Recognizing and Preventing Pain
We know that your cat's comfort is extremely important to you. It is to us too. Dr. Ilona Rodan co-chaired the national guidelines to prevent, recognize, and treat pain (PDF) because this is so very important and doesn’t always happen. Our cats deserve the best, which means “NO PAIN”. Dr. Rodan had lead the Cat Care Clinic Team to ensure that whether it’s related to illness or injury, or whether you cat undergoes surgery, dentistry, or other procedures, your cat will be comfortable. She is also a member of the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management.

Did you know that your cat can be in pain without you even knowing it? Because cats hide their pain, it is not always easy to recognize. That’s why the Dr. Rodan and the other panelists help provide information for the handout How to tell if you cat is in pain (PDF). We also include recognizing and preventing pain as part of every Cat Care Clinic exam. If you have any concerns as to whether your cat is in pain, please schedule an appointment right away.

Since cats do not tolerate medications made for people and some of those made for dogs, we recommend only the safest pain relief medications for your cat. To ensure patient comfort, we require pain relief for any surgical procedures or dental extractions. We use dental nerve blocks and other local blocks in addition to general pain relief. Patients are monitored to assess pain, so that we can provide follow-up pain management as needed.


Nutrition and Weight Management
With hundreds of choices of cat food, how do you decide what’s best for your cat? Everyone seems to have an opinion on what’s best. As feline veterinarians, we have extensive training, and take the time to make individualized recommendations for your cat, based on your cat’s health or medical needs, and the most up-to-date science.

Being overweight or obese is the most common nutritional disease in cats, with 40-50% of cats in the United States affected. Even though they don’t really watch a lot of TV and drink beer, they are overweight because they are often sedentary and eat too much, or at least too much of a diet that is high in calories.

Preventing obesity increases lifespan and makes your cat more comfortable. It also prevents several health problems, including those that overweight people also have - diabetes, arthritis, and other problems. We assess weight and body condition at each examination.

Are you worried about your cats weight? Please call and we will help. Most importantly, don’t start your cat on “a diet” yourself – a life-threatening health condition can occur if weight loss is too rapid. We are glad to help so that your kitty can be as healthy as possible, and able to jump to all the favorite places. We will recommend a nutritional plan, and calculate out the calories needed by your cat, the amount to feed, and how best to feed your cat so that he or she will still be satisfied.


Microchipping for all cats
No one expects to ever be separated from their pets but there is much proof that it happens, and in so many different ways. There are situations where people move and the cat tries to go back to the old house. And there are stories about a friend or delivery or repair person leaving the door open and the naturally curious cat gets outside. Cats may also startle with loud noises, or if frightened by people they don’t know. And then we’ve all heard of separation of beloved pets during natural disasters. It has been estimated that approximately 9 million cats enter shelters annually, and only a sad 2-5% make it back to their homes because they don’t have permanent identification.

It is for reasons like these that Cat Care Clinic provides this service, and that the veterinary organizations recommend that all cats be microchipped. Microchips are tiny transponders (about the size of a grain of rice), with a unique number registered to your cat. Placing the chip near the shoulders is very quick (less than a minute) and can be done with your cat awake. Cats are not bothered by the chip, and they remain in place for decades. All shelters and some veterinarians (including us) have microchip scanners to identify the cat.


Feline Behavior Consultations
Provided by: Ilona Rodan, DVM, Board-Certified Specialist in Feline Medicine, Applied Feline Behavior Training

The better we understand life from our cats' point of view, the more endearing they become to us, and the less chance of behavior problems. During routine examinations we can discuss how to prevent behavior problems and provide information about litter boxes, scratching and much more. Please let us know at any time if you have questions about your cat's behavior.

Fortunately, the Madison area has Dr. Ilona Rodan, a cat behavior consultant, who can help prevent and treat behavioral problems. Dr. Rodan has a thorough understanding of the medical and behavioral needs of feline patients, and a passion for enhancing the quality of your relationship with your cat(s) by providing solutions to your concerns.

• Does your cat sometimes miss the litter box?
• Do your cats get along? If there are any concerns, it’s best to address them as early as possible.

These 2 happy kitties have a much greater quality of life since the behavior consultation with Dr. Rodan.