5 Tips for Finding a Breeder-Friendly Veterinarian for Your Cats

As a cat breeder, it’s important to have a veterinarian that you can trust and rely on to provide excellent care for your cats. However, finding a breeder-friendly veterinarian can be a challenge. Here are some tips on how to find a veterinarian that understands the needs and concerns of cat breeders:

5 Tips for Finding a Breeder Friendly Vet

1. Ask for Recommendations: Reach out to other Pedigree cat breeders in your area and ask for recommendations. They may be able to refer you to a veterinarian that they trust and have had good experiences with. Additionally, check with your local cat breeder association or cat club, as they may have a list of recommended veterinarians.
2. Look for Experience: When researching veterinarians, look for those with experience in working with cats and specifically with the breeds that you are breeding. A veterinarian with a background in feline medicine and experience with breeding-related issues such as pregnancy, birthing, and neonatal care, will be better equipped to handle the unique needs of your cats.
3. Schedule a Visit: Before committing to a veterinarian, schedule a visit to their clinic. Observe the cleanliness of the facility, the demeanor of the staff, and the overall atmosphere of the clinic. A welcoming and clean environment is an indication of a caring and professional veterinarian.
4. Discuss Breeding-Related Issues: During your visit, ask the veterinarian about their experience with breeding-related issues such as pyometra and Emergency C-Sections. Find out how they handle situations like these.
5. Early Spay and Neuter: If you practice early spay and neuter in your cattery, then it’s important that your veterinarian will honor your policies. Even if they say no at first, it’s worth a conversation to explain why it’s important for you to ESN. This may help them change their mind or make an exception. I reached out to a vet recently to inquire about kitten packages, and you can see in this conversation, the vet was flexible.

Some Important Topics to Discuss with your Vet

Obviously, we want our vets to treat us different than the typical pet owner. We have multiple cats in our care, and the intent with them is a little different. There are some sensitive issues that may come up, and your vet may have a “standard” protocol for these. It’s a good idea to address these in advance , so there is a mutual understanding.

Pyometra

Pyometra may be the most common issue that you’ll be dealing with as a Pedigree Cat breeder. it comes on suddenly, and is always an urgent condition. A wise breeder once told me “Don’t let the sun go down on pyometra”. This means that the infection is aggressive and we jsut don’t have much time to wait before starting a treatment plan.

As a general rule of thumb, a vet will always recommend to spay a female that is presenting pyometra. That’s not always the solution that we have in mind. Pyometra can be treated with proper medications. Have this conversation with the vet so if it happens, there is no arguments about whether or not to spay the Queen, if you decide not to.

Emergency C-Sections

It’s not common, but there may be a time when your Queen needs a C-Section. Some vets aren’t capable of performing this surgery on short notice and may refer you to an Emergency Room. This is important to know so you know how to handle an emergency should it arise.

Communication is The Key

As with everything in our lives, honest communication is the key. You won’t be able to vibe with every vet, but if you’re persistent, you’ll find a vet that can be an integral part of your care team.

If location is challenging for you, and there aren’t many vets available in your area, then communication is more important than ever. Sometimes educating them in a kind, respectful way will go a LONG way.