When was the last time your cat went to the veterinarian? If you’re like many cat owners, you may have hesitated to bring your cat the the veterinarian because of the challenge of getting your cat to and from the vet. In fact, only 57% of cats had seen a veterinarian in the last year according to 2024 survey.
It’s understandable that people wouldn’t want to put their cats through extra stress, but regular veterinary exams can help keep cats healthy for their whole life. If you have a particularly stressed out cat who you can’t get to the vet, I want to highlight a potentially easily solution in honor of Take Your Cat To The Vet Day: an in home veterinarian. No need to take your cat to the vet if the vet comes to you!
What Is An In Home Veterinary Visit Like?
In most cases, a in home veterinarian can do the same things a regular veterinarian can in a clinic. They’ll be able to:
- Collect a history on your cat
- Examine your cat for signs of illness or pain
- Discuss concerns such as diet and prevatative care
- Prescribe medication or other treatments
- Collect blood or other samples to send for testing
- Refer you for additional care as needed
In some cases, the veterinarian may come into your home. In others, they may have a portable clinic on wheels that still reduces the distance you have to bring your cat by a significant amount. They may also be accompanied by a licensed veterinary technician or a veterinary assistant to help them out.
Some Limitations On What They Can Do
Because the veterinarian needs to be able to travel to you and your cat, they won’t always be able to do everything. If your cat needs specialized testing or some form of specialty care, they may need to refer you to a local clinic. An example of this would be if your cat needed advanced imaging or you have an older frail cat who needs extra monitoring during a treatment.
Even in these cases, the veterinarian may still be able to help make that process easier on you by prescribing a medication for anxiety or working with you to help get your cat to the specialty clinic.
When Are In Home Vet Visits Most Beneficial?
For general, routine care, in home veterinary visits are a great idea as they’re convenient and lower stress for humans and cats. No need to factor in extra time to take your cat to and from the clinic!
For cats that are especially fearful at the veterinarian (a top concern of many cat parents) or that have a hard time with transport to the vet, in home veterinarians may reduce the risk of aggressive behaviors, allow your cat to actually get an examination, and reduce the chance of non-recognition aggression toward another cat upon return home from the veterinarian.
As someone who helps cat parents with their cats’ behavior, in home veterinarians are particularly beneficial to cats that may need a behavioral medication to help with their behavior concerns without the cat needing to leave home. The veterinarian can determine if a medication is appropriate and which one is the best choice. This may help improve your cat’s overall wellbeing and behavior!
What If There Isn’t An In Home Veterinarian Nearby?
While in home veterinarians are a great option for many, in some cases they may not be affordable or you may not have one nearby that is taking new clients. Hope is not lost! While not a replacement for a full veterinary exam, you may be able to ask a veterinarian some questions via services like Just Answer.
In other cases, you may need to focus on helping your cat successfully get to a veterinarian or be more relaxed at the veterinarian. For example, if your cat has a hard time with getting into a carrier, working to help them enjoy being in the carrier may be necessary. You can also work on cooperative care with your cat or work on helping them be okay with being handled while at the vet.
If all else fails or you get stuck, work with a professional (especially one who works virtually) to help figure out what to do with your cat.
