Cat Friendly Accreditation

We are proud to announce that we have recently become accredited with the Gold standard level (1 of only 8 Australia wide) of Cat Friendly Clinic Status from the international cat care organisation and are listed on their accredited clinic list www.icatcare.org

PPVH understand that bringing your cat to the vet can be a difficult experience for both you and your cat. The Cat Friendly Clinic scheme is designed to help and encourage veterinary clinics to make cats' visits much less stressful and to cater for cats specifically within the clinic.

We recognise that there are unique challenges and difficulties in bringing a cat to a veterinary clinic:

• Cats often do not travel well
• Cats do not feel safe when they are away from their normal home territory
• Cats are highly sensitive to unusual sights, sounds and smells
• Most cats prefer quiet and solitude
• Most cats are highly susceptible to stress
• Most cats are highly stressed by dogs being nearby in a veterinary clinic
• Cats need to be handled gently, with care and respect in the clinic
• When cats are hospitalised, considerable attention is needed to their unique requirements

Recognising the wide-ranging needs of cats in a veterinary clinical setting was the reason the ISFM set up the Cat Friendly Clinic Standard. This is a rigorous accreditation scheme designed to demonstrate that certified clinics:

• Understand the unique needs of cats and have made veterinary visits more cat-friendly
• Understand how to approach and handle cats in a gentle, empathetic and caring manner
• Have good standards of equipment needed to investigate and treat feline diseases
• Have a good standard of facilities and care for hospitalised cats

Any of the ISFM Cat Friendly Standard accredited clinics will be pleased to show you round the clinic, let you see 'behind the scenes', and explain to you and show you what they do to help improve their cat care in the clinic.

The Cat Friendly Clinic standard involves all staff, from receptionists, nurses and technicians, through to veterinarians. Each accredited clinic also has at least one 'cat advocate' – a member of staff who ensures the cat friendly standards are adhered to.

All of this leads to a much better experience for cats and their owners, and a higher quality of care.

Under the scheme, clinics can be awarded Silver or Gold level status. This recognises that vet clinics can vary widely in their size, location, structure, staffing and equipment.

Silver Level clinics must achieve:

• Premises of a good clinical standard with appropriate equipment

• Staff who have a gentle, caring and empathetic approach to handling cats
• Staff who are knowledgeable about and understand cats

• A 'Cat Advocate' to answer any questions you have

• A cat friendly waiting room

• Ability to hospitalise cats, with comfortable bedding

Gold Level clinics must achieve all the criteria above but have additional exceptional cat facilities including:

• A hospital ward dedicated to cats

• Larger cat friendly cages for hospitalised cats
• Additional features in the cat friendly waiting room
• Additional facilities and other special equipment

What does it mean for my cat and me?

The Cat Friendly Clinic scheme gives you peace of mind and reassurance wherever you are - the standard is the same across the world.

• It lets you know that the clinic has achieved certain minimum standards for accreditation
• It lets you know that the clinic and clinic staff have thought about the specific needs of cats
• It lets you know that the clinic is happy to talk with you and show you what they do and what their facilities for cats are like