Fear Free Veterinary Visits
Tranquil Tabby Mobile Cat Vet is dedicated to providing the most calm and compassionate care to our feline patients. When it’s time to bring your kitty to a veterinary clinic, there are many places fear, anxiety, and stress (FAS) show up to create a very frightening experience for your kitty. Just like many folks are nervous about seeing the dentist, an anxious cat will not go quietly or easily to the vet, and this can be a major barrier for cats to receive veterinary care.
Our team understands that there are no “bad” or “naughty” cats. We know that cats who hide, resist handling and interaction, and try to run away are simply frightened. We especially understand that even cats who become aggressive during vet visits are scared cats, scared enough that they feel they need to protect themselves. This is why everything we do during Tranquil Tabby’s in-home veterinary visits is aimed to reduce stressors and help cats feel safe, confident and secure.
While we can never completely eliminate fear, anxiety, or stress, our Fear Free Certified team members are dedicated to removing as many stressors from the veterinary experience as possible. As Fear Free Certified Professionals, we’ve completed a rigorous certification program that provides us with education, training, and tools to help us best identify and support our fearful patients. We are passionate about Fear Free practice and look forward to helping your cats, and you, feel more at ease about veterinary visits.
Becoming Fear Free Certified
To become Fear Free Certified, each of our team members complete 7 hours of continuing education from Fear Free Pets. Fear Free Pets is an organization that provides veterinary professionals with the tools and knowledge to prevent and alleviate different levels of fear, anxiety, and stress (FAS).
In the initial certification program we:
Reevaluate our interactions with our patients, clients, and each other to understand ways we may have increased FAS in the past and how to improve
Learn about gentle handling and considerate approach, and applied these skills while working with our patients
Consider every aspect of our veterinary visits from a cat’s point of view to learn how to predict and avoid ways our patients may become stressed
Learn how to improve client communication and improve workplace safety
To maintain our Fear Free Certification, each team member completes additional continuing education in different levels of Fear Free Certification as well as individual topics such as Behavior is Medicine and Helping our Feline Friends Feel Fear Free.
Dr. Maher became an Elite Fear Free Certified Professional by completing 35 hours of continuing education, and she continues to learn more and implement the knowledge and skills learned with her team to help her patients feel comfortable and secure.
Tranquil Tabby’s next goal is to become a Fear Free Certified Mobile Practice. This certification will show our dedication, above and beyond, to provide top-tier veterinary care and create an intentional environment that prioritizes the emotional and physical wellbeing of our kitty patients, our clients, and our team. We anticipate accomplishing this goal within the year!
