Cats In The Reception Area Of The Vets

[Fit for a King]

at a vet the other story I had a dog on lead and another lady had a trolley of Sharpei pups - lid not on the trolley...a woman came in with a cat and tried to shove its cage under my dog's face - luckily the dog turned away and I moved to block the woman doing it again - she then got the cat out and pushed it against the bars of the trolley and when the pups started to react she dangled it in with the pups - the owner of the Peis put the top on the trolley...woman went into the surgery and the Pei owner and I looked at each other with amazwement - who on earth would be that stupid with unknown animals?? - especially as you have no idea what is wrong with any animal brought to a vet...bizarre behaviour.....

[Nekhbet]

bizarre behaviour.....

not really ... I worked with a vet nurse who shoved her unvaccinated, underage abandoned kitten in every other animals face, even large dogs. I mean in their face. Her possum she did the same thing with

that picnic had a couple of sandwiches missing

[rugerfly]

What would happen if the cat came over to my dogs and Fly killed it? (which she would) Every surgery I go to I have to have my dogs wait in a hot car because of the loose surgery cats.

ETA not everyone, just remembered Rob Zammit's I havnt had one there.

Edited January 20, 2010 by rugerfly

[dwynwen]

What would happen if the cat came over to my dogs and Fly killed it? (which she would) Every surgery I go to I have to have my dogs wait in a hot car because of the loose surgery cats.

ETA not everyone, just remembered Rob Zammit's I havnt had one there.

I don't ever remember a resident cat or dog at any vet I've been to - cats in cages, dogs on lead. I peek around the corner as I open the door to make sure there's no little dogs on a loose lead but that's it.

In fact the only off lead dog I've seen in the vet reception was mine ... he slipped his collar when the vet took him "out the back" to change a dressing, he came barreling out the door of the treatment room and zoomed right back to me. Luckily I was the only one there (early morning at the specialist centre) and the main doors were closed, otherwise he would have beaten me home.

[Pawfect]

I had my first experience of a vet clinic cat just recently - it was a total pain!!

Apart from the fact the seats were right near the litter tray (that stank), the cat was a stickynose and wanted to inspect every animal that came in. It attacked a poor little Lab puppy that was just sitting down minding it's own business, and kept hoping on the crate of my foster kittens who were sick and very contagious (cat flu and ringworm)...and when I was weighing the kittens, it kept jumping onto the scales as well! So annoying (and unhygenic)!...

[BittyMooPeeb]

So if you have a really cat unfriendly dog what do you do about the cat patients that come in? They are generally closer to your dog than a resident cat even if they are in crates?

The "patient" cats should be in cages or secured some how. Theres a big difference between that and one roaming freely.

The patient dogs are supposed to be under control too, so *technically* there is not supposed be a problem.

If you have a dog that doesn't like other animals (of whatever type) why not leave him/her in the car until you are called? Or pop in to tell the vet you are there and wait outside with your dog. In most places you can also ask to use a 'back' entrance if you don't want to walk through the waiting room. Vets often have a consult room free, so you can also often also ask to wait in the consult room. Remember that cats have emergencies too, and someone picking up an injured cat and taking it to the vet might not have access to a crate.

My old vets had two resident cats. The dogs that didn't tolerate small animals usually waited outside on the verandah with their owners, or in the consult room.

I've had to use the back entrance/wait in the car option many times with fosters who were straight out of the pound (when I didnt want to risk exposing dogs in the waiting room to anything the unvaccinated poundy might have) so there are plenty of people for whom the waiting room is not suitable. If you are one of them, the easiest option is just to not use it!

[MolassesLass]

I dunno about your vets but mine doesn't have undercover car parks - I'd be breaking the law to leave my dog in my car in Qld heat while waiting (even if I didn't personally have a problem with it). I'm actually quite shocked at all the suggestions to leave the dog in the car!

[Vehs]

One of my vets has a resident cat that attacks the receipt as it comes out of the printer!

They have a big reception so I don't think the D has ever noticed it

At another vets they have a cat bell on the end of their till key, when you pay it jingles and he goes ape... so I have to explain to them they need to show him the key

[spottychick]

Shoot me for being smug--I'm usually so well behaved on DOL--but aren't we meant to have our dogs under control? A vet's waiting room has the potential for all kinds of novel situtations, distractions, noises etc. What do you all do when you meet a cat when you're walking your dogs? A love the resident cats at the vets.

I don't know if this comment is "smug" but it's not really to the point. My dogs generally ignore cats when we're out walking - unless it's friendly and they then say hello with a bit of a nuzzle up the bottom and go on their way. They are very cat friendly and well behaved. But that has nothing to do with cats running loose at a vet clinic.

My dog was in a lot of pain, extremely lame in his front leg and very sick from cancer when I tried to take him to the vet for treatment. I brought the girl with us because he found having her with him comforting and she is also well behaved. I was distraught, my boy was trying to be stoic.

