📛 COVID-19 📛
AS OF 2ND MAY 2022
Restrictions in Scotland due to the Covid 19 pandemic are to ease from the end of April 2022. As we are all very excited for this transition back to 'normal' life, we are also aware there are many people still wary of these changes. We understand that the easing of restrictions is eagerly anticipated but we must still take the risks of catching Covid 19 seriously.
From Monday 2nd May 2022 we will start a gradual transition to being open as 'normal'.
We will now begin to allow clients back in to the waiting area and consult rooms during their visits if they wish. We are however, more than happy to still operate remotely if clients prefer. These are welcome changes but we still have protocols in place to help protect clients and staff accordingly.
Firstly, only ONE client can enter the consult room during the appointment. Clients are welcome in without face coverings in the reception area but will be asked to wear a face mask when entering the consult rooms. If you do not have a face mask then we will have some for sale at reception. Clients will not be able to enter the consult rooms without a mask (unless proof of exemption). Vets and assistants will always wear a face mask whilst in the consult rooms. When entering the consult rooms, clients will be asked to take a seat and must remain seated throughout the consult.
Secondly, the front door will still be kept locked at all times to help with foot traffic. If the waiting area is full then we will ask clients to wait outside or in their cars until a space frees up. Please also (where possible) come to appointments with only ONE person. This allows more room in the waiting area. Again, only ONE client may enter the consult rooms with their cat.
We will keep windows open to help with air flow (we have safety procedures in place that prevent your cats from escaping out these windows)!
*Please do not visit the clinic if you are feeling unwell. If you need veterinary advice in this situation, please contact our reception team on 0131 4667110 for advice on how to proceed*
We are excited to see clients back in The Cat Clinic and for you all to see our smiling faces!
Huge thank you to all our clients for your continued support. We cannot thank and appreciate you enough!
The Cat Clinic team 😸
Restrictions in Scotland due to the Covid 19 pandemic are to ease from the end of April 2022. As we are all very excited for this transition back to 'normal' life, we are also aware there are many people still wary of these changes. We understand that the easing of restrictions is eagerly anticipated but we must still take the risks of catching Covid 19 seriously.
From Monday 2nd May 2022 we will start a gradual transition to being open as 'normal'.
We will now begin to allow clients back in to the waiting area and consult rooms during their visits if they wish. We are however, more than happy to still operate remotely if clients prefer. These are welcome changes but we still have protocols in place to help protect clients and staff accordingly.
Firstly, only ONE client can enter the consult room during the appointment. Clients are welcome in without face coverings in the reception area but will be asked to wear a face mask when entering the consult rooms. If you do not have a face mask then we will have some for sale at reception. Clients will not be able to enter the consult rooms without a mask (unless proof of exemption). Vets and assistants will always wear a face mask whilst in the consult rooms. When entering the consult rooms, clients will be asked to take a seat and must remain seated throughout the consult.
Secondly, the front door will still be kept locked at all times to help with foot traffic. If the waiting area is full then we will ask clients to wait outside or in their cars until a space frees up. Please also (where possible) come to appointments with only ONE person. This allows more room in the waiting area. Again, only ONE client may enter the consult rooms with their cat.
We will keep windows open to help with air flow (we have safety procedures in place that prevent your cats from escaping out these windows)!
*Please do not visit the clinic if you are feeling unwell. If you need veterinary advice in this situation, please contact our reception team on 0131 4667110 for advice on how to proceed*
We are excited to see clients back in The Cat Clinic and for you all to see our smiling faces!
Huge thank you to all our clients for your continued support. We cannot thank and appreciate you enough!
The Cat Clinic team 😸
COVID-19 UPDATE 6th OCTOBER 2021
We are very aware how keen many of you are to be allowed to accompany your cats into our consulting rooms once again. We are similarly keen – it would be lovely to see you all in person again – and we have been working hard to ensure this can happen as soon as COVID-19 allows.
We’ve had our waiting room divided into smaller booths since early in the pandemic and have recently made steps to improve ventilation throughout the building with the introduction of cat safe window screens and the purchase of industrial volumes of hand gel.
We had hoped to be able to allow clients back into the clinic very soon, but a recent spikes in COVID cases has meant we’ve taken the decision to delay this.
The nature of working in a clinic with such small patients means that it’s impossible for much of our team to keep a social distance throughout a working day and a 20 minute consult with clients in the consulting room would leave us in the position of having to self isolate as close contacts if they subsequently developed COVID.
We are not a big enough team to run the clinic if vets, nurses and reception staff were asked to isolate meaning closing the clinic altogether for those 2 weeks.
