Cat Friendly

We understand that there are unique difficulties in bringing a cat to a veterinary clinic.

Cats often do not travel well and feel unsafe away from their home environment
They are highly sensitive to new sights, sounds and smells
Most cats prefer quiet and solitude and are highly susceptible to stress
Most cats are highly stressed by other cats, dogs and people in the clinic
Cats need to be handled gently and with respect in the clinic

What is a Cat Friendly Clinic?

An accredited Cat Friendly Clinic has reached a higher standard of cat care in that the staff:

Understand the needs of cats and work continuously to make visits to the vet clinic more cat friendly and stress free
Understand how to approach and handle cats using a gentle, fear-free approach
Have good knowledge and equipment to manage the care of cats
Achieving Cat Friendly Clinic accreditation involves all staff, from receptionists, nurses and technicians, through to vets. Each accredited clinic also has at least one ‘Cat Advocate’ – someone who ensures the cat friendly standards are adhered to, and who would be happy to talk to you.

Who are our Cat Advocates?

Vicky Morton - Veterinary Surgeon
Celine Duquesnoy - Veterinary Surgeon

What does it mean for my cat and me?

A Cat Friendly Clinic gives you peace of mind and reassurance, letting you know that:
The clinic has achieved certain minimum accreditation standards, as a Gold standard clinic we meet the highest standard of accreditation
The clinic and clinic staff have thought about the specific needs of cats to minimize stress
The staff will be happy to talk with you, show you what they do, and show you around the clinic
The staff will explain your cat’s treatment and recovery clearly and sensitively so that you have a full understand of what is going on
What are the different levels of Cat Friendly Clinic accreditation?
Cat Friendly Clinic (CFC) accreditation is at three levels – Bronze, Silver and Gold.

Staff at every accredited clinic have promised to handle and treat cats with understanding, gentleness and respect, and to make every effort to make the visit to the clinic as stress-free for you and your cat as possible. Staff are also required to maintain and update their knowledge on clinical matters and continuing professional development.

For more information please visit https://catfriendlyclinic.org/cat-owners/