The fact that this stupid cat was laying across the doorway, hissing and trying to scratch both of my dogs (who were on leads) as we tried to get inside - and the even STUPIDER staff were sitting around doing nothing but laughing has nothing to do with whether or not my dogs were under control - which they were, incidentally. It's about a vet practice behaving in an entirely unprofessional manner and causing stress to people and animals who are already going through enough in the first place. The problem - and the animal that was not under control in this situation - was not mine.

This situation was, in fact, highly distressing for me and my dog, who definitely didn't need more stress in his condition and we were forced to be outside in the hot sun a lot longer than was healthy for him. Neither of my dogs attempted to retaliate, they were trying to do the right thing and follow me into a vets office, even tho they didn't particularly like vets. The staff had the responsibility to do something about the cat and not allow it to behave that way. And there was no way I was going to reach down to try and remove a hissing clawing cat while trying to help my lame dog deal with the porch and steps around him.

Another poster suggested these sorts of situations are all some kind of fabulous "training opportunity" that we should be focussing on, presumably instead of worrying about how much pain and suffering the dog might be currently experiencing.

Oh really???? And what new training opp did I so stupidly overlook in this situation???? The old "bite the idiotic cat up the bum" lesson perhaps???? Or maybe the ever-reliable, "rip those stupid grins off the face of the vet staff" module??? I'm sure my sick bloke would have been most interested in a bit of innovative learning right at that moment in his tragically shortened life. NOT!!

Sorry if this comes across as rude it's just some of the responses in here have really gotten up my nose.....

Obviously whether or not it's okay for vets (and others) to have cats or dogs or whatever in the reception area depends entirely on how those animals behave and how the staff manage situations when they get out of hand. If they vet staff can't control their animals they should not be allowed anywhere near the public - especially when you're running a MEDICAL business. It's just common sense.

[Greytmate]

The fact that this stupid cat was laying across the doorway, hissing and trying to scratch both of my dogs (who were on leads) as we tried to get inside - and the even STUPIDER staff were sitting around doing nothing but laughing has nothing to do with whether or not my dogs were under control - which they were, incidentally. It's about a vet practice behaving in an entirely unprofessional manner and causing stress to people and animals who are already going through enough in the first place. The problem - and the animal that was not under control in this situation - was not mine.

This situation was, in fact, highly distressing for me and my dog, who definitely didn't need more stress in his condition and we were forced to be outside in the hot sun a lot longer than was healthy for him. Neither of my dogs attempted to retaliate, they were trying to do the right thing and follow me into a vets office, even tho they didn't particularly like vets. The staff had the responsibility to do something about the cat and not allow it to behave that way. And there was no way I was going to reach down to try and remove a hissing clawing cat while trying to help my lame dog deal with the porch and steps around him.

You are right, the staff behaved unprofessionally. Did you ask them to remove the cat?

Another poster suggested these sorts of situations are all some kind of fabulous "training opportunity" that we should be focussing on, presumably instead of worrying about how much pain and suffering the dog might be currently experiencing.

Oh really???? And what new training opp did I so stupidly overlook in this situation???? The old "bite the idiotic cat up the bum" lesson perhaps???? Or maybe the ever-reliable, "rip those stupid grins off the face of the vet staff" module??? I'm sure my sick bloke would have been most interested in a bit of innovative learning right at that moment in his tragically shortened life. NOT!!

The training suggestion was in response to a poster claiming they had a problem that their dog was stressed at the vet because it was not allowed to play with the cat. Obviously your problems are quite different.

[spottychick]

You are right, the staff behaved unprofessionally. Did you ask them to remove the cat?

Yes - more than once. They just laughed and mumbled about how "he doesn't like dogs" (ie isn't that hilarious???!!!!)

The training suggestion was in response to a poster claiming they had a problem that their dog was stressed at the vet because it was not allowed to play with the cat. Obviously your problems are quite different.

Fair enough.

[wagsalot]

So if you have a really cat unfriendly dog what do you do about the cat patients that come in? They are generally closer to your dog than a resident cat even if they are in crates?

The "patient" cats should be in cages or secured some how. Theres a big difference between that and one roaming freely.

The patient dogs are supposed to be under control too, so *technically* there is not supposed be a problem.

If you have a dog that doesn't like other animals (of whatever type) why not leave him/her in the car until you are called? Or pop in to tell the vet you are there and wait outside with your dog. In most places you can also ask to use a 'back' entrance if you don't want to walk through the waiting room. Vets often have a consult room free, so you can also often also ask to wait in the consult room. Remember that cats have emergencies too, and someone picking up an injured cat and taking it to the vet might not have access to a crate.

My old vets had two resident cats. The dogs that didn't tolerate small animals usually waited outside on the verandah with their owners, or in the consult room.

I've had to use the back entrance/wait in the car option many times with fosters who were straight out of the pound (when I didnt want to risk exposing dogs in the waiting room to anything the unvaccinated poundy might have) so there are plenty of people for whom the waiting room is not suitable. If you are one of them, the easiest option is just to not use it!

But, the dog is under the control, the resident cat isn't. How is that fair.

