Cats matter: The feline care toolkit

C

ats may rule the internet, but that doesn't mean they always get regular care. Some of the biggest hurdles to better, more consistent veterinary care? Educating your cat owners about how so-called behavior problems could really indicate health problems, implementing feline-friendly features into your practice and understanding the best ways you and your team can handle cats to provide a better experience for all involved. 

Here are the tools (divided into six basic categories) you need to make crucial changes to your client communication, practice protocols and team education to improve feline medicine at your practce. Hit it!

1. Pain management

> How to ease cat pain. Bonus? It pays

> 5 drugs you need in your cat pain toolbox

> Cat pain management: Speak strong, think volume with expert tips from Dr. Karen Felsted

> Data dump! Get current on the state of feline pain control with data from dvm360

> Client handout on identifying pain: Teach clients about the enigmatic ways pets show and hide pain

> Client handout on feline weight management: Get those kitties exercising for a longer, happier life

2. Nutrition

> 3 can't-miss updates in feline veterinary nutrition

> Will my fat cat hate me if I put it on a diet?

> Video for clients: Is my elderly kitty getting too skinny?

3. Hyperthyroidism

> Research review: Does fish flavoring contribute to hyperthyroidism in cats? Our feline and endocrinology experts weigh in

> AAFP guidelines on treating hyperthyroidism

4. Behavior

> Taming Catzilla: Human-directed aggression in our furry feline friends

> Client handout: Boo! Hiss! I have a mean cat!

> In-clinic how-to: Never suffer another cat bite

5. Environmental enrichment

> What a cat wants, what a cat needs: A guide to feline environmental enrichment

> Video: Happy cats, harmonious home

6. Hospital design

> Design tips that'll make cat owners feel loved

> Frugal design with felines in mind

Even MORE tools!

> Those frustrating vomiting cats: How a search for the underlying cause of frequent hairballs and vomiting led to what should become a new protocol for all cats with this type of history. PLUS, diagnostic and therapeutic approach to chronic vomiting in cats: an algorithm 

> Baby, I got your money: You CAN get past clients' bias on spending money for veterinary service.

> 8 tips to make life easier for owners of diabetic cats

> For the love of cats

Sample scripts

> How to respond to cat owners who resist veterinary care.

Quiz!

> How cat-friendly is your practice?

Social media

> Hit an Internet jackpot with cat facts, stats and folklore-and engage with your cat-owning clients online.

> Want a deeper connection? Go breed-specific. Here are a bunch of posts and tweets about Sphynx cats-with the goal of connecting with a specific audience, you can make a real difference in engagement online. 

Video & audio tools

> Don't stress out that cat! Use this video to help explain what causes stress and anxiety in cats.

> All stopped up: Dr. Margie Scherk explains how clients can recognize constipation in their cat

> From Dr. Elizabeth Colleran, two strategies for bringing more feline patients into your practice

> The business case for seeing more cats

> Have you heard? Anxiety amplifies pain in cats

> What are cat owners asking Dr. Google? Ernie Ward discusses what you need to know about cat owners online behavior.

> Make the carrier a cat's friend, not a foe

> Top 10 ways to screw up a feline visit

> How to make cats hate your practice

Handouts

> What is good healthcare for cats?

> Practice tool: The feline report card

> Stress triggers for cats

> Scratch that! How to find appropriate scratching posts for your cat

> The top 10 most searched cat questions on Google

> Managing your cat's diabetes

> Tips for healthy weight loss in cats

> What's in your cat's mouth?

> Scoop out litter box problems in cats

Take the next step

Of course, the whole point is to get these tools and ideas into action so your team can discuss feline care with clients and help them understand how to help their cats have healthier, happier lives. Use these four strategies to make a plan and successfully implement it.