At Animal Medical Center in Morgantown, we understand that vet visits can be stressful for both pets and their owners! Cats, in particular, can become highly anxious when taken out of their familiar environment. If fear isn’t addressed, it can escalate over time, making future visits even harder.
That’s why we use Fear Free techniques to create a low-stress, positive experience for cats.
By working together as a team—you, your cat, and our veterinary staff—we can make vet visits less stressful and ensure your cat gets the medical care they need. Here’s how!
Before the Visit: Preparing Your Cat for Success
✅ Understand Your Cat’s Body Language
Cats communicate stress through their body language. Early signs of fear include flattened ears, tucked tails, excessive grooming, and avoidance behaviors. If these signs are ignored, anxiety can escalate to hissing, swatting, or attempting to flee. Recognizing these early cues allows us to adjust handling techniques accordingly.
✅ Help Your Cat Feel Comfortable with Their Carrier & Car Rides
Choose a carrier that opens from the top, allowing your cat to stay in their "nest" while being examined.
Leave carriers out at home with soft bedding and treats to encourage familiarity.
Practice short, positive car rides to reduce fear of travel.
Play calming music (such as classical) to reduce road noise and stress.
Wait until your car is at a comfortable temperature before bringing your cat outside.
✅ Use Feliway- a Pheromone Spray
Feliway mimics natural feline calming pheromones and helps reduce stress.
Not all cats respond to Feliway, but many do.
At AMC, we use Feliway diffusers throughout our hospital and spray towels used during exams to create a soothing environment.
Consider purchasing a bottle of Feliway spray and using it on the blanket, pad or towel that you use inside the carrier. (Feliway is available from many online retailer like Amazon or Chewy.)
Some cats may benefit from anti-anxiety medications before their visit—ask us if this would be helpful for your cat.
✅ Minimize Waiting Room Stress: Wait in Your Car
To reduce stress, you can wait in your car instead of the lobby. When you arrive, park in a designated spot and call the front desk.
When an exam room is ready, your nurse will escort you both straight to the exam room, avoiding unnecessary exposure to unfamiliar sights and sounds.
During the Visit: Keeping Things Calm & Positive
✅ Use High-Value Treats
At AMC, we offer cats Churu -- a GoGurt-like paste of a delectable cat treat -- during their exam to help form positive associations.
Bring your cat’s favorite treats—chicken, tuna, or lickable treats like Churu often work well.
✅ Minimize Handling Stress
Do not pull your cat out of the carrier. If the carrier opens from the top, open the top and let them you cat stay nestled inside.
If your carrier doesn't open from the top, open the door and gently entice your cat to come out.
When needed, our team will gently swaddle your cat in a towel wrap, a safe and comforting low-stress-handling technique that has revolutionized the handling of cats -- minimizing stress while still allowing access the body parts needed for exam or a procedure.
✅ Know When to Take a Break
If stress levels are rising, we can pause or take a break.
For highly anxious cats, sedation may be an option to prevent unnecessary stress.
After the Visit: Reinforcing Positive Experiences
✅ Offer Praise & Treats
Give extra love, treats, and playtime after the visit to reinforce positive associations.
✅ Allow Time to Decompress
Some cats need quiet time after a vet visit—let them relax in a familiar, stress-free space at home.
✅ Plan for Future Visits
If your cat showed signs of distress, we can discuss:
Pre-visit anxiety medications
Desensitization training
Additional Fear Free techniques for handling future visits
At Animal Medical Center, we are committed to reducing fear and stress during vet visits. Our team is trained in low-stress handling techniques to ensure a comfortable experience for your cat.
📞 Need to schedule an appointment? Call us at 304-680-3522 or visit www.morgantownamc.com.
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