If I had to leave RIley in the car the vet would have to extend my appointment. By the time id find a park, leave riley in the car, walk into the vet , then walk all the way back to the car, then walk back to the vet again with riley, half the day would be gone. Theres no way in hell Id leave Riley in a car unattended in the carpark.

The vet that we used to go to that had the cat only had 1 consult room and no back entry and a tiny little waiting room.

Edited January 20, 2010 by wagsalot

[Di*]

You are right, the staff behaved unprofessionally. Did you ask them to remove the cat?

Yes - more than once. They just laughed and mumbled about how "he doesn't like dogs" (ie isn't that hilarious???!!!!)

The training suggestion was in response to a poster claiming they had a problem that their dog was stressed at the vet because it was not allowed to play with the cat. Obviously your problems are quite different.

Fair enough.

Sounds like a very unprofessionally run vet practice. Forget about the dogs and cats, the staff sound like they're out of control. Hopefully, you've found a practice that is better run so there is no chance of a repeat performance. Wouldn't want them dealing with any of my animals if they have such poor animal and human management skills. Ugh!

D

[kezzzza]

Thankfully no cats at the vets I go to, my sibe goes straight into prey drive when he spots one.

Mine too. The local vet has a cat and they just go crazy when I take them there and they see him. They almost caught one in our back yard the other night.

[Bulldust]

I am pretty sure vets have resident animals so there is a ready supply of blood in case of a patient coming in who needs a transfusion/operations gone wrong etc etc. (well thats why my vet has them) The cats at my vet and one dog lives 100% at the vets, the rest of the zoo are the vets and workers animals they bring in to work every day.

But i wish they wouldnt keep them in reception thats all! I dont mind the old Siamese or the ancient dog who wont let anyone under 'her' chair, but the rest

[Kayann]

Our vet has a cat that lives behind the science diet, has a bed setup behind there and on the next level its litter tray. When you take a packet, you get the shock of your life as a big black and white moggie jumps out from his flat behind the stock. Frightened the life out of me the first time. Never mind our two Ridgebacks, I needed a sit down after that.

[spottychick]

Our vet has a cat that lives behind the science diet, has a bed setup behind there and on the next level its litter tray. When you take a packet, you get the shock of your life as a big black and white moggie jumps out from his flat behind the stock. Frightened the life out of me the first time. Never mind our two Ridgebacks, I needed a sit down after that.

:D ;)

[Snowysal]

Our dogs are fairly cat friendly - they live with 5 but if they run they will be chased - not harmed just chased and they must be prepared to cop a fairly thorough poking all over by nose and stood over.

When we go to the vets its such a novel and intimidating place because of the smell and atmosphere - cats are safe plus they are obviously always on a lead. Not too many dogs behave at the vets I reckon and cats dont help for those that hate them. But then you never know who or what your going to encounter there either - having said that it would help if a handy high crate was available to pop resident cats in when occasion demands - makes sense and displays responsible ownership and role model.

[Dame Aussie]

We were just at the vets today and they said something about their resident cat, I freaked! I hate it, it makes me nervous Neither of our dogs have ever hurt a cat but I wouldnt want to test them!!

[Parkeyre]

So if you have a really cat unfriendly dog what do you do about the cat patients that come in? They are generally closer to your dog than a resident cat even if they are in crates?

The "patient" cats should be in cages or secured some how. Theres a big difference between that and one roaming freely.

The patient dogs are supposed to be under control too, so *technically* there is not supposed be a problem.

If you have a dog that doesn't like other animals (of whatever type) why not leave him/her in the car until you are called? Or pop in to tell the vet you are there and wait outside with your dog. In most places you can also ask to use a 'back' entrance if you don't want to walk through the waiting room. Vets often have a consult room free, so you can also often also ask to wait in the consult room. Remember that cats have emergencies too, and someone picking up an injured cat and taking it to the vet might not have access to a crate.

My old vets had two resident cats. The dogs that didn't tolerate small animals usually waited outside on the verandah with their owners, or in the consult room.

I've had to use the back entrance/wait in the car option many times with fosters who were straight out of the pound (when I didnt want to risk exposing dogs in the waiting room to anything the unvaccinated poundy might have) so there are plenty of people for whom the waiting room is not suitable. If you are one of them, the easiest option is just to not use it!

Because I'm paying for a service and I shouldn't have to wait outside or put my dog in a car just because the vet likes to have an animal roaming free in the waiting area. I would also be well and truly pissed if the resident cat was in the consulting room and interrupting the appointment or causing additional stress for my dog. I agree that if you can't control your dog on a short leash even though all other animals are secured, then you need to take responsibility for this and it may warrant waiting outside or in another room. Most vets I've come across also have spare leashes and cat cages on hand in case they need to secure an animal that is brought in without one as a result of an emergency or an idiot owner.

You're paying for his time, Do you get charged an amount each time he sees you in his office, and then more for medication and surgeries etc? If so; you are paying for his time and skills. At my vet; the cat, dog and bird are all free roamers. It's HIS place and his animals are all perfectly fine with animals coming in. If there is an aggressive dog, the cat just wanders off etc.