Weems Hutto stows two cat carriers in his Subaru Legacy. He grimaces slightly as he slides into the driver’s seat and starts the car. Transporting his two Turkish Vans to the veterinarian always becomes a smelly affair. Thirteen-year-olds Herman and Winkie get so worked up inside their carriers that their bodily functions release just a few miles from the vet’s clinic. Hutto admits that the veterinary technicians don’t even have to look up from their work to know when he arrives with his two cats. The minute Hutto opens the clinic door, the techs can smell the group.
When asked, “What tip would you give cat owners that would make going to the vet pleasant for all concerned,” veterinarians across the globe unilaterally suggest that placing cats inside carriers while traveling is a must. Most of the vets recommended taking basic steps toward alleviating a cat’s basic fear of carriers. Feline stress — before, during and after the veterinary visit — ranked No. 1 for all the veterinary respondents. Veterinarians in Bosnia, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Israel, Switzerland and other countries offered pet owners these tips to reduce cats’ stress.
**For the full article, pick up the February 2007 issue of
CAT FANCY.**
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