows the doctor to examine the kitty and gives us access to their back legs for blood collection and blood pressure measurement, while protecting us from their defenses.
We allow them to keep their chest and front legs in contact with the table so their head can remain in a normal, upright position. And as much as possible, keep all four feet on the table. This helps them feel secure.
We avoid direct eye contact as this can be perceived as a threat. Lots of blinking and sideways glances will help them feel at ease.
We never scruff the kitty or use full body restraint techniques such as cat bags, mesh "cat grabbers/tongs" or multiple staff members holding them down.
We never use muzzles, Elizabethan collars or leather gloves.
If these methods still don’t help alleviate the stress for the kitty, we will ask the cat parent to administer some calming medication at home before getting kitty ready for the appointment. This medication is very safe and proven effective.
Lastly, if the kitty is just too stressed to come to the clinic, we can come to them. We often find that kitties who needed to be sedated or were fearful at the clinic, were much more relaxed and allowed handling in the comfort of their own home.
