By Mikkel Becker

Stranger danger is one of the greatest concerns for cats during veterinary care, says Fear Free-certified professional Amy Shojai, CABC, who addresses the issue in her new booklet “My Cat Hates My Vet!”

“Kittens tend to be clueless,” Shojai says. “It’s one reason we love them! Adult cats, though, are naturally suspicious of change. This is an evolutionary trait that saved lives when kitties roamed life on the wild side. Wandering up to a stranger might get them eaten–after all, cats are both predators and prey.”

From a human perspective, feline fear may appear irrational when it’s directed at the very people working to protect the cat’s health and ease sickness and pain. But from a cat’s point of view, the fearful reaction makes sense.

“It can take several positive experiences with a stranger [human, cat, or dog] or new environment for cats to feel comfortable and accept the ‘newness’ as safe,” Shojai says. “Cats who visit the vet only once or twice a year likely react to being stuffed in a carrier, riding in a car, the strange environment, weird smells, and handling by strangers with the thought, “I’ve been kidnapped by aliens!”  No wonder they become ‘fraidy cats’.”

Thankfully, there are ways to build trust and friendship between cats and the veterinary team. Fear Free veterinary care that reduces fear, anxiety, and stress during exam and treatment, combined with proactive, positive experiences spearheaded by the cat’s owner, can build bridges and forge trust.

“You can turn that fear into fun! It takes time–several visits that are pleasant–for a cat to learn that the crate-car-vet means scratches and head bumps and treats and chase-the-feather. Vet offices are busy places, but it’s worth the effort to coordinate three or more “happy cat visits” for five to 10 minutes. That can turn petrified into purr-ified,” says Shojai.