Every cat owner knows that all cats are individuals, each with a special and unique character. Here at Purton Veterinary Group we like to recognize this fact too! Cats are not small dogs and bring with them a unique set of requirements in their personal needs, handling, diagnosis, treatment and care.
We understand that when cats visit one of our surgeries they will be exposed to many stressors. A strange cat carrier, car journey, strange smells, sights and noises can all induce stress. This stress can cause many different reactions including increased heart rate and breathing, raised blood pressure, pupil dilation and anorexia, as they try to assess potential dangers around them.
Your cats' initial experience on entering the practice is very important as it is the time your cat is attempting to assess the safety of this new environment. We have re-designed our reception at Purton so we have a cat only area providing a barrier so your cats are unable to see any dogs that may also be in the practice. This area also has a raised shelf where you can safely place your cat carrier so that your cat does not have to be on floor. Cats like to see what s going on around them and can feel very insecure if they are placed at floor level.
To further enhance this more relaxing environment we have introduced our 'Cats Only' clinic on a Tuesday afternoon each week, between 12pm and 3pm. This gives you the opportunity to bring your cat to the surgery at a quiet time when you can be assured that there's unlikely to be any barking dogs to worry your feline companions.
We know that the way in which cats are handled in the consulting room or how they are hospitalized can move them from a fearful and anxious state to one of relaxation. Avoiding stressors, correct handling, interpretation of body language and suitable housing are all part of our overall care strategy for your cat whilst it is with us.
Once in the consulting room we ensure that any alarm scents left by preceding patients are removed by cleaning the consulting table and having good ventilation in place. Our consultation rooms are very secure so we can happily let your cat out of its carrier to explore the room before any examination takes place. Giving your cat the chance to explore usually helps to keep them occupied and calm! At this time we can also discuss your cat with you to help us with any diagnosis and treatment. We adopt a 'less is more' approach to restraint as cats generally respond well to minimal restraint. Jos and Graeme, the practice owners, have seven cats of their own and are therefore well practiced in talking calmly to our feline patients and making them feel at ease!
If your cat has to be hospitalized with us for any length of time we now have a dedicated cat ward, large enough to house 8 cats comfortably, it is quiet and benefits from being air conditioned. We decided when we created this area we did not want small cat cages commonly used in veterinary hospitals. These small cages are only large enough for a cat, a litter tray and food bowls and leaves the cat very little room. They are suitable for outpatients but not for cats that need to longer term care and rehabilitation!
So, we have included in our cat ward two of cages that benefit from being 1.2m wide and 70cm deep giving any cats staying with us plenty of room to move around. It also means that food bowls and litter trays are further apart as cats do not like to eat next to their litter tray! Additionally, there are shelves for your cats to sit on and all the units are above the floor, again making your cats feel more secure. We can also provide appropriate places for cats to hide by covering sections of the cage and encourage you to bring in familiar bedding or clothing with a familiar smell that will help to reassure your cat during its stay with us. The patients can be monitored remotely by CCTV 24hrs if needed allowing the vets and nurses to keep an eye on patients in between their scheduled checks.
As volunteers for the Wootton Bassett and District branch of Cats Protection we assist with the welfare and re-homing of many cats. Our heavy involvement with Cats Protection means that our staff benefit from lots of experience in cat/kitten care and handling difficult cats. We also have immediate access to a wealth of information through the Cats Protection volunteer website at the touch of a button.
In recognition of our cat-friendly service we are long term members of the Feline Advisor Bureau charity. As a member this signifies our personal commitment to increase our knowledge of feline diseases and treatments so that we can help your cat and that we have a real interest in the health and welfare of cats. Presently there are around 150 other practice members in the UK. For more information visit Feline Advisory Bureau is dedicated to increasing knowledge about feline diseases and care and raising awareness of the vital role of top quality veterinary treatment.
Map