Cat Friendly Clinic
Gold accreditation for Northwest Veterinary Specialists
We are extremely proud that Northwest Veterinary Specialists has achieved Gold accreditation as a Cat Friendly Clinic (CFC). The CFC programme has been developed by the International Society of Feline Medicine, the veterinary division of the leading feline charity International Cat Care.
The CFC programme aims to promote well-being and high standards of care for all cats visiting or being hospitalised in a veterinary clinic. A clinic has to prove rigorous adherence to a set of criteria which includes provision of facilities and demonstration of staff activities and attitudes aimed at reducing stress in cats, both as in-patients and out-patients. The criteria includes having separate dog and cat waiting areas, feline-friendly hospitalisation cages, and veterinary equipment specifically for treating cats. Most importantly, staff are encouraged to approach and handle cats sensitively and respectfully.
How we achieved our gold accreditation Cat Friendly Clinic:
- Our Feline Friendly Committee consists of over 20 team members from different departments within the hospital. Our dedicated feline friendly team educate and train new staff members on how to handle cats with appreciation to their specific needs to ensure stress is kept to a minimum for patients during stay.
- Dedicated waiting room for cats. Our cat lounge ensures anxiety is reduced
- Separate consulting room for cats. Dogs are not allowed in this room as dog smells can cause fear
- Separate cat ward to ensure a peaceful environment
- Our cat ward is equipped with spacious kennels, each including a cat castle to provide height and hiding space and an orthopaedic mattress for extra comfort. Each suite is covered with a Pet Remedy towel to provide privacy.
- Our cat friendly facilities include dimmable lights and relaxing sounds to ensure a pleasant experience.
- Cat appropriate equipment: small scales, quiet clippers, small volume blood tubes, blood pressure monitoring, continuous blood glucose monitoring
- Cat carrier covers and the use of Feliway calming pheromones which can help reassure your cat and reduce stress behaviours
- Feline transportation trolleys to move cats smoothly around the hospital. Their cage is covered with a Feliway blanket to minimise external stressors.
- We stock a variety of different foods including wet and dry forms for special dietary requirements, and we have an array of treats including Feliway Happy Snacks which contain calming proteins.
- We have a wide selection of cat equipment to help your cat feel at home during their stay. For example, water fountains, raised/wide bowls, play centres and scratch posts as well as a large range of toys and slow feeder mats.
- If your feline family member has any specific requirements, please be sure to communicate this during your consultation.
Cat Committee Top Tips for reducing stress prior to your appointment:
Patients stress can begin before your cat has even left home. There are many ways in which we can try to reduce these stressors and make their journey as comfortable and stress free as possible so that when they arrive at our hospital we can provide a calmer examination of your pet and better experience for everyone!
- Get your cats carrier out around 3 days before the trip to the vets.
- When your cat is inside of the carrier and ready to travel use a blanket to cover them to reduce sensory overload
- Use feline pheromone sprays or natural calming sprays
Place the carrier somewhere in your house that your cat would likely visit, such as in the living room or bedroom. Place one of their blankets or even an item of your own clothing within the basket and leave it open to enable your cat to explore their carrier in a positive emotional state. This will hopefully help them feel less fearful when they see the carrier, as they are not immediately associating this with a trip to the vets.
Lots of new sights and smells can be overwhelming and this will increase their stress factors leading to difficulties with examination and some veterinary procedures.
Our favourites are Feliway and Pet Remedy. They can be sprayed onto your cat’s blanket and bedding before periods of stress, such as visits to the vets.
Cat Owner Testimonials
The vet explained every option I had regarding my cat issue and despite being very emotional, I felt he was in an excellent place and I was making the right decision to leave him and go ahead with the operation. I received updates during the days my cat stayed in the clinic (more than once a day) and they were always available and very kind when I phoned them after I took my cat home.
My cat needed an urgent appointment and was booked in the same day which I was really impressed with. All the staff were friendly and my cat was diagnosed straight away which was helpful to us as we were very worried about him. The care they gave my cat, I was very grateful for, so definitely recommend this practice.
The vets are brilliantly kind and compassionate. I felt that the staff loved my cat really genuinely and treated him as though he was one of their own.
Everyone was extremely helpful, detailed information was provided at every opportunity and I received regular updates via phonecalls. The whole service was efficient and well-organised. Our cat received fantastic care.