A Less Stressful Vet Visit for Your Cat — How We Help and How You Can Prepare

A vet visit is a stressful experience for many cats. An unfamiliar environment, strange smells, the presence of dogs and handling by strangers can trigger a strong stress response. Stress is not just uncomfortable — it also affects test results. In a study of healthy cats brought into an animal hospital, blood glucose rose above normal in most of them, with readings as high as about 18 mmol/L — values also seen in diabetic cats. Because of this effect, known as stress hyperglycaemia, a single high reading cannot, on its own, be taken to mean diabetes. Blood pressure is affected too: in healthy cats with implanted sensors, systolic pressure during a simulated clinic visit was, on average, about 18 mmHg higher than the cat’s own 24-hour mean, and the effect varied widely between cats and from one visit to the next. At Eläinklinikka Saari, we have invested in feline wellbeing and hold Silver-level accreditation in the international Cat Friendly Clinic programme.

Signs of Stress in Cats

A stressed cat shows it through body language: the pupils dilate, the ears flatten or turn out to the sides, the cat crouches low and its body stiffens, and the tail is tucked in close to the body. The cat may hiss, growl, try to escape or freeze in place. Some cats suddenly start grooming themselves, and in extreme fear a cat may even urinate or defecate. These reactions are normal — they show that the cat perceives the situation as threatening.

Feliway — Mimicking the Cat’s Own Reassuring Signal

When a cat rubs its cheeks and head against furniture and other objects, it leaves facial pheromones on them. One component, the F3 fraction, is linked to marking familiar territory. Feliway Classic is a synthetic analogue of the F3 fraction; the idea is that it signals familiar, safe surroundings. The evidence is mixed: a 2010 systematic review of seven cat studies found none that convincingly showed a benefit, while a 2023 evidence review of five studies in veterinary clinics found moderate evidence that it may reduce some signs of acute stress. That review advised against relying on it alone and noted that the manufacturer or its distributor had been involved in two of the five studies. We use Feliway — diffusers in reception and waiting areas, spray on examination tables and towels — as one supporting measure among several; it does not replace calm handling and a well-designed clinic environment.

Cat Friendly Clinic Silver — What Does It Mean?

The Cat Friendly Clinic programme is run by the cat charity International Cat Care and its veterinary division, the iCatCare Veterinary Society (known as ISFM, the International Society of Feline Medicine, until 2025). It sets standards for how clinics care for cats. Some requirements apply at every level: at least one designated Cat Advocate (ours is veterinarian Pamela Kvarngård); no forceful restraint or scruffing — we never hold or lift a cat by the scruff of the neck; and staff who recognise and respond to signs of fear and anxiety. Every level also requires cats and dogs to be kept apart in the waiting room; at Silver level, there must be a cat-only waiting room or a screened cat-only area. Ours is upstairs, away from dogs. Silver also requires a dedicated hospital ward where each cage has soft bedding, a hiding place and a litter tray. We go further than Silver requires: our day ward is for cats only and physically separate from the dogs, and we have a consulting room used only for cats. Pheromone products are not compulsory, but staff must receive ongoing training in their use. Full reaccreditation is required every three years.

How to Prepare Your Cat for the Vet Visit

Keep the carrier out at home all the time with the door open — place a soft blanket and treats inside so the cat learns to see it as a safe place. A carrier with a removable top is ideal. If you wish, you can spray Feliway inside the carrier (8–10 sprays) at least 15 minutes before putting the cat in, so that the alcohol can evaporate. Never spray while the cat is inside, and never spray the cat itself. Cover the carrier with a towel in the car and in the waiting room — we also have covers at the clinic. If blood tests may be needed, withhold food (but not water) for 6–12 hours before the visit, unless we have advised otherwise. At the clinic, place the carrier on a raised surface, such as our carrier shelves — not on the floor. You can wait in our cat-only waiting area upstairs. In the examination room, let the cat come out of the carrier on its own, or ask us to open or remove the top — we never pull a cat out by force. If your cat becomes very anxious at the vet, ask us whether calming medication given at home before the visit could help.

🐈 Cat vet in Vaasa – read more about our cat care

Sources

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2. Belew A.M. ym. (1999): Evaluation of the white-coat effect in cats. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 13(2):134–142. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
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4. Crump E. (2023): Effectiveness of F3 feline facial pheromone analogue for acute stress reduction within clinical veterinary practice. Veterinary Evidence 8(4). veterinaryevidence.org
5. Rodan I. ym. (2022): 2022 AAFP/ISFM Cat Friendly Veterinary Interaction Guidelines: Approach and Handling Techniques. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 24(11):1093–1132. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
6. International Cat Care: Stress in cats. icatcare.org
7. International Cat Care: Cat Friendly Clinic Foundation Criteria. icatcare.org
8. International Cat Care: Cat Friendly Clinic Silver & Gold Criteria. icatcare.org
9. International Cat Care (2025): New chapter for International Cat Care (ISFM renamed the iCatCare Veterinary Society). icatcare.org
10. FELIWAY UK: FELIWAY Classic Spray — directions for use. feliway.co.uk