Have your cat examined

Very few cats like going to the vet. Most of the time, just catching the cat ends in a little drama, and you are stressed to the power of 10, as is the cat anyway. But that shouldn't stop you from going to the vet regularly and having your cat checked. In today's article, we'll tell you a few tricks on how to get your kitty used to the box without stress so that the vet visit is easier.

When does my four-legged friend need to go to the vet?

No pet cat can completely avoid visits to the vet in its lifetime: even if your kitty is fit, it will at least need vaccinations and routine check-ups. You shouldn't skip these, even if your kitten appears healthy: Consistent health monitoring will ultimately save your four-legged friend much more unpleasant procedures. If the cat suffers from a chronic illness, visits to the surgery are obligatory: medication must be adjusted, laboratory samples taken and possibly infusions administered. The unavoidable, regular visits to the vet should become a routine that your cat will be able to tolerate calmly.

What can small kittens expect at the vet?

A visit to the vet is particularly exciting for kittens: kittens should have their first visit to the vet at eight weeks old to be thoroughly examined. The kitten is palpated, weighed and its heart rate is measured. Basic immunisation is also due: Vaccination protection is built up at eight, twelve and sixteen weeks of age. For the kitten, this means a visit to the doctor every month. The experiences they have at the vet during this time will shape them. It is best to make sure that the kitten has a stress-free and playful visit to the vet and that it remains a positive memory.

How do I prepare for the vet visit?

A home visit from the vet only makes sense in absolute emergencies, if transporting the cat is not practical for whatever reason. Medical examinations should always take place on the vet's premises. The cat is less rebellious there. During transport and visits to the vet, it is important that you exude calm, especially if you are worried yourself. Remember that cats react very sensitively to their human's mood: If you act panicky, the animal will also notice that there is something unpleasant in the air and become anxious. The ideal transport box is appropriate for the size of the cat, should be hygienic to clean and securely lockable. Boxes that can be opened from the top make it much easier for the vet to safely grab the tiger and lift it out of the box. Unless it is a sudden emergency, you should try to accommodate the vet's work whenever possible. Make a fixed appointment and minimise waiting times for your furry friend.

How do I get my cat used to the transport box?

The main trick is to get your cat into the box voluntarily. The more the animal associates the sight of the crate with something negative, the more difficult this becomes. The transport box becomes an additional stress factor. Trick the cat and make the crate an ordinary object in the animal's environment.

These tricks will help your cat get used to it:

Accessibility: If possible, leave the box open and accessible at all times.

Cosiness: Use a blanket or cushion to turn the crate into a snuggle cave that the cat can visit at will.

Scent signals: Catnip and pheromones from specialist retailers make the box irresistible to the cat.

Rewards: Occasionally (!) hide tasty treats in the transport box. This teaches the cat that it is worth taking a look in the box from time to time. Use this trick according to a random principle that is inscrutable to the cat. This keeps the box interesting.

If the cat sees the transport box as one of several optional retreats, being transported inside its retreat will even help to calm it down. Once the cat has accepted the box, the second step is to go on test drives with the velvet paw. Take the cat for a drive in the car. Some cats see such a trip as an interesting change, others are happy to arrive back home - the only important thing is that the animal does not necessarily associate transport with a visit to the vet. Act unpredictably for the cat. You can achieve a lot with treats and lots of love.

How good that we at Liebesgut have a large selection of treats on offer for your velvet paw, garnished with a large portion of love. Take a look in our shop and all the best for your next visit to the vet!

Our recommendations for your four-legged friend:

Tasting packs for cats

BIO treats for cats