Stress hos katter i samband med veterinärbesök på ackrediterade kattvänliga kliniker i Sverige : en enkät- och litteraturstudie ur ett etologiskt perspektiv

Sammanfattning: Abstract Visiting the veterinary clinic is a stressful experience for many cats. In an effort to reduce stress associated with veterinary visits, scientists from International Society of Feline Medicine have created a concept called cat-friendly clinics. The accreditation programme has spread worldwide during the recent years, yet there is a lack of research on its efficacy. This study presents a review of current research related to the criteria and two surveys collecting opinions and experiences of cat-owners and veterinary staff from 14 cat friendly clinics in Sweden. Although few people responded to the surveys, results indicate that most cats experience stress on arrival to the clinic and in the waiting room. Cat-owners reported that most cats are stressed during examination and handling, however most veterinary staff reported this to be uncommon and that cat-friendly handling techniques has led to fewer cats being stressed. Regarding the criteria, some are well documented to reduce feline stress but further research is needed to fully explore the impact of cat-friendly clinic requirements. Both cat owners and veterinary staff wish for more knowledge on how cat owners can prepare or train cats for veterinary visits in order to reduce stress. However, the results should be interpreted carefully due to the low number of respondents. As this is a fairly new concept in feline veterinary care, more research is needed to assess the impact of cat-friendly clinic requirements on cat stress.