Cat Doesn’t Trust Me After Vet Visit: Is This Normal?

Veterinary visits can be stressful for our beloved cats. Cats love routine and having their own familiar environment. When we take them out of this environment and bring them somewhere else where they aren’t in control (like a veterinary clinic), they can become very stressed and not act like themselves afterward. In fact, your cat may appear to not trust you after you take them to the vet.

Unfortunately, these veterinary trips are absolutely necessary for our cats’ health. We have some tips on how to make this visit more positive for your cat and to reduce stress for the returning cat.

Also Read: The 10 Things That Cats Hate Most

The Veterinary Visit

Veterinary visits are essential for cats at all stages of life. They need their vaccinations, parasite prevention, neutering, and care for when they are sick or in pain. Veterinarians provide necessary medical treatment for our cats when they need it. They aim to keep our companions with us for as long as possible and to keep them as healthy.

However, cats can be stressed going to the veterinary clinic. This is similar to us not enjoying a trip to the doctor or dentist!

Cats like being in control of their environment. Their stress starts from the very beginning of their vet-going ordeal. They are put into a cat carrier, which is a very small enclosed space, and then put into the car. Car journeys tend to be very noisy, with loud music and general traffic noises. To top that off, some cats suffer from motion sickness (just like us), making the car journey even more unpleasant.

By the time the cat arrives at the vet, they are very stressed. If there are other cats and dogs in the waiting room, this is commonly even more stressful for cats, particularly if they aren’t used to dogs.

The cat is then examined by the vet, possibly receiving tablets and injections as part of their treatment. Cats don’t understand why they’re receiving this medicine but know that they feel pain or distress when they get them.

Also Read: 5 Visual Signs Of A Stressed Cat And How To Help

What Happens When My Cat Comes Home?

After all this unpleasantness, the cat is then taken home again in the confined carrier, and placed in a noisy car. As you can imagine at this point, they may be feeling very stressed. This will make them act differently from how they normally act at home. You may wonder if your cat will trust you again after a visit to the vet.

If you have other pets, they may act differently towards your cat because they smell the hospital and medicine. Separate them for a while if there are any signs of fear or aggression such as hissing and growling.

How To Reduce Stress For Your Cat

Veterinary visits don’t need to be stressful or traumatizing. There are many things that we can do to reduce stress for cats during the vet visit. This includes what happens before and after the visit. We want to keep the experience as positive as possible and have a happy cat at the end of it. We have some tips to help with this, starting with how to put your cat in the carrier.

1. Putting Your Cat In The Cat Carrier

Traveling in the car can be very stressful for any cat. To reduce their stress, use an appropriate cat carrier that is big enough for the size of your cat. Cats should be used to the pet carrier before the veterinary visit, if possible. Do this by leaving the carrier out during the year and allowing your cat to use it as a cozy bed.

This will allow them to get used to the carrier and not see it as a scary experience. If you only take out the cat carrier when you bring your cat in the car to the vet, they’ll soon associate it with these visits and likely become fearful of the carrier.

Putting a familiar piece of your cat’s bedding in the base of the carrier will help to relax them, because it smells of home.  You can spray their bedding with a synthetic pheromone spray (Feliway) 30 minutes before you put them in the carrier. These pheromones will help relax your cat and make them feel more secure in the carrier. Place your cat gently in the cat carrier and avoid any frantic movements or excessive force when doing this.

Also Read: The Best Cat Carriers For 2023

2. Travelling In The Car With Your Cat

Place the cat carrier in the footwell of your car or on the seat secured with a seatbelt. This will help prevent excessive movement of the carrier during the car trip.

Partially cover the carrier to prevent an overload of visual stimuli for your cat. Avoid any loud noises and try to book your appointment at a time when there will be minimal road traffic.

Cats that are motivated by food would enjoy some treats during the car ride and their veterinary visit. Avoid this if your cat suffers from motion sickness and discuss it with your vet prior to the car journey. Your vet may be able to dispense some medication to help with the nausea.

Also Read: Best Calming Aid For Cats

How To Reduce Stress At The Veterinary Clinic

When it comes to helping your cat relax at the actual veterinary appointment, we have a number of tips. First, find a vet that is cat-friendly and has a cat-friendly practice. You can also find fear-free certified vet clinics.

These clinics reduce stress during vet appointments by practicing gentle handling techniques and having pheromone diffusers plugged in around the clinic. They often have the waiting room separated between cats and dogs or have a “cats only waiting” room.

Cat-only veterinary clinics are also available and have the benefit of no barking dogs, or other pets in the waiting room that may stress our felines. They typically have many cat experts and vet techs on hand to give you advice on cat behavior and to provide cat visits for your kitty.

Cats that are particularly stressed in the veterinary clinic may benefit from sedative medication prior to and during the visit. Your vet can discuss this with you in more detail and recommend medication if they think it’s suitable, in your cat’s case.

Also Read: 10 Signs Your Cat Really Does Trust You

When You Get Home…

When you get home, your cat may seem to not trust you after their visit to the vet. Be patient and understanding with them. Talk gently and reassuringly and give them space if they want it. You can try feeding them their favorite food or some nice treats (if permitted after their veterinary visit).

They will enjoy cuddling in their familiar bed and blankets which will smell reassuringly of them and their home. Spray pheromones on their bedding or plug in a synthetic pheromone diffuser in the home.

Also Read: The 7 Best Lickable Cat Treats—We Tested Them All

Owners – Keep Calm And Relaxed

As cat owners, we often underestimate the effect we may have on our cats. Our emotions rub off on our pets and they can sense when we’re upset or stressed. If you’re anxious about the veterinary visit, it’s likely that your cat will pick up on this, and in turn, worsen their own anxiety.

Even though it can be difficult, do your best to remain outwardly calm and relaxed during the whole visit and be mindful of your body language. This will help relax your cat and reassure them.

Also Read: How To Calm Down a Cat In 8 Proven Steps

Final Thoughts

Bringing your cat to the vet can be stressful and they may act as if they don’t trust you afterwards. You can reduce stress from the moment you place the cat in their carrier, during the car journey, and at the veterinary clinic. There are many cat-friendly clinics, fear-free certified clinics, or even cat-only vets that are trained to help to reduce the stress of the veterinary visit for your cat. Regardless, your cat will trust you again after they visit the vet – they may just need some time and space (and treats and cuddles).

Also Read: How Often Should Your Cat Visit The Vet?