In vet school they taught us that cats are not small dogs. I know that sounds silly, but it has formed my concept of how this generation of cat friendly vets treat our feline patients. Cats are not small dogs- they are very special and very much cats.
Cats are unique among our common pets in that they are both an apex predator and a a prey species. This means they enter life with supreme confidence while at the same time they are constantly afraid. This means that cats hide their symptoms and can be very ill before they show signs of illness. It is up to a feline vet to respond to the subtle signs that cats give in order to diagnose disease early. This means listening to owners who report vague signs that can be added to physical exam signs and diagnostics to figure out what is wrong and create a treatment plan. It also means understanding the limitations of what a cat will accept as far as treatment and changes in their lives. It means really understanding cats and their amazing “cat-ness” .
Certain veterinary clinics have done special study to make themselves aware of the best ways to assure a long healthy life in feline companions. These clinics are part of the community of feline friendly practices. Click here to visit the feline friendly practice web site to learn more about this and find clinics that have committed to do the extra study and design to commit to feline medicine.
The owner side of “feline friendly” is “the indoor cat initiative”. Click here for the indoor cat initiative. This group was created to help cat owners with tools to enrich the lives of cats that live indoors. As apex predators, cats live to hunt and explore. Inability to do this combined with lack of natural exercise that comes with an indoor life will create stress that can lead to many different health problems. The indoor cat initiative exists to give owners tips on providing enrichment to replace natural hunting and exploring to make indoor life as exciting and fun as outdoor life.
I am excited to make every cat who I meet have the best life that I am able to give them from medical care to social enrichment. Our cats love us unconditionally. The least we can do is give them an amazing life.
About Dr. Sherry Weaver
Dr. Sherry Weaver, DVM, is an Atlanta-based, Fear Free–certified veterinarian with more than 33 years of experience in general practice, emergency response, surgery, and medical care. She is the founder of Animal Hospital of Towne Lake in Woodstock, GA, and currently focuses on emergency and critical care, mentoring young veterinarians, and continually raising the standard of care for pets and the families who love them.