Inside the Cat Friendly Practice® Movement

For many cats (and their humans), a trip to the veterinarian can feel like a full-scale emotional event. The carrier appears, the cat disappears. The car ride is filled with protest meows. The waiting room smells like dogs. By the time the exam begins, everyone is tense.

But a growing movement in veterinary medicine is working to change that experience entirely: the Cat Friendly Practice® (CFP) Program.

Created by feline-focused experts from the Feline Veterinary Medical Association (formerly the American Association of Feline Practitioners) and International Cat Care, the Cat Friendly Practice® Program is designed with one clear mission: make veterinary care calmer, kinder, and more effective for cats, their caregivers, and the veterinary team.

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A Different Kind of Vet Visit

The Cat Friendly Practice® Program recognizes something cat lovers have always known: cats are not small dogs. They have their own emotional needs, communication styles, and stress triggers. Loud noises, unfamiliar smells, and forced handling can quickly overwhelm them.

Cat Friendly Practice® clinics rethink every step of the visit with cats in mind. From the moment a cat enters the building, the environment is adjusted to reduce fear. That might mean quieter waiting areas, separate spaces for cats and dogs, or even allowing cats to wait in their carrier in a calm, private area.

Exam rooms are set up with feline comfort in mind, and staff are trained to handle cats in ways that respect their natural behavior.

What Makes a Practice “Cat Friendly”?

Becoming a Cat Friendly Practice® isn’t about remodeling the whole building. Instead, clinics complete a detailed online self-assessment that includes a 130-point checklist covering 10 major areas of care designed to elevate feline experiences and outcomes.

These topic areas include:

• Staff Training & Continuing Education and Client Communication
• Veterinary Practice Premises and Waiting Area
• Feline Handling and Interactions with Clients
• Examination Rooms and Clinical Records
• Hospitalization and Boarding
• Pain Management, Operating Room, and Anesthesia
• Surgical Equipment and Dentistry
• Diagnostic Imaging and Laboratory Facilities
• Treatment and Health & Safety
• Preventive Healthcare individualized by life stages

Practices can earn Silver or Gold status based on how many criteria they meet, with many improvements focusing on approach, training, and creativity rather than construction.

Better Experiences, Better Health Outcomes

One of the most powerful benefits of the Cat Friendly Practice® Program is what happens after the stress goes down: better exams, better diagnostics, and earlier detection of illness.

Research highlighted by the program shows Cat Friendly Practices® tend to:

• Have higher average visits per year per feline patient
• Perform diagnostic testing more often during clinical visits
• Increase the likelihood of bloodwork and urinalysis
• Identify a higher number of cats with clinical findings
• See higher annual revenue per feline patient (often linked to improved care and follow-through)

When cats are calmer, veterinarians can collect more accurate vitals, handle cats more safely, and catch issues sooner, especially conditions that cats are notorious for hiding.

Why It Matters for Cat Parents and Vet Teams

The Cat Friendly Practice® designation isn’t just a badge; it signals a deep commitment to the emotional and physical well-being of cats.

Reported benefits of the program include:

• Less stress for feline patients, caregivers, and staff
• Higher satisfaction among current clients
• Increased staff knowledge and confidence in handling cats
• Lower injury rates related to fearful feline visits
• A practice listing highlighted on a cat caregiver website (helping clinics reach more cat owners)
• Access to a marketing toolkit with logos, visuals, educational resources, and promotional materials

In short: happier cats, more confident staff, and a smoother visit for everyone involved.

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A Future Where Cats Feel Safe at the Vet

The Cat Friendly Practice® Program is more than a checklist; it’s a philosophy shift. It acknowledges that cats deserve care designed specifically for them and that caregivers play a vital role in every visit.

By focusing on environment, feline behavior, and communication, Cat Friendly Practices® are transforming what used to be a stressful event into a calmer, more productive experience that supports better health outcomes over a cat’s lifetime.

So the next time your cat settles into their carrier without a fight, or your vet visit feels surprisingly peaceful, you might just be seeing the Cat Friendly Practice® movement in action.