• DVM360_Conference_Charlotte,NC_banner
  • ACVCACVC
  • DVM 360
  • Fetch DVM 360Fetch DVM 360
DVM 360
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
By Role
AssociatesOwnersPractice ManagerStudentsTechnicians
Subscriptions
dvm360 Newsletterdvm360 Magazine
News
All News
Association
Breaking News
Education
Equine
FDA
Law & Ethics
Market Trends
Medical
Politics
Products
Recalls
Regulatory
Media
dvm360 LIVE!™
Expert Interviews
The Vet Blast Podcast
Medical World News
Pet Connections
The Dilemma Live
Vet Perspectives™
Weekly Newscast
dvm360 Insights™
Publications
All Publications
dvm360
Firstline
Supplements
Vetted
Clinical
All Clinical
Anesthesia
Animal Welfare
Behavior
Cardiology
CBD in Pets
Dentistry
Dermatology
Diabetes
Emergency & Critical Care
Endocrinology
Equine Medicine
Exotic Animal Medicine
Feline Medicine
Gastroenterology
Imaging
Infectious Diseases
Integrative Medicine
Nutrition
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedics
Pain Management
Parasitology
Surgery
Toxicology
Urology & Nephrology
Virtual Care
Business
All Business
Business & Personal Finance
Hospital Design
Personnel Management
Practice Finances
Practice Operations
Wellbeing & Lifestyle
Continuing Education
Conferences
Conference Listing
Conference Proceedings
Upcoming dvm360 Conferences
Resources
CBD in Pets
CE Requirements by State
Contests
Partners
Spotlight Series
Team Meeting in a Box
Toolkit
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vet to Vet
Veterinary Heroes
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Advertisement
By Role
  • Associates
  • Owners
  • Practice Manager
  • Students
  • Technicians
Subscriptions
  • dvm360 Newsletter
  • dvm360 Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us
  • MJHLS Brand Logo

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences™ and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

5 ways to connect with cat owners

May 1, 2014
John Volk

Get more cat clients in your door-and keep them coming back-with this feline-friendly advice.

We’ve already outlined the differences between cat owners and dog owners in this video. Now, take the next step and follow these tips to connect with cat owners and start seeing more feline visits in your practice.

1. Recognize that cat owners require far more information about the need for and benefits of routine veterinary care than dog owners do. Don’t treat both the same. Most dog owners will return regularly without much prompting. Cat owners won’t.

2. Make the first visit count. The Bayer-AAFP Feline Study showed that 83% of owners take their cats to the veterinarian within the first year of ownership. Make sure that you capitalize on that opportunity to educate them on the importance of regular veterinary care.

This is your one and only opportunity to make the visit comfortable, to educate the owner about healthcare needs, and to drive home the fact that early disease detection and preventive care are far more economical than waiting for “something to happen.” Use the words check up. This common concept resonates with owners as they see the value for their own health and dental care.

Advertisement

3. Educate cat owners on training their cats to be comfortable with the carrier and on transporting them with minimum stress. Provide pheromone wipes to help clients acclimate their cats to carriers. Make your practice as accommodating to cats as possible with feline imagery, separate waiting areas, and a cat-only exam room, if possible. Use resources already available to accomplish these tasks. At AAFP’s website, catvets.com, you can download free brochures such as “Getting Your Cat to the Veterinarian.”

4. Price routine wellness examinations as economically as possible. In the Bayer-AAFP Study, cat owners indicated that they were much more willing to open their purse strings for sick or injured pets. It’s the routine care that’s the obstacle. When setting fees, remember that there is more flexibility on therapeutic treatments than wellness examinations. Preventive care plans paid in monthly installments are highly attractive to cat owners as well.

In the Bayer-AAFP study, 40% of cat owners said they would visit the veterinarian, or visit more often, if their veterinarians offered reasonably priced wellness plans paid in monthly installments. There are commercially available programs to help you implement these plans in your practice.

5. Become a Cat Friendly Practice. The AAFP has developed a comprehensive program to help practices develop the skills, materials, and approaches to attract and keep more feline patients. It’s working! Find out more about the program at catvets.com.

Related Content:

Client Relations & MarketingFeline Medicine
dvm360® is seeking nominations for the 2023 Veterinary Heroes Awards
dvm360® is seeking nominations for the 2023 Veterinary Heroes Awards
 BluePrints Veterinary Marketing Group awarded 2 Gold VETTY Awards
BluePrints Veterinary Marketing Group awarded 2 Gold VETTY Awards
3 tips for marketing veterinary dental services
3 tips for marketing veterinary dental services

Advertisement

Latest News

The Vets appoints Dr Zach Mills to VP of Medical Performance

Communicating the importance of genetic screening

Purina announces its 2023 Pet Care Innovation Prize winners

AmeriVet Veterinary Partners deemed a 2022 Business of the Year

View More Latest News
Advertisement