I wasn’t comfortable with the treatment plan that our regular veterinarian came up with for Pierre, and that meant he had to go out for yet another exam, this time at the all-feline veterinarian.
Pierre: I wasn’t supposed to have to go back for months. What’s going on? Not funny! Can we go home now?
Never having been to an all-cat vet clinic before I wasn’t sure what to expect. The first thing we saw was a welcome sign for Pierre and the other cats who had appointments that day.
We were greeted by the clinic cat, Josie. Isn’t he beautiful?
She was very friendly, but what she really wanted was to get up in the window so she could watch the people and scenery outside. She has her own cat-sized sofa (behind her in the photo) to make sightseeing comfortable.
There were also a pair of cats for adoption in the lobby. Donut here has just as good a view as Josie from her window. I hear they sometimes get squirrel visitors on their cat TV, too.
I was surprised at how tiny the exam room was. I took this photo by backing up into the corner until my back was pressed against the walls.
I thought about it and realized that I was used to vet clinics that were laid out just like the one I had grown up visiting with my pets as a child, all sized to accommodate big dogs. That’s not a consideration in the all-cat vet.
Instead of being sized for big dogs, the cozy exam room was a calming place for cats. There was tranquil music playing that reminded me a little of what you hear during a massage session. There was something else to help cats relax, too. Do you recognize it?
It’s a Feliway diffuser, to help cats feel calmer and more comfortable in the exam room.
And for the humans, the decor in the exam room itself was pretty whimsical.
Pierre: I am so unimpressed by the fake birds on the wall. Can we go home now?
Everyone coming and going from the room opened the door gently and spoke in soft voices, from the techs to the veterinarian. That’s something that certainly didn’t happen at our regular veterinarian!
Dr. Avok gave Pierre an exam while he was on the scale since he seemed to want to stay there after his weigh-in.
While Dr. Avok and I had a talk, Pierre was free to find the most comfortable spot in the room.
The most comfortable spot in the room was apparently behind a little water conditioner unit. I asked if I should get him out from behind there, since I knew my usual vet would have wanted him moved, and Dr. Avok said, “If he’s comfortable back there, you can leave him. He’ll probably come out when we leave the room.” Wow, a vet who thinks like a cat! I wasn’t used to that.
Pierre: No looking! When my head is hidden, you aren’t supposed to be able to find me. Can we go home now?
Pierre needed blood and urine drawn for some additional lab tests. When Darby, the vet tech, said they were going to take Pierre in back, I asked if they would do the draws in the exam room. She didn’t bat an eye. “Of course.” That never would have happened at my regular vet, either.
Darby and Michele drew Pierre’s blood and performed a cystocentesis to get urine right there while using surprisingly little restraint. They even offered to clip his nails while they were at it!
Pierre: I’ve had enough poking and prodding. Can we go home now?
Apparently, they normally do checkout on a laptop in the exam room so that cats don’t have to go back out into the lobby and wait. What a great way to cut down on stress to cats who have already been through an exam. Unfortunately, we couldn’t do that for Pierre’s visit due to network issues. So we went back out into the lobby.
Pierre waited on one of the very posh chairs in the waiting room while I took care of the bill.
Pierre: Can we go home now?
Yes, Pierre, we can go home now.
We are waiting for additional lab work to come back so that we can get a treatment plan, but I feel better having talked to a cat-oriented vet who was willing to hear the research I brought her and discuss how it fits into a long-term treatment for chronic kidney disease.
Pierre may have acted unimpressed by going to an all-cat vet where there were so many details intended to make him comfortable, but he was back to his normal self almost immediately when we got home instead of going into the closet to hide for a few hours the way he normally would after a vet visit. So it seems that the experience was better for him, too. I finally understand why people who go to all-cat practices say there’s such a difference. All the details really do add up to better vet trip for everyone.
We hope Pierre has recovered from his ordeal.
I’m sorry I missed that Pierre has CKD — or had forgotten. But I’m glad you’ve found a good, cat-only clinic to go to! I remember Halifax had one years ago, when I still was living there, but our city here is too small for that. I’ve been to three clinics here over the years, and while the current clinic deals with both large (farm) and small animals and the exam rooms leave a lot to be desired, my vet seems to accept that I do my own research and that I’ll incorporate homeopathic/other treatments where appropriate and possible. Good luck with Pierre, the boys are sending purrs for his test results.
I’m really glad you two had a good experience! Our cat-only clinic (old vet) was nothing like what you are describing here. It was loud and chaotic and there were no diffusers.
We switched to a new place that takes both cats and dogs, and they actually work with Lita MUCH better than the cat-only clinic did! I guess it all just depends on the clinic. I’m glad you have a good one. 🙂
My human wishes there was an all-cat practice near us that she liked, but the ones she knows of are quite a ways farther than our regular vet, and don’t have the greatest reviews. So we just stick with our regular vet. Yours sounded really good!
We love our cat only vet! Actually, we’ve only been to feline only practices. It makes Mommy feel better because there are no dogs in the waiting room and Dr. P. knows all about cats. We’re in good paws with him. Pierre, we are sending lots of love and hugs your way.
Sounds like you had a good experience. We wish we had a cat only vet near us. Our vet does offer “cat only” hours…but it’s on a day that the mom usually works and so we’ve never been able to take advantage of it.
