Saari Animal Clinic is an ISFM Cat Friendly Clinic at Silver level. Cats have their own waiting area away from dogs, their own consulting room and their own hospital ward, and our team is trained to handle them gently. We have looked after cats in the Vaasa region since 1989, from their first kitten vaccinations through to old age, in Finnish, Swedish and English.
What a cat-friendly visit looks like here
Own waiting area. Cats wait in their own area, screened from dogs, with raised shelves so the carrier never has to sit on the floor.
A consulting room only for cats. One of our consulting rooms is for cats only. Dogs are never examined there.
No scruffing, no pulling. We never scruff a cat or pull it out of its carrier. We can take the top off the carrier and examine your cat where it feels safe.
Pain relief comes first. A cat that is in pain gets pain relief before the examination, not after.
A ward just for cats. Cats that stay with us for the day are cared for in a cat-only ward, separate from the dog ward, with soft bedding and a place to hide.
Blood pressure in the awake cat. We measure blood pressure with cuffs made for cats. This matters most for older cats and for cats with kidney, thyroid or heart disease.
Calming scent. We use Feliway diffusers in the waiting and reception areas and Feliway spray on examination tables and towels.
Our Cat Advocate. Veterinarian Pamela Kvarngård is the clinic's Cat Advocate. She makes sure the Cat Friendly standards are followed in everyday work.
Read more: A stress-free vet visit for your cat
If your cat is afraid of the vet
Fear at the vet is normal and does not make a cat “difficult”. Leave the carrier out at home with a familiar blanket inside, so it is not only brought out for vet visits. Cover it with a towel in the car. Tell us when you book if your cat is very frightened, and we will plan the visit around it. For a very anxious cat we can also discuss calming medication to give at home before the visit.
Cat care at Saari
Vaccinations and kittens. Kittens are vaccinated at 12 and 16 weeks, with a booster at 12 months. After that, adult cats are vaccinated every 1–3 years depending on the vaccine. Cat vaccination (RCP) €75, with rabies €86. Drop-in vaccinations on Tuesdays 15:30–16:00, no appointment needed. → Vaccinations
Spaying and neutering. Your cat goes home the same day with pain relief. We spay cats through a very small opening in the abdomen, only 1–2 cm long. Spay €208, castration €108. Whether and when to spay or neuter is decided together with you. → Spaying · Castration
Dental care. Tooth resorption is common in cats and very painful. It often shows only on X-ray. Cat teeth cleaning under general anaesthesia €263, dental X-rays €59–99. → Dental care · Tooth resorption in cats
Senior check-up. Cats count as seniors from about 8 years. The check-up costs €299 and includes a clinical examination and the IDEXX Geriatric Profile blood panel. With blood pressure measurement, which we recommend for cats, it costs €309. → Senior check-up
Hormonal and internal diseases. Hyperthyroidism (thyroxine measured in our own laboratory), chronic kidney disease (including the SDMA kidney marker and IRIS staging), diabetes, and IBD or intestinal lymphoma. We take intestinal biopsies both by endoscopy and surgically. → Internal medicine
Heart. The most common heart disease in cats, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), often progresses without any signs. Heart ultrasounds are performed by veterinarian Leena Sandström, €376–476. → Cardiac examinations
Imaging and laboratory. Digital X-ray, ultrasound and our own laboratory, which gives quick results for blood, urine and hormone tests. → Laboratory · Ultrasound
Cat prices
Prices are totals. The spay and castration prices include anaesthesia, the surgery, medicines and take-home pain relief. Direct insurance billing with LähiTapiola, Agria and Pohjola. Full price list
When should you bring your cat in?
Cats are good at hiding illness, so even small changes are worth checking. Book an appointment if your cat:
- eats or drinks more or less than usual, or loses weight
- vomits often or has diarrhoea
- urinates more often or outside the litter box
- hides, moves less or no longer jumps up
- has bad breath, drools or chews on one side
- scratches or licks itself much more than usual
These are emergencies: if your cat breathes with its mouth open or struggles to breathe, or if a male cat strains in the litter box and passes little or no urine. During opening hours, call us straight away. Outside opening hours, contact the emergency vet. Emergency guidance for the Vaasa region
Read more about cat health
- A stress-free vet visit for your cat
- Hyperthyroidism in cats
- Chronic kidney disease in cats and dogs
- Tooth resorption
- IBD or lymphoma in cats
- How often should a cat be dewormed?
- Vaccinations in Finland
Frequently asked questions
Do you have a separate waiting area for cats? Yes. Cats wait in their own area, screened from dogs, and the carrier can be placed on a raised shelf. We also have a consulting room used only for cats, and cats that stay for the day are cared for in a cat-only ward.
How much does a cat vaccination cost? The RCP vaccine costs €75, or €86 with rabies. A kitten gets two vaccinations, at 12 and 16 weeks, so €150 in total without rabies. The booster at 12 months is a separate visit.
How much does it cost to spay or neuter a cat? Spaying a female cat costs €208 and castrating a male cat €108. The price includes anaesthesia, the surgery, medicines and take-home pain relief.
My cat is terrified of the vet. What can we do? Get your cat used to the carrier at home and cover it with a towel on the way. Tell us about the fear when you book. We plan the visit around your cat, never scruff it or pull it out of the carrier, and can discuss calming medication for very anxious cats.
How often should an older cat have a check-up? From about 8 years of age we recommend a yearly senior check-up with blood tests. Blood pressure measurement is especially useful in cats, because high blood pressure is common with kidney and thyroid disease.
Do you serve Swedish- and English-speaking cat owners? Yes. We work in Finnish, Swedish and English.