What cat friendly actually means
"Cat friendly" has come to mean anything at all. Below is the exact list of what we do differently, in the order your cat meets it. Every item can be checked from the waiting room.
What we do not claim
Miau Vet is not ISFM accredited and we do not use the Cat Friendly Clinic logo. We chose to apply the protocols from day one and submit the application afterwards, rather than the other way round. Everything below is true today, in the clinic, with or without a certificate on the wall.
Separate entrances for dogs and cats
Dogs and cats come in through different doors and wait in different rooms. Your cat does not cross the room where dogs are sitting, and does not wait beside one.
No scruffing
We do not restrain cats by the neck. Scruffing increases fear and does not make an examination safer. We use minimal handling, a towel, and pauses.
Quiet in the cat area
Noise is one of the biggest stressors for a cat at the vet. We keep the cat area away from where barking carries, and we work quietly.
A cats-only day ward
Cages meet the standard for size, bedding and litter tray, are not placed facing each other, and the feeding area is kept separate from the tray.
A consultation of at least 30 minutes
The time is allocated in the diary, not improvised, and 30 minutes is the floor rather than the limit. A frightened cat needs minutes in which nothing happens to her, and those minutes have to exist in the schedule.
A named Cat Advocate
One person on the team owns the feline standard: training colleagues, checking the protocol, and correcting drift. With no name against that job, the standard erodes within months.
Staff trained in feline stress
The team recognises the early signs of fear in cats, the ears, the pupils, the posture, and stops before the cat has to defend herself.
The practice, in photographs
The cats' entrance, at the back. A separate door and a separate waiting room — your cat never crosses the dogs' side. 
The front entrance, which is the one dogs come in through. Reception and food are here. 
The admission and intensive care ward. Cages run along one wall rather than facing each other, and the feeding area is kept away from the litter tray.
Frequently asked questions
Do you see dogs?
Yes, but never in the same space as the cats. Dogs have their own entrance and their own waiting area, cats have theirs. Your cat does not cross the dog room and does not wait beside one.
Are you Cat Friendly Clinic accredited?
Not yet. The feline-specific protocols are in place from opening day and the accreditation application follows. Until the certificate is issued we do not use the logo and we do not call ourselves accredited.
What if my cat refuses to come out of the carrier?
Nothing. That is the normal reaction. We take the top half of the carrier off and examine her in the bottom half, where she feels safe. We do not pull her out.
How long is a consultation?
At least 30 minutes. The time is reserved in the diary so it does not depend on how busy the day is, and if your cat needs longer, she gets longer.
Can I stay with my cat during the consultation?
Yes, in almost every case. For some procedures we may ask you to wait outside, because your presence can be an additional stressor for the cat. We explain why, every time.
Are you open at weekends?
Yes. We are open on Saturday from 09:00 to 16:00 and on Sunday from 09:00 to 14:00. On weekdays we are open until 21:00.