https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABkxfx_MCk4

Feline Friendly Practice

Many practices are focused on their canine patients. The staff and their culture are all about the dogs! At Animal House, we love our canine patients but the cats are stars too!

Some practices treat cats like small dogs. Cats are NOT small dogs. They differ medically, physically, and behaviorally. Cats are often stereotyped as aloof or independent. Some cats may be aloof, some independent but equally many are gregarious, social, loving, and affectionate. They can all be clowns!

We take special care to keep our feline patients as comfortable as possible while they visit us. Most cats do not like leaving their home environment or traveling in cars. We must put in extra effort to promote their comfort while they are at our veterinary hospital.

“Kitty Korner” Waiting Room

First, we try to isolate them as much as possible from our canine patients. They have a private waiting area near a relaxing saltwater fish tank. The cat waiting area, exam rooms, and cat ward are on the opposite side of the hospital as the dog exam rooms, dog ward, and dog waiting area. Cats do not like to leave their territory, especially if it means feeling threatened by a dog!

Cat Exam Room with Pheromones

We have plug-in pheromones to relax them. We have pheromones on cotton balls to put near the patient for up-close pheromone relaxation. We also offer light sedatives to help them relax when they visit.

The cat ward has a large window overlooking bird feeders and a flower box that attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. The cat suites have a window in the back of their cages to enjoy and have fun with the view. Importantly, the suites do not allow them to see other cats, yet, we can monitor them continuously through a window that opens to the treatment area and with a video feed in the ward. Each cat kennel has a private room for their litter box and another private room for a bed where they can hide. They also have vertical space to go up and down. Definitely a boutique experience!

Our in-house cats have an entire vertical living space on the walls in the reception area and walkways through two of the exam rooms and pharmacy and the entire wall of the treatment area. They LOVE it! Especially when its night time and they need to be put to bed. They get up high and make the staff work to catch them. They are naughty but we love them!

Some things I love about cats:

They are pretty! This is Devi our beloved clinic cat that has mastered aloof and social; she always keeps us guessing because we never know what’s coming next.