News & Advice

Windmill accredited with ISFM Silver Award

As all cat owners know, cats are not small dogs!

Here at Windmill, we understand it is stressful when you have to bring your cat to us, and stress is a contributing factor to many illnesses.

This is why we are proud to have been accredited as an ISFM cat friendly clinic.  It is an internationally recognised award and means we have met strict criteria to help minimise stress in your cat whilst here with us.

Our cat patients are hospitalised in a separate, calm, quiet ward away from dogs.  When you visit us, don’t be surprised if we ask you to sit in the quiet designated area downstairs, or our cat only waiting area upstairs. Blankets sprayed with Feliway are available to cover your cat basket whilst you wait for your appointment.  Upstairs is our cat only consulting room -no nasty dog smells to upset your cat.  In this safe environment, cats are encouraged to investigate the room using the window sills, table and counter tops.  Once they have settled, we can examine your cat in a more relaxed style, reducing their stress levels even more.

We do as much as we can to make your cat as comfortable as possible whilst away from home.  We provide a seat for cats in our kennels, which they can chose to hide under or sit on top of; whichever they find most relaxing.  All are provided with litter trays for their toileting needs.

All our team understand cats and their special requirements and are happy to help.  We have special cat advocates who have made cat care their priority.  Our vets and nurses appreciate that cats need to be approached in a gentle, calm and empathetic way.

If you have any questions regarding our cat facilities, please talk to one of our cat advocates or visit http://www.catfriendlyclinic.org for more information

Travel Sickness in Pets

For many cats and dogs a car journey is part of their lives at some stage.

This may involve a trip to the park, a day out, a holiday or visit to the vet or boarding kennels. Many dogs are happy to travel in cars whilst others exhibit anxiety and nausea.  Generally cats do not enjoy travelling and many resent the confinement to a basket.  Not all pets that suffer from car sickness are anxious and puppies tend to suffer with car sickness more than adult dogs which suggests that a number of them “grow out of” motion sickness. Download the PDF to read the full article…