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How To Chose A Cat Vet

July 17, 2020 by Laura Epstein Leave a Comment

picking a cat vet

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you I may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.  Thank you for supporting my blog

Whether you are adopting a new cat, moving with your current cat or unhappy with the care your cat is receiving it is important to properly research a switch to a new cat vet. Lots of factors from money to services effect this decision. Here are our top factors to look at when finding a new vet.

Get Referrals

A great place to start for referrals is the shelter you are getting your new cat from. If you are moving you can ask your current vet if they know anyone in your new area. We got a recommendation for a great vet from our cat sitter. They have contact with a lot of different pet owners so they are often in the know about different vet practices.

Ask Your Friends

Now it is time to poll the audience. See what veterinarians your friends with animals (preferably cats) are going to and see what they say about them. Especially ask about how much time the cat vet spends with their animal and also about how well they feel the veterinarian knows them and their cat. Combine these with your referrals and you have a short list of vets to check out further.

Vet the Vet

How big is the practice? How many vets and patients are there? How long does it take to get an appointment? What are the emergency procedures? These are all great questions to call and ask a veterinary office once you get it narrowed down to a few practices. We went from a large vet to a small one and I was amazed by how much more time the new vet spent with our cat. That said that is not necessarily because they were a small vet but it certainly did not hurt. On the flip side my current vet does not carry one of pills that my cat needs that the big vet had. It takes a little more time (and a little more money) to every month to go to a neighboring suburb to pick up the medicine at a specialized compounding pharmacy.

Ask If They Are A Cat Friendly Practice

At our previous vet my cats sat in the same waiting room as all the animals. They did not like this. All the Feliway in the world could not keep them calm with the dog smells and barks. When we moved our new cat vet was a Cat Friendly Practice. You can read all about this at the American Association of Feline Practioners but essentially the goal is to make sure your cat has the best breed specific care. One of the biggest differences is that the minute we get to the clinic we are taken to a cat specific room. No more waiting in the dog heavy waiting rooms. You can ask a potential vet office if they are cat friendly and there is also an online directory.

how to chose a new cat vet

Find Out What Services They Offer

All vets offer the same general care but some have more specialized treatments, medicines and lab tests. There is no right or wrong answer to whether a vet should offer all the bells and whistles but it is important to know what they offer. For example my current vet (who is small and homey) sends out a lot of lab tests that the larger vet we used to go to ran in house. It takes a little longer but the tradeoff is having a vet that really knows my pet and we do not feel like a number.

Ask For A Price Sheet

Vet offices can range in price. While the cheapest may not be the best knowing price differentials can certainly be a factor. If you have pet insurance also make sure that the vet is covered under it.

Meet The Vet

All the research in the world will not tell you if you like your new vet until you have met them. Remember you can always switch different vets and easily switch to a different veterinary practice as well. Having a vet that you trust and you feel cares about your cats is important and it may take a try or two to find the best vet!

I hope this article has helped you in choosing a great cat vet for your animals! Be sure to check our our posts about cat essentials and our cat tested toy favorites.

how to chose a new cat vet

Filed Under: Cat Life Tagged With: new cat, vet

Nine Cat Toys They Are Sure To Love

July 16, 2020 by Laura Epstein

cat toys

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you I may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.  Thank you for supporting my blog

Whether your cat is big or small, a kitten or a senior they can benefit from lots of play and fun! It helps there bodies and their minds. Even the sleepiest older cat (including our fifteen year old tabby) will become playful with a toy she loves. Here is our roundup of our favorite cat toys, as tested by our trio!

The Stick and Feather

The absolute classic cat toy is the stick with a feather attached. It is great because it is interactive and it really gives the owner a chance to play with their cat instead of just watching them play. Make sure to get a stick with refill feathers!

[Read more…] about Nine Cat Toys They Are Sure To Love

Filed Under: Cat Gear Tagged With: cat toy, kitten, new cat

What You Need For Your New Cat

July 16, 2020 by Laura Epstein Leave a Comment

tips for new cat

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you I may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.  Thank you for supporting my blog

Congrats on your new cat! Whether it is your first cat or you are a veteran you are going to have so much fun. Here is our list of the basics, plus a few fun things, you will need for your new friend.

Food and Treats

The best place to start in deciding what cat food to feed your new cat is what they are currently eating. Ask the current owner, the shelter or the foster where the cat lives what they eat and buy a medium amount of that. Often shelters are sponsored by a cat food company and will have free samples or coupons for the food too.

That said, my go to new cat food is science diet adult kibble. It is tasty, has high nutrition and is pretty easy on cat tummys. Once you have started a food you may need to adjust if your new cat isn’t tolerating the food you give her. This is also a great topic for your vet! Make sure to ask about the best food for your cat (or cats if you already have one or are adopting multiple) because they can guide you in this as well.

You will also want to grab a pack of cat treats. They are great for rewarding good behavior or just giving your friend an extra treats. My cats like the catnip flavored temptations treats but will pretty much eat any type.

Litter and a Box

As a general rule you want one litter box per cat. Some cats like covered litter boxes but honestly have never had a cat who liked one. Your best bet is to go for a very basic litter box. Another option that people like are disposable litter boxes. These can be used alone or in conjunction with a standard litter box and this can be a way to make cleaning easier.

I always choose the same litter, tidy cats instant action, no matter whether we have one cat in the cat or several. It is relatively low dust and clumps well. It is also often on sale! So that you do not make my mistake please avoid store brand litter. My husband likes a good deal and has tried both the Jewel and Marianos/ Kroger brand and both were really dusty and my cats actually hated them (and I really didn’t know cats could hate litter). Don’t forget to grab yourself a scooper and you are all set.

Cat Carrier

If you are adopting your cat from a shelter they will probably give you a “cat box” so you will not immediately need a separate carrier. You will eventually want a better, easier to handle and comfier for your cat carrier. We have always had a soft sided carrier and our cats have always been happy. I also recommend getting a Feliway cat pheromone spray. Spraying it can help calm your cat down while they are in transit.

Places to Hide

Cats love to hide away and when they get to their new house they will definitely want to find a few places they can run away and hide. My first bonded pair used to love to hide in the the shelves in my closet. My current kittens love their cat condo. Covered cat beds are also a great option for your cats to hang out in and feel secure. They come in all shapes and colors to match your furniture or there are fun unicorn and shark beds too. Also, be sure to keep the “Cat box” because that may become one of their favorite places to hide out.

Places to Climb

You probably have curtains or a big piece of furniture but that is probably not your first choice for your new cat to climb! Cat condos are a great option and can also double as a scratcher and place to hide. Cat climbers are also a great option to give your cat a safe place to climb.

Things to Play With

Cats are naturally very playful but having a few toys around will give them some ideas of what to play. Balls and catnip toys are great options or you can grab a cat toy sampler pack and see what your new cat chooses.

What Next?

Have fun with your new cat. Be sure to tell us your favorite cat products in the comments or just tell us all about your cat!

what you need for your new cat

Filed Under: New Cat Tagged With: kitten, new cat

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