Research overview: reducing veterinary stress and fear-free handling of cats

Veterinary visits are a major source of acute stress for cats and a barrier to care, since fearful cats are harder to examine and owners may avoid appointments. This overview surveys the science and practice of cat-friendly and fear-free veterinary handling: minimising restraint, allowing cats to stay in familiar carriers and emerge voluntarily, using towels and gentle techniques, separating cats from dogs, controlling noise and smell, and employing pheromones and pre-visit anti-anxiety measures. It examines evidence that low-stress approaches improve examination quality, safety and welfare and increase the likelihood of regular care. It discusses cat-friendly clinic accreditation schemes. The synthesis frames stress-reducing veterinary handling as a welfare intervention that also improves clinical outcomes and access to care.