Fairfax Veterinary Hospital is a Gold status Cat Friendly Practice. The team at Fairfax Veterinary Hospital adores cats and wants to make their visits as stress-free as possible. We appreciate that cats have specific sensitivities and reactions to sites, noises, sounds, and environmental changes. We work hard to create an environment that feels more familiar and calming. In fact, our hospital was designed with this goal at the forefront. From our separate cat and dog areas to our anti-slip, antimicrobial floors, to the calming color on the walls, to the music playing in the rooms, and use of low-stress handling techniques, the dedication to these principles is abundantly evident. With our commitment to reducing vet visit-related anxiety and our love for cats, Fairfax Veterinary Hospital was very excited about joining the American Association of Feline Practitioners and obtaining Gold status as a Cat-Friendly Practice!
The Cat-Friendly Practice® program is leading the movement to make veterinary care less stressful for cats and their caregivers.
Established by the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) and the International Society for Feline Medicine (ISFM), the Cat-Friendly Practice® program is a global initiative designed to elevate care for cats by reducing the stress for the cat, caregiver, and also the entire veterinary team.
What to Expect from a Cat Friendly Practice®
- Waiting room/area that reduces the stress associated with noise, other pets, or unfamiliar smells (methods can include feline-only area, separate space with a barrier blocking visual contact, etc.).
- Veterinary staff receives ongoing feline education on medical care, behavior, communication, and feline-friendly handling techniques.
- Feline-only or feline-centric examination room–a safe, non-threatening area where cats can be
examined calmly and effectively. - Trained staff who recognize subtle, early signs of sickness, fear, or anxiety, and adapt appropriately.
- Veterinary facility that is well-maintained and equipped for feline patients (cat-sized equipment, soft coverings, feline facial pheromone diffuser, etc.).
- A procedure to adjust for each cat based on whatever is least stressful for the patient.