We’ve come this far, always having been there to look after your cats despite the difficulties, it seems prudent to take our time with these last few steps.
We’ll keep you updated but rest assured we are working towards welcoming you back as soon as is safe.
Keep well everyone!
If visiting the practice, clients will be encouraged to wait outside the building e.g in their own cars (though we do have a small segregated waiting room area if necessary). Clients will NOT be allowed in the consulting room still except in exceptional circumstances.
Vets Now Emergency service will continue to be available when The Cat Clinic is closed.
We will be posting regularly on our Facebook page to keep you up to date with how COVID-19 is affecting things within the practice!
We'd like to thank all our wonderful clients for their continued co-operation & support throughout these trying times & we hope to resume normal services as soon as we possibly can.
We are very aware how keen many of you are to be allowed to accompany your cats into our consulting rooms once again. We are similarly keen – it would be lovely to see you all in person again – and we have been working hard to ensure this can happen as soon as COVID-19 allows.
We’ve had our waiting room divided into smaller booths since early in the pandemic and have recently made steps to improve ventilation throughout the building with the introduction of cat safe window screens and the purchase of industrial volumes of hand gel.
We had hoped to be able to allow clients back into the clinic very soon, but a recent spikes in COVID cases has meant we’ve taken the decision to delay this.
The nature of working in a clinic with such small patients means that it’s impossible for much of our team to keep a social distance throughout a working day and a 20 minute consult with clients in the consulting room would leave us in the position of having to self isolate as close contacts if they subsequently developed COVID.
We are not a big enough team to run the clinic if vets, nurses and reception staff were asked to isolate meaning closing the clinic altogether for those 2 weeks.
We’ve come this far, always having been there to look after your cats despite the difficulties, it seems prudent to take our time with these last few steps.
We’ll keep you updated but rest assured we are working towards welcoming you back as soon as is safe.
Keep well everyone!
If visiting the practice, clients will be encouraged to wait outside the building e.g in their own cars (though we do have a small segregated waiting room area if necessary). Clients will NOT be allowed in the consulting room still except in exceptional circumstances.
Vets Now Emergency service will continue to be available when The Cat Clinic is closed.
We will be posting regularly on our Facebook page to keep you up to date with how COVID-19 is affecting things within the practice!
We'd like to thank all our wonderful clients for their continued co-operation & support throughout these trying times & we hope to resume normal services as soon as we possibly can.
Update: 5th January 2021
The 'Stay At Home' message of Tier 5 COVID restrictions mean we have, once again, to try to reduce the number of clients visiting the practice.
Non urgent appointments will need to be postponed e.g. routine annual vaccinations (unless it has been 15 months or more since your cat was last seen), nail trims, in clinic medication checks for flea and worm treatment etc.
First annual vaccinations, completion of vaccination courses and neutering appointments will continue as normal.
If you have a new kitten which requires to start it's initial vaccine course the advice will vary depending on whether your kitten will ultimately be indoors only or allowed outdoor access.
We are continuing to offer VIDEO (book here) and TELEPHONE consultations (book via reception) and would urge clients to utilise these in the first instance for minor issues or medication reviews where the animal is responding well.
If visiting the practice, clients will be encouraged to wait outside the building e.g in their own cars (though we do have a small segregated waiting room area if necessary). Clients will NOT be allowed in the consulting room still except in exceptional circumstances.
Update: 28th September 2020
We are now able to see both urgent and non-urgent patients as we once would have. HOWEVER... clients are still not allowed (for the most part) to be present in the consulting room.
Vets Now Emergency service will continue to be available when The Cat Clinic is closed.
The 'Stay At Home' message of Tier 5 COVID restrictions mean we have, once again, to try to reduce the number of clients visiting the practice.
Non urgent appointments will need to be postponed e.g. routine annual vaccinations (unless it has been 15 months or more since your cat was last seen), nail trims, in clinic medication checks for flea and worm treatment etc.
First annual vaccinations, completion of vaccination courses and neutering appointments will continue as normal.
If you have a new kitten which requires to start it's initial vaccine course the advice will vary depending on whether your kitten will ultimately be indoors only or allowed outdoor access.
- Indoors only, no other cats at home: delay vaccine course until restrictions eased.
- Indoors only, adult cats already at home: may be prudent to start vaccine course.
- Outdoor access eventually, no other cats at home: delay vaccine course until restrictions eased or at least until kitten is 12 weeks old.
- Outdoor access eventually, free-roaming adult cats already at home: start vaccine course from 9 weeks of age as normal.
We are continuing to offer VIDEO (book here) and TELEPHONE consultations (book via reception) and would urge clients to utilise these in the first instance for minor issues or medication reviews where the animal is responding well.
