Coming to the hospital

Welcome to Cat Specialist Services. Our aim is to provide the best possible care for cats and their owners.

We hope the following information will help assist you in caring for your cat in what might be a difficult and anxious time.

Please remember we are always at the end of the phone or email if you need advice.

If you have already booked an appointment with us, you will have been emailed a pre-consultation history form to fill out. If not you can find it here.

This will help us to start detailing your cat's history. Additional information will be obtained during your consultation with your feline vet.

Reducing the stress of travelling to the hospital

Cats like their routine and their own environment and veterinary visits can be highly confronting to them.

The following tips may help reduce stress for your cats:

Cat carriers are very important to transport cats and reduce the risk of escape. Try and get your cat used to the carrier ahead of time by leaving it in a location where they can see it and leave food treats in there, so it is not such a scary place. Additionally you can practice taking your cat for short rides in the car so the car is not always associated with the hospital.
Ideally use a top opening carrier as these are easier to place the cat into. Carriers that open at the side and the top are also very good. Good carriers can be obtained here.
The carrier should be secured in the car with a seatbelt so that it does not slide around.
Cover the carrier with a towel to reduce the cat's visibility of the big scary outside world.
Feliway spray has also been shown to help reduce anxiety in some cats and we use this throughout the hospital in both spray and diffuser form. Spraying the inside of the carrier 30-60 minutes prior to travel may help. Feliway can be obtained from most pet shops.
If your cat has been prescribed gabapentin to reduce anxiety, it should be given two hours prior to travel. Remember, this is a sedative and your cat will be quieter than usual and maybe a little groggy.
Please also see our videos on recommended carriers and how to place your cat into a carrier here.

Reducing the stress of travelling to the hospital

Arriving at the hospital

When you arrive at the hospital, please take your cat straight to the cat waiting area on the left hand side of reception as you enter.

Your cat can be left safely in their carrier here while you check into the front desk.

In the event that dogs are barking in the general waiting area (dogs will be dogs), we are able to admit your cat into the cat hospital ward where it is much quieter. Please advise our reception staff if you would like this.

Once you are in the waiting area, it is important to keep cats away from other cats. Direct visual contact with another cat (or dog) is highly provoking to cats. If you do not have a cover (ie towel or blanket) for your carrier, we have towels available in the waiting area or ask our reception and they will provide one for you.

Thank you for choosing Cat Specialist Services and please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions. We always endeavour to ensure that your cat's visit is a stress free as possible.

Coming to the hospital

Reducing the stress of travelling to the hospital

Arriving at the hospital

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