02/06/2026
February 6th is National Cat Health Day. In spite of the fact that more U.S. households have cats than dogs, and many cat households are multi-cat households, veterinary clinics see cats less often than they do dogs. A lot of this is due to the thought that cats just don't need as much routine care as dogs, but for many people, bringing their cats to the vet is just so stressful, for both cat and human. There are medications for anxiety that can be given prior to the visit to help lower stress, but actually giving the medication can also be challenging. Using the cat carrier as a daily safe space rather than only getting it out when they are going to the vet can keep stress levels low from the start. Stress builds on stress, so if the start of the process causes anxiety, that will escalate quicker each subsequent event. Bringing a favorite treat to the vet to use as a bribe can help build positive associations with the vet clinic. Using a carrier that the top detaches from the bottom can make the cat easier to reach, rather than the cat having to get pulled in and out of the smaller carrier door.
