What is a Cat Friendly Clinic?
The ‘Cat-friendly Practice’ accreditation scheme is a voluntary scheme developed by the International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM) and International Cat Care (ICC), worldwide organisations whose main aim is to promote the best care and welfare for domestic cats.
Cats are not small dogs! As our understanding of our feline friends has progressed we have learnt how to better meet their species-specific needs and this is the theory behind the cat-friendly practice scheme.
Examples of the criteria that a practice must meet to be awarded this status include:
- Minimising stress for cats visiting the practice by providing separate areas in the waiting room, minimising contact with other species and educating clients on how best to transport their cats to the practice.
- Exercising the ISFM cat-friendly handling protocols.
- Providing appropriate cat-sized equipment and products to better meet the medical needs of cats.
- Education of staff and clients on the health and welfare needs of cats.
- Providing a separate cat ward within the practice.
This scheme is intended to provide reassurance for cat owners that their pet is receiving the best care in the most welfare-friendly way, informed by current best practice.
There are three different levels that practices can achieve – Bronze, Silver and Gold. As you progress through each stage you build on the criteria from the previous level, so the core standards are always maintained. It also means that any practice can become cat-friendly if it wants to.
Molecare Pet Vets achieved Silver cat-friendly practice accreditation in 2019. If you would like to know more about how we have introduced cat-friendly changes here at Molecare, feel free to speak to a member of the team or our ‘Cat Advocates’ Danielle (vet) and Rachel (nurse).
For more information on the cat-friendly scheme, the official website can be accessed via the following web address: