Cats are not small dogs!
Here at Grace Park Animal Hospital, we realize cats and dogs are very different. While some dogs exhibit stress associated with veterinary visits, almost ALL cats will be nervous or stressed when brought into a veterinary office.
Imagine your cat being plucked from its napping spot, shoved in a box, put in a car, brought into a strange building with strange sounds and smells, being removed from that box and then handled in strange ways by strange people. No wonder some kitties are so fearful coming to the vet!
In acknowledgement of these differences between dogs and cats and the levels of stress cats face, Grace Park Animal Hospital goes to some extra lengths to ensure the comfort of our feline friends. Once you walk through the doors, you and your feline friend can head on over to the Kitty Korner, a special, blocked-off section of the reception area that is reserved for cats only. This helps cats not deal with the stress of coming face to face with a strange dog or other things which could be stressful to them.
Dr. Carol Tice, former owner of Cat Care Veterinary Clinic in Morrisville joined our practice in April of 2024. Dr. Tice has almost 30 years of experience practicing exclusively with felines and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience with cats to our medical team. We have 2 exam rooms dedicated to cats only when Dr. Tice is here, keeping the smell of strange dogs to a minimum. In fact, these rooms are equipped with a special pheromone spray called Feliway, which helps promote a sense of calm for cats. This creates as relaxing of an environment as possible for them. We also have some stress-relieving medications that can be given at home prior to your visit that alleviate some of the anxiety associated with these visits.
There are also important things that you should be aware of to help your cats stay healthy at home. Cats respond much differently to a wide range of medications than dogs and even people do. So, remember to never give your cat a medication (including flea, tick, and heartworm preventions) not intended for cats. The results could be life-threatening!
One specific and often unknown fact: If you have a cat in the house, never bring in a lily plant or any floral arrangements that have lillies in them. They can be toxic even if your cat rolls in the lily pollen and then licks it off of their fur. Ingestion of any part of the lily plant (even the tiniest amounts) can cause fatal kidney damage in susceptible cats. If you ever suspect your cat has had any exposure to any part of a lily plant call your vet or local emergency clinic immediately. Click here to view the ASPCA Pet Insurance list of 101 Household Pet Dangers.
Cats are also one of the best species at hiding signs of illness when they are sick and not feeling well. If your cat does ANYTHING out of the ordinary, it is best to call your veterinarian and ask. Some very mild changes can signal very serious disorders. Remember, you see your cat every day and you are the best person to pick up on subtle changes. Just pick up the phone and give us a call!
We are able to respond to these requests by almost always being able to see your cat on the same day you call us. We reserve one appointment slot per doctor per hour for same-day “Urgent Care” visits, so you can avoid a long wait to be seen when something doesn’t seem right with your cat.
In summary, we understand the differences in veterinary visits for dogs and cats and strive to make appointments for our feline friends as easy and comfortable as possible. Feel free to drop by and check us out any time!
