ABSTRACT: We are all familiar, as are many cat owners, with the fact that cats generally don’t like going to the vets! Many owners find the level of distress to their cat caused by the journey alone a reason not to attend the surgery on a regular basis. While a cat that is miaowing loudly in a distressed manner is recognised by most owners as a sign of stress, many other more subtle signs can easily go unnoticed or be open to misinterpretation.

Even experienced veterinary professionals under tight time constraints can sometimes miss signs of withdrawal or anthropomorphically mislabel a fearfully aggressive cat. It’s all too easy to get caught up in the demands placed on staff in practice, and often there is a balance to be struck between the needs of the staff and the needs of the animal.

Author

Nicky Trevorrow Bsc (Hons), PG Dip (CABC). RVN

Nicky works in Cats Protection’s Veterinary Department at the National Cat Centre as Behaviour Manager. Part of this role involves the development and implementation of the charity’s strategy on behaviour to promote and raise awareness of feline behaviour and welfare.

Nicky holds a BSc (Hons) degree in Animal Behaviour from Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge.

Nicky is a registered veterinary nurse. She undertook the Advanced Diploma in Companion Animal Behaviour Therapy from the Centre of Applied Pet Ethology (COAPE). More recently, Nicky completed a postgraduate diploma in Companion Animal Behaviour Counselling from the University of Southampton. She is a member of the International Cat Care’s Behavioural Advisory Panel and represents Cats Protection on the Animal Behaviour and Training Council.

Keywords: Feature, Veterinary, Cats

To cite this article: Veterinary Nursing Journal • VOL 28 (10) • October 2013 • pp327-329

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