Gulf Coast Scratching Post is a full service, FVMA Gold Status certified Cat Friendly Practice
The Cat Friendly Practice® program is a global initiative designed to elevate care for cats by reducing stress and making visits easier for cats and caregivers. Awarded by the American Association of Feline Practitioners, the veterinary hospital must meet specific criteria in order to become a Cat Friendly Practice®. These Cat Friendly Practices® take extra steps to provide the best care and experience for you and your cat.
04/21/2025
It's that time of year again!! BEST OF NORTH PORT!!! WE WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR VOTE. We are listed in professional services in two categories - Veterinarian and Veterinary Hospital. GO TEAM CAT!!! Anyone can vote ONCE A DAY, per category, per device. Only in the initial sign up, you will be asked to answer a few questions.
Happy National Cat Lady Day! Whether you're a proud cat lady yourself, live with a cat lady, or desire to be a cat lady, today’s the day to honor all the love and joy they bring to your life!
04/16/2025
Don’t even bring them in the house!!! Keeping them up high doesn’t prevent pollen from falling to the ground and getting on their toebeans and then getting licked off!
04/05/2025
04/04/2025
Heartworm Awareness Month
April is . In cats, the symptoms of heartworm disease may include coughing, asthma-like attacks, occasional vomiting, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Despite these symptoms, most cats infected with heartworms may not show any changes or signs. Therefore, it is essential to get your cat tested and discuss the prevention of heartworms. Please call us to discuss testing and prevention options for your cat.
03/24/2025
FELINE HEART DISEASE BREAKTHROUGH: NOW FDA APPROVED!
03/17/2025
Don't forget that Saint Patrick is not the only saint whose feast day is March 17. It is also the feast of Saint Gertrude of Nivelles, the patron saint of cats and the people who love them.
03/16/2025
Another cat food recalled due to Avian influenza
Cat owners are warned of more pet food recalls, as Savage Pet of California says some of its products could contain H5N1 (bird flu). The FDA and New York D
03/07/2025
I’m extremely concerned that we will start seeing cases in our area. I urge you to avoid raw diets and to keep your cats inside.
A cat in New Jersey was euthanized after becoming severely ill from a confirmed case of bird flu, the state's health department said Friday.
02/26/2025
I received a wonderful gift from a client today! What a thoughtful gift! I absolutely love it!
02/23/2025
02/10/2025
Microchip alert! The microchip company Save This Life has shut down their online registry. This means that if you registered your pet's microchip with the company, your chip is no longer active. To fix this problem, you need to register the chip with another provider.
A recent case in Oregon has highlighted the risk of avian influenza (H5N1) infecting domestic cats through contaminated food. An indoor cat fell ill and sadly passed away after consuming raw pet food that tested positive for the virus.
Recalled Product:
Brand: Northwest Naturals
Product: Feline Turkey Recipe Raw Frozen Pet Food
Packaging: 2-pound bags
Best if Used By Dates: May 21, 2026, and June 23, 2026
Distribution Areas: This product was sold in several U.S. states, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin, as well as in **British Columbia**
What You Should Do:
Check Your Inventory: If you have this product, discontinue use immediately.
Contact Point of Purchase: Reach out for a refund or further instructions.
What is Avian Influenza?
Overview: Avian influenza is a viral infection primarily affecting birds but can infect mammals, including cats.
Transmission: Cats can contract the virus through direct contact with infected birds or contaminated environments, and, as recent cases suggest, through consumption of contaminated raw poultry products.
Signs and Symptoms in Cats:
Lethargy, loss of appetite, fever, respiratory distress (coughing, sneezing, difficulty breathing), and eye or nasal discharge. Please note that common upper feline respiratory virus also shares some of these symptoms.
Action: If your cat exhibits these symptoms after potential exposure to raw poultry or wild birds, seek veterinary care immediately.
Stay Informed: Monitor updates from health authorities regarding avian influenza in your area.
Your vigilance is crucial in protecting your pets from avian influenza.
12/26/2024
PLEASE STOP FEEDING RAW DUE TO EXPANDING CASES OF H5N1 BIRD FLU IN CATS -most cases have been fatal.
A Portland-based pet food company issued a nationwide voluntary recall after a house cat in Oregon died from eating one of its products, which tested positive for bird flu.
12/24/2024
Holiday Hours
Christmas Eve: closing at noon
Christmas Day: CLOSED
December 26th, 27th and 30th: open normal business hours
December 31st: closing at 2 pm
January 1st: CLOSED
Resuming normal business hours January 2nd
The Veterinary Emergency Clinic of Port Charlotte is open 24 hours until January 2nd at 8 am. If you have an emergency or sick pet, please contact them at 941-255-5222.
Have a very happy and safe holiday!!
12/22/2024
Very sad and scary. Please be aware that Avian Influenza is extremely contagious and deadly in cats. Outdoor cats and those who are fed raw diets are at highest risk. Please protect your cats as we learn more about H5N1 in cats.
Address
3135 Bobcat Village Center Road North Port, FL 34288
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Understanding Our Commitment to Minimize Your Cat's Stress
You may find our approach to your cat's veterinary visit different from your previous experiences. We recognize that cats will probably be fearful when they come to the veterinarian and we will try to decrease your cat's anxiety with the steps we take during your visit.
There are some basic principles that can be helpful to understand in order to optimize the veterinary visit from a feline perspective. We know that kittens are more tolerant of experiencing new things and handling change than adult cats. Young animals (like people) don't seem to get as stressed about the unexpected. But as your cat gets older, changes in where they are and what is happening around them can create a great deal of anxiety. They get signals about their environment from their eyes and ears, but their sense of smell is also a very important signaling system. As a matter of fact, it's so important that many behaviorists say that "cats move through clouds of smell", creating another dimension to their landscape. When you're a small animal that is both a predator as well as another creature's prey, changes in your stable environment usually mean that you need to be alert to trouble or threat. Visits to the veterinary practice constitute a significant change and can be a significant challenge for a cat.
Cats will display a spectrum of responses to a stressful environment just like people do. Some people can cope with challenges and the unexpected much easier than others. It is the same with cats. Usually cats will seek out a hiding place so that they can stay hidden from view. A confident cat may sense that it can handle a situation and not display any anxious behaviors. Others may freeze and not move or react very much when they are handled. It is important to remember that these cats are still really scared. Some cats will lick themselves or fidget in some way to console themselves. And just as some pople are going to be more likely to lash out under stress than others, cats that have exhausted their coping mechanisms will often become aggressive. Allowing them to stay hidden while at the veterinary practice or distracting them with toys or treats can help cats avoid escalating fear.
You are an important part of making your cat's visit less stressful. We will give you resources that will explain how you can help prepare for a visit. For example, choosing the right kind of carrier is very important. Being dragged, pulled, or tipped out of a carrier can be very scary and it starts the visit off with a cat already more fear-aroused. When we can remove the top half of a hard-sided carrier, your cat can stay hidden under a towel while we perform most of our examination. Allowing them to cope in this manner can prevent them from progressing into more fear and aggression.
There are other techniques that can be employed to allow your cat to cope better with their visit to the veterinary practice. The doctor and staff have studied these techniques and use them to try to make your cat's visit as comfortable as possible. We hope that this also means YOUR visit will be more comfortable too.
Gulf Coast Scratching Post is a full service, FVMA Gold Status certified Cat Friendly Practice
