Our Story
Uniquely Cats Veterinary Center is bringing Exclusively Feline Care for Remarkable Cats to Boulder, CO and surrounding areas!
Dr. Fern's 24+ years of feline exclusive practice makes her team at Uniquely Cats the first choice for Cat Veterinary care in Boulder County.
CATS ARE NOT SMALL DOGS. Cats are often misunderstood when viewed through “dog glasses.” In truth, cats have very little in common with dogs other than the fact that many live with humans. Uniquely Cats means what our name says: Cats are, indeed, unique.
CATS HIDE SYMPTOMS OF DISEASE. Cats in the wild are spectacular predators, but are also prey. An obviously ill prey animal is an automatic target, so cats have evolved to hide disease symptoms from the world until no longer possible. This makes it tough or impossible to recognize early disease in our cats, often delaying diagnosis when intervention could mean a difference of years to their lives. This is why Uniquely Cats Veterinary Center advocates a program of regular, periodic health evaluations, including lab profiles, for every cat. We will work with you to develop the best plan for your individual cat and for you.
CATS NEED A CARNIVORE-APPROPRIATE DIET. Numerous feline diseases are now thought to be heavily influenced (if not directly caused) by pet foods that bear no resemblance to an evolutionary diet. Unlike dogs, cat are obligate carnivores, evolved to satisfy all their nutritional needs by eating prey animals. Feline anatomy and physiology is defined by that fact. Their ability to survive (but not thrive!) on plant-based foods is a tribute to their amazing adaptability, but such foods are not food for them. Uniquely Cats Veterinary Center recommends a “carnivore-appropriate diet” for all cats, and we are happy to help you choose the best food for your cat and your wallet.
CATS AND THEIR HEALTH CARE NEEDS ARE UNIQUE in many other ways. A few examples:
• Cats are highly susceptible to stress, both their own and their owner's. Emotional turmoil at home can make your cat sick.
• Cats handled abruptly or without respect will never forget it. It’s often best for your veterinarian to appear to ignore your cat for the first 15-30 minutes of an evaluation; this allows your cat time to acclimate to the vet’s unfamiliar physicality, voice and smell prior to handling.
• Cats with previous traumas, grumpy personalities (yes, cats can be grumpy old coots too!), or arthritis that makes physical manipulation uncomfortable for them, do much better with a little sedation on board for examinations and procedures such as drawing blood and urine, or taking Xrays. In such cases, a little tranquilizer is always less stressful than physical restraint, and nearly always safer.
• Normal, healthy cats fed a carnivore-appropriate diet almost never need to drink water. (But you should always have water available just in case!)
• Cats cannot metabolize many drugs that dogs and humans can. For instance, a single Tylenol will kill a cat, and most OTC pain relievers like ibuprofen can also be fatal.
• Overvaccination can harm your cat. We vaccinate only as needed, and that is not very often!
• Cats have a “Hassle Factor” to consider when medication is required; each medication must be evaluated to decide if the benefit of receiving it outweighs the stress of giving it.
• 50% of cats carrying ringworm have no symptoms, and require special testing to find it.
• Hissing at the vet is “cat good manners,” and we love it. That is our warning that biting is next on the agenda. This allows us to back off when possible, and thereby maintain good relations with our kitty patients.
Did you know that Cat Parents are also unique? You are! You’ve fallen in love with and taken on the care of a wild predator, who has honored you in return with trust and love. At Uniquely Cats Veterinary Center, we want to help you make informed healthcare decisions for your little predator that work best for your unique life.
