• Home
• About
• Archives

UF Small Animal Hospital
is Cat Friendly Practice

The UF Small Animal Hospital is now a Cat Friendly Practice, having met the criteria for the designation as set forth by the American Association of Feline Practitioners.

Cat Friendly Practices are committed to learning ways to make visits more pleasant for cat owners and to educating these owners about ways they, too, can contribute to their cat’s positive experience. Cat Friendly Practices have adapted an environment that is less stressful to cats and that meets each cat’s unique needs.

According to the AAFP, more than 86 million cats are pets, as compared to 78 million dogs.

“There is a tremendous recognition that while cats are the largest percentage of companion animals in homes, their wellness visits and other types of veterinary care are much lower than in dogs,” said Dr. Elizabeth J. Colleran, AAFP past president.

The Cat Friendly Practice program was created to improve the treatment, handling and overall healthcare of cats. Its purpose is to equip veterinary practices with the tools, resources and information to elevate the standard of care for cats.

“We have known that our cat patients are a critical part of our practice.  When this program became available, we immediately began working toward receiving the designation,” said Dr. Amy Stone, chief of the primary care and dentistry service at the UF Small Animal Hospital. “We always feel it is important to enhance the experience of our feline patients as well as their owners, and this program offered concrete criteria to make that happen.”

Cat Friendly Practices have completed a self-assessment checklist that shows they have incorporated the standard criteria for their practice to be cat friendly. Program standards for the delivery of care to the feline population are research-based and represent the highest standards of feline medical care. To be considered for approval into the program, the practice has met the criteria on the checklist, attended special training, reviewed educational materials, and designated a Cat Advocate.

Topics addressed in the program include staff training and client communication; waiting room design; feline handling; examination rooms and clinical records; facilities; pain management, operating room, and anesthesia; surgical equipment and dentistry; diagnostic, imaging, and lab facilities; treatment, health and safety; and preventive care by life states.

The Cat Advocate will ensure that the high standards of feline care in the hospital are maintained as well as act as the point person for information.

For more information, visit our web page here: http://smallanimal.vethospital.ufl.edu/clinical-services/primary-care-dentistry/we-are-a-cat-friendly-practice/