"Fraidy Cat" Specialists

Cats are unique animals with health needs and social structures that are quite different from dogs. They are masters at hiding illness because it's a poor survival strategy to announce to the world that they are sick and, therefore, vulnerable. Consequently, we humans often don't spot signs of illness until a disease has progressed considerably.

We recommend bringing your cat to the vet at least once a year, twice a year for senior cats. We can look for early signs of illness and provide treatment and increased quality and even quantity of life through early detection of diseases.

We understand that people often resist bringing their cats to the vet's office because they don't think of cats as natural travelers. And who would enjoy traveling when the only time they go somewhere they get thrown in a box, held hostage in a loud moving thing, then pulled forcibly out the box and held down while being poked and prodded?

At Oak Bay Animal Hospital we empathize with how scary it can be for the average cat and how difficult it is for the average person owned by a cat.  Our licensed technicians have taken additional training for handling frightened, anxious cats. They have brought their training back to the hospital and have trained the entire staff on feline body language, calming signals, compassionate restraining techniques, basic feline manners, and feline housing guidelines.

Our goal is to make each cat office visit a little less stressful and provide your cat a thorough exam. Over time, the office visits can become less stressful for everyone, as your cat learns that it isn't that bad.