dvm360 podcast highlights low-stress veterinary visits for cats
Bottom line
Creating low-stress veterinary visits for cats is the focus of a new dvm360 Vet Blast Podcast episode published April 28, 2026, featuring Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, and Kathryn Primm, DVM, FCCP (Elite), an early Fear Free Certified professional. The discussion centers on practical ways clinics can reduce feline fear, anxiety, and stress, including carrier training at home, calmer patient flow, and team-wide consistency in handling. Primm argues that low-stress feline care doesn’t have to slow practice operations once protocols are established, and says some clinics can even use lighter appointment days strategically for cat-focused scheduling. (dvm360.com)
Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, this isn’t just a client-service issue. Cat-friendly handling and environment guidance from the American Association of Feline Practitioners and the International Society of Feline Medicine says stress during visits can distort clinical findings, prolong recovery, make future handling harder, and increase injury risk for team members. The same guidance also emphasizes that meaningful improvements often don’t require major renovation, but rather better preparation, environmental adjustments, and respectful handling throughout the visit. (catvets.com)
What to watch: Expect continued emphasis on scalable feline-friendly workflows, especially around pre-visit prep, carrier conditioning, and clinic-wide training that aligns with AAFP/ISFM and Fear Free frameworks. (dvm360.com)
A new dvm360 Vet Blast Podcast episode is putting the spotlight back on a familiar challenge in small animal practice: how to make veterinary visits less stressful for cats. In the April 28, 2026, episode, Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, speaks with Kathryn Primm, DVM, FCCP (Elite), about practical, low-stress strategies that can improve feline visits for patients, pet parents, and clinic teams alike. (dvm360.com)
The conversation builds on a broader industry shift that has been underway for years. In 2022, the AAFP and ISFM released updated Cat Friendly Veterinary Interaction and Environment Guidelines aimed at reducing stress across the full feline care journey, from transport to the waiting room, exam room, hospitalization, and return home. Those guidelines stress that feline distress is not just a welfare concern; it can also lead to misleading exam findings, slower recovery, more difficult future visits, and greater risk of injury to staff. (catvets.com)
In the dvm360 discussion, Primm frames low-stress care as an operational habit, not an added luxury. She says practices can build efficiency by aligning the whole team around the same approach and by using quieter appointment blocks for feline visits when possible. She also highlights one of the most persistent breakdown points in cat care: transport. Her recommendations include leaving carriers out at home, feeding cats in them, and using attractants such as catnip or silvervine so the carrier becomes familiar rather than a cue for distress. (dvm360.com)
That advice closely tracks existing feline-care frameworks. AAFP/ISFM guidance says caregivers can prepare cats for visits in advance and that environmental changes inside the clinic, including reducing exposure to other species and adjusting for feline sensory needs, can materially improve the experience. Fear Free educational materials and certification resources also emphasize pre-visit planning, positive carrier associations, and, when appropriate, pre-visit pharmaceuticals as part of a lower-stress visit strategy. (catvets.com)
Direct outside reaction to this specific podcast appears limited so far, but the broader professional consensus is clear. dvm360’s prior reporting on low-stress handling describes the model as a way to reduce fear, anxiety, and stress while improving safety and cooperation. Other dvm360 coverage has also noted that some pet parents would bring cats to the veterinarian more often if visits were less stressful, reinforcing the business and preventive-care upside of feline-friendly workflows. (dvm360.com)
Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the practical takeaway is that low-stress feline care is increasingly being treated as standard-of-care thinking rather than a niche add-on. Better feline visits can support more reliable exams, safer handling, stronger client trust, and better follow-through on preventive care. Just as important, the current guidance suggests many improvements are process-based rather than capital-intensive, which makes them more achievable for general practices that may not have cat-only space or major renovation budgets. (catvets.com)
What to watch: The next phase will likely be less about new theory and more about implementation, including staff training, pre-visit communication for pet parents, selective use of pre-visit medications, and appointment design that supports calmer feline flow through the hospital. As more practices align podcast-level advice with established AAFP/ISFM and Fear Free frameworks, expect continued attention on measurable gains in compliance, safety, and feline welfare. (dvm360.com)