Wow! The all-cat vet sounds like a much better place for our kitty friends than the regular vet. I sure hope you get a good treatment plan from this new vet. Hugs to Pierre!
What a cool place! We have a couple of cat-only fix-it places but we’ve never gone to one. Our regular vet is part of a certified Feline Friendly Practice and has separate entrances for cats and those other things. (Although sometimes their dumb owners wander into the cat side.) If those other things are present, our mom makes sure we can’t see them .
That place looks amazing! I especially love the adorable sign welcoming the day’s patients. Angel Sashi started out with a cat-only vet but I made a change because they were extremely pushy with all kinds of “extras” that seemed unnecessary. Our vet down is right down the road which shortens stressful car rides and it’s a small practice, so even though dogs are there it’s never terribly busy and chaotic.
wow – that does sound like a great place. our vet cares for dogs and cats, but their exams rooms are on separate sides of the building.
Wow! That’s amazing. We’ve never been to an all-cat vet, but it sounds like it might be worth looking into!
They had me at the name placard.. that is flippin awesome.
Glad Pierre did so well upon returning home too. sounds like a wonderful practice, I look forward to hearing their recommendations
There is only cats only clinic we know of up in Jacksonville a full hour away and it’s not worth the drive time or stress on the cats. I love the convenience of my local vet (literally a minute away if I catch the light) but it is so dog-centric. I never thought about the sizing of the rooms being done to accommodate large dogs but you’re right. Glad Pierre is none the worse for wear after his visit!
Pierre may have acted unimpressed by the all-cat vet visit, but I am VERY impressed!
They are setting a great example using Dr Sophia Yin’s low stress towel technique and I love that they have Feliway and birds instead of the usual staring dog wallpaper!
Sure wish there was a place like this within 10 miles of me.
BTW: Love the round carrier. What is the brand?
The carrier is a Sleepypod. The top zips off and makes a bed for use at home, so it’s much more familiar than comfortable than the plastic carrier that hides in the garage until it comes in and terrifies everyone.
This sounds like a wonderful place. Glad you were able to take Pierre there. After getting our third cat, we decided to try an all-cat vet as well, and we love it.
I’m glad that things went well for Pierre at the vet! I think those visits are always uncomfortable. It is great that Pierre adjusted to being back home more quickly. We recently switched to an all-cat vet and have been pleased with it.
We are happy that our vet is a certified cat friendly vet; though, they do treat other animals. The do have cat only rooms. Fiona goes back to the vet this afternoon for monthly CKD check. Mom is very interested to hear the treatment plan for Pierre when it is set in place. XOCK, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo
dood…..
P } we iz glad they FINAL LEE listened two ewe…what…. ya had ta ask two go home 97 times bye R count
3} we troo lee hope de new treet mint planz werkz
Y} de room at de place oh eeevvil we go two iz bout that size; but thanx bee ta cod
haz NOE burdz on de wall; less they take em off when they noe we will bee ther
5} all de best two ewe buddy ….paws crossed ♥♥♥
Oh Pierre we know it’s not fun getting poked and whatnot, but could they at least spring for real birdies for you watch while you are there?
I would have to look into an all cat vet too.
Cats only that is just tooo exciting. I bet we have one here too…..Mom has been using our vet clinic for nearly 30 years
Hugs madi your bfff
Thank you for this post. Mom has been considering changing to an all cat clinic not far from us as the last visit for Minchie’s dental was extremely stressful for him with all the very loud barking dogs. Two of the homes Mom cat sits for both go to that clinic. It will be hard to change as Mom has been going there since 1990 and knows the owner very well.
I’ve always had a cat-only vet until moving to PA. I miss it so much! I’m so glad this was such a good experience for you. I truly hope the vet comes up with a good treatment plan for Pierre. We took care of our Simba, who had CRF for about four years. He did great until the very end. CRF kitties really can have a good quality of life.
One thing, though. I saw Melissa’s comment above about wanting to do a lot of extras. We seem to encounter that more and more lately but at a regular vet (not cat only).
Whoa! A welcome sign with your name, Pierre! I’m impressed. Unfortunately we don’t have one of those here but my new vet tries to make me totally comfortable and relaxed with the soft talk and examining in my PTU. Looks like you guys found a new vet.
That looks like a great place. The closest all cat vet to us is an hour away so the drive would stress the cats out. It would be nice if vets at least had separate waiting areas, I feel bad when dogs come over to sniff my cats.
I try to hide even before they get to exam me! But I get to wander around until mum puts me back in the PTU. Check out the windows, see if fevvers are around.
Gosh, what a wonderful veterinarian! I love places that provide special care for our felines, especially when they have kidney or thyroid disease. Stress just makes those things so much worse! The idea that your kid can get care that doesn’t cause a flare… It’s priceless.
Jean from Welcome to the Menagerie
That looks like an awesome cat clinic – my last vet visit with 2 cats was stressful (for all of us), we had hissing & spitting from both cats and then Ava bit me. There must’ve been a doggy smelly or something that upset them, they’re usually much better behaved.
How neat that you have an all-cat clinic nearby! Sounds like it was a great experience. We don’t have one near us, but we love our vet, and thankfully the kitties don’t get too stressed out during their visits. Hope the new vet’s plan of action is more of what you’re looking for!