Preventive Care

• Dental Care
  Cats seldom show obvious pain. It’s only after a dental procedure that we’ll hear, “She hasn’t been this active for a while,” and then owners realize how much discomfort the cat experienced before dental treatment. Bad breath, tartar on the teeth, and red gums (gingivitis) indicate dental disease. Home care will help, but a Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment and Treatment (COHAT) is necessary for most cats.
• Vaccination
  If your cat will be traveling overseas, island states (Hawaii) and countries (Australia, Japan, England, and others) have stringent requirements regarding Rabies vaccination and blood titer tests to prevent Rabies. We can perform the testing and provide the documentation needed to certify your cat for travel. Again, if you plan to take your cat overseas, please contact us as soon as possible (minimum of 6 months in advance).
• Behavioral Counseling
  We will perform a complete physical exam, administer only needed vaccinations according to your cat’s lifestyle, and perform lab work (if necessary) tailored to the individual cat. We will also discuss any behavior changes, weight management, and dental care needed to keep your cat healthy and pain-free.
• Nutritional Counseling
  Excess weight increases your cat’s risk of diabetes, urinary problems, and arthritis. Current knowledge of feline nutrition helps us help you manage your cat’s weight. Weight checks (technician appointments) are available at no charge, however, appointments are required.
• Comprehensive Examination
  Aurora’s Angels Fund. We started this tax-deductible account in memory of our hospital cat, Aurora, who passed away in 2015.  Donations to this fund are used to help families and cats who need care but need assistance in covering the costs. A portion of every Wellness Exam fee we collect is donated to the fund.  So by taking good care of your own cat, you are also helping others!

Illness Treatment

• Parasites Treatment and Control
  Parasite prevention plays a major role in the routine health of your cat. All kittens are treated for intestinal parasites at least twice during their initial visits. For all cats, we recommend heartworm prevention and yearly fecal analysis. For outside cats, we recommend flea and tick prevention as well as yearly treatment for intestinal parasites. Our clinic carries an assortment of products and the doctors will tailor a prevention program specifically for your cat. Modern parasite prevention products carried at veterinary offices are very safe and are chosen because they are efficacious.
• Skin Condition and Allergy Treatment
  Can be useful as an adjunct treatment for many chronic diseases, such as arthritis, kidney disease, or skin problems that won’t resolve with traditional therapy alone. Our doctors can consult with you on this option and can set you up for treatment. Usually done as a series, the treatment takes about 15-20 minutes per visit and is well tolerated by most cats.

Chronic Condition Treatment

• Diabetes Treatment
• Thyroid Disease Treatment
  It is not uncommon, in cats as in people, to have multiple concurrent medical issues. Our doctors have a special interest in geriatric internal medicine and will work closely with you to determine the best possible care for your cat. Complex problems in cats include diabetes, hyperthyroidism, inflammatory bowel disease, and kidney disease.
• Kidney Disease Treatment
  Elevated blood pressure or hypertension is common in older cats. Untreated hypertension causes pain; it can worsen kidney disease and can cause heart problems or even blindness. The good news is that hypertension in cats can be treated with medication, often flavored liquid to mix in food. At A Cat Clinic, we routinely screen senior cats for hypertension as part of their senior wellness exam.

Surgery

• Veterinary Surgery
  Our clinic offers routine surgical procedures to keep your cat happy and healthy. At 4-5 months of age, we recommend spaying (ovariohysterectomy) or neutering your kitten. Other routine procedures performed include mass removal, biopsy, bladder surgery, and exploratory laparotomy.
• Spaying and Neutering
  Congratulations on your new kitten! Kittens go through so many changes during their first year and we know you will have many questions about how to best care for your new kitten. When you visit with your kitten, we will discuss nutrition, litter box, scratching, neutering, behavior, and other issues that may concern you. Our comprehensive care includes examinations, vaccinations, parasite control, viral testing, and spay/neutering needed to get your kitten off to a healthy start.

Lab and X-Rays

• Microchipping
  Microchip placement provides a permanent form of identification for your cat. This involves placing a tiny chip under the cat’s skin between its shoulders. The chip identification information is then recorded in a national registry. Unlike a collar or tag that can fall off, the microchip is permanently embedded in your cat. If your cat gets lost, most shelters and veterinary hospitals will check for a microchip to identify your cat and help expedite a safe return to its owner. Microchipping is also required for international travel.

General Pet Care

• Boarding
  Boarding doesn’t need to be stressful for you or your cat! A Cat Clinic offers Cat Boarding for medical purposes, whether you are going out of town for an extended stay, or you need to board your feline family for a quick overnight. Patients in our medical boarding accommodations enjoy the beautiful view of our wooded backyard while being checked at least twice daily by our staff, including on weekends and holidays.
• Grooming
• Senior Pet Care
• Animal Daycare
  Sarah joined our team in August, 2018 as a receptionist.  A Montgomery County native, she graduated from Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring. However, she has traveled extensively, and spent time living abroad (her husband is from England and her mother from Thailand). Sarah’s previous animal work experiences involved caring for dogs, at a dog daycare and at a large boarding facility.  She has also volunteered to foster dogs with three local dog rescues.  Yet she has become a “converted cat person”. She said one day in her adult life, “the light in my head suddenly switched on!” Now Sarah feels strongly that everyone should have a cat, at least once in their life.  She shares her home with two black cats named Iggy and Suzie Q, Iggy who she adopted in 2017 came from a feral colony outside of Baltimore, although he had likely been someone’s pet.  In her free time Sarah enjoys music and piano, and traveling.