Low-stress feline visits gain traction as practices refine workflows
Bottom line
Veterinary teams are getting another push toward lower-stress feline care, with dvm360 spotlighting practical steps clinics can take to make cat visits easier, from carrier training and calmer intake workflows to team-wide consistency in handling. In the April 28, 2026 Vet Blast Podcast episode, Kathryn Primm, DVM, said low-stress feline visits don’t have to slow a practice down once the team is aligned, and emphasized simple changes like coaching pet parents to make carriers part of the cat’s normal environment rather than a signal that “something bad is about to happen.” (dvm360.com)
Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, this is about more than client experience. Research on Cat Friendly Practice-designated clinics found higher diagnostic testing rates and more clinically relevant abnormalities identified in cats than in non-designated clinics, though the authors noted the study was correlational and not designed to prove causation. Guidance from AAHA and feline behavior experts also reinforces that stress often starts before the cat reaches the clinic, which means client education, carrier prep, waiting-room flow, and pre-visit medication protocols can all affect whether cats receive timely preventive and diagnostic care. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
What to watch: Expect continued investment in cat-specific workflow tools and education as the FelineVMA works to expand Cat Friendly resources and position feline care as a major growth opportunity for practices. (catvets.com)
Low-stress feline handling is moving from “nice to have” to a more operational part of small-animal practice. That was the core message in dvm360’s April 28, 2026 coverage of a Vet Blast Podcast conversation with Kathryn Primm, DVM, and Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, which focused on practical ways clinics can reduce fear, anxiety, and stress for cats during veterinary visits. Primm argued that once a team is trained and consistent, low-stress handling does not necessarily add time, and can improve the experience for cats, pet parents, and staff. (dvm360.com)
The discussion lands in a broader industry context. Cat-focused organizations have spent more than a decade building formal frameworks for feline-friendly care, including the Cat Friendly Practice program launched in 2012 and related certificate programs for veterinary professionals. The FelineVMA’s recent reporting suggests the group is renewing its focus on Cat Friendly programming as part of a wider effort to increase feline medicalization and encourage repeat visits and continuity of care. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
The practical advice in the dvm360 piece is familiar to feline practitioners, but still highly relevant in general practice: start the visit before the appointment begins, coach pet parents on carrier training, and make sure the whole team handles cats the same way. In the podcast transcript, Primm described asking clients about the car ride and using that conversation to reframe the carrier as a safe, everyday space, supported with food, catnip, or silvervine rather than as a last-minute restraint device. (dvm360.com)
That advice aligns with current feline behavior guidance from AAHA and other cat-care resources. AAHA’s February 27, 2026 article on helping cats cope with veterinary visits says fear often begins with carrier exposure and transport, not the exam itself. The article cites feline experts including Ilona Rodan, DVM, and Sarah Heath, BVSc, who recommend keeping carriers out in the home, using reward-based training, minimizing jostling during transport, allowing cats to remain in the carrier until the exam setup is ready, and considering short-acting anti-anxiety medication when appropriate. (aaha.org)
There’s also a growing evidence base behind the workflow changes. A Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery study found that Cat Friendly Practice-designated clinics had higher rates of diagnostic testing and identified more clinically relevant abnormalities in cats than comparison clinics. The authors were careful to say the study does not establish causation, but the findings support the idea that feline-centered workflows may improve the quality and completeness of care delivered during visits. Fear Free has also highlighted research suggesting cats show fewer overt stress signs when transfers between exam areas are minimized and when pet parents remain present during wellness exams. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
Why it matters: For veterinary teams, the real issue is access to care. Cats still tend to be underrepresented in routine veterinary visits, and stress is one of the most persistent barriers. If clinics can reduce friction at the carrier, car, lobby, and exam-room stages, they may improve compliance with preventive care, increase acceptance of diagnostics, and reduce the cycle in which one difficult visit makes the next visit even harder. The operational upside matters, too: calmer handling can improve safety for staff, reduce appointment disruption, and make feline visits more feasible in standard GP workflows rather than only in specially branded settings. (aaha.org)
Industry reaction is less about novelty than execution. Across professional education and commentary, the consensus is that low-stress care works best when it is systematic, not performative: consistent team training, clear client instructions, appropriate use of pre-visit pharmaceuticals, and exam-room processes that limit unnecessary handling and movement. The strongest takeaway from the current coverage is that feline low-stress care is becoming a practice-design question, not just an individual clinician preference. (dvm360.com)
What to watch: Watch for more clinics to adopt formal Cat Friendly and low-stress protocols, more client-facing educational tools from FelineVMA, and more discussion around measurable outcomes, including diagnostic uptake, revisit rates, and staff workflow efficiency. (catvets.com)