If visiting the practice, clients will be encouraged to wait outside the building e.g in their own cars (though we do have a small segregated waiting room area if necessary). Clients will NOT be allowed in the consulting room still except in exceptional circumstances.
Update: 28th September 2020
We are now able to see both urgent and non-urgent patients as we once would have. HOWEVER... clients are still not allowed (for the most part) to be present in the consulting room.
- Routine health checks for cats on long-term prescription medications can now be resumed although if owners are unable to travel to the clinic for health reasons, we may still be able to assess some of these by video consultation. We will advise you when your cat’s next due a check-up as and when you request more medication through the clinic.
- We will continue to offer video consults for non-emergency conditions in order to try to support & manage as many patients as possible out-with the Clinic. Please book video consults through our website or Facebook page.
- We are able to book routine surgeries again. As we are working through the backlog accrued over the last 6 months, bookings may need to be scheduled further in advance than usual. eg neutering, lump excisions, dental work.
- We are still not in a position to register new clients that are already registered with a local vet - the changes we have had to make due to COVID-9 mean that our current working processes are much more time consuming. If your cat is currently registered and receiving treatment at a vets in Edinburgh, you should continue to use your own vets for the time being. We hope to be able to open our doors to these clients again soon! If you have just acquired a new cat or are an existing client adding to their brood, we are able to accept these cats at this time.
- We will continue to operate our ‘closed-door’ policy to minimise people entering the Clinic in order to protect our staff & clients. We are asking any client that needs to enter the building: - to please wear a face mask at all times & make use of the hand sanitiser provided on entering the building. - we know how stressful it can be to bring your cat to the vets but where at all possible, only ONE adult should come into the clinic. - to only pick up items from the waiting room sales area that you intend to purchase.
- Please continue to phone & pay in advance for medications & food so we can hand these over at the door with minimal contact. Please remember to give at least 48 hours' notice & bear in mind that some medications may take longer than that if we need to order them. Repeat prescription medications can be ordered online via our appointment booking page.
Vets Now Emergency service will continue to be available when The Cat Clinic is closed.
15th June 2020
We are in the process of trying to gradually increase our services again as lockdown eases but please be aware that this is NOT ‘Business as Usual’ and Please do NOT immediately start inundating us with phone calls & e-mails as we will not be able to cope with that level of demand. We are still not in a position to offer our full range of services and have had to reduce the number appointments available each day since lock down started as each consult now takes longer – we are doing our best to accommodate as many patients as we can.
We'd like to thank all our wonderful clients for their continued co-operation & support throughout these trying times & we hope to resume normal services as soon as we possibly can.
We are in the process of trying to gradually increase our services again as lockdown eases but please be aware that this is NOT ‘Business as Usual’ and Please do NOT immediately start inundating us with phone calls & e-mails as we will not be able to cope with that level of demand. We are still not in a position to offer our full range of services and have had to reduce the number appointments available each day since lock down started as each consult now takes longer – we are doing our best to accommodate as many patients as we can.
- As lock down eases, we will be increasing the availability we can offer for SOME routine appointments starting with kitten vaccinations, postponed 2nd vaccinations & some overdue outdoor booster vaccinations. Please note that initially we will be using our reminder lists to reach out to arrange appointments for overdue outdoor boosters so please wait for us to contact you unless there is an urgent reason to call us. For the time being, we will NOT be offering boosters for indoor cats as they are considered ‘low-risk’.
- Routine health checks for cats on long-term prescription medications can now be resumed though if owners are unable to travel to the clinic, we may still be able to assess some of these by video consultation. We will advise you when your cat’s next due a check-up as you request more medication through the clinic.
- We will continue to offer video & phone consults for non-emergency conditions in order to try to support & manage as many patients as possible out-with the Clinic. Please book video consults through our website or Facebook page.
- We will be able to book SOME routine procedures eg neutering, lump excisions, dental work. However please bear in mind that we are not working to full capacity so will need to limit the number of procedures we can do in a day so bookings may need to be scheduled further in advance than usual.
- Please note that if multiple unexpected emergencies are being handled by the Clinic then we may need to cancel/postpone routine appointments/procedures at short notice.
- We will continue to operate our ‘closed-door’ policy to minimise people entering the Clinic in order to protect our staff & clients. We are asking any client that needs to enter the building to please wear a mask & make use of the hand sanitiser provided.
- Please continue to phone & pay in advance for medications & food so we can hand these over at the door with minimal contact. Please remember to give at least 48 hours' notice & bear in mind that some medications may take longer than that if we need to order them.
We'd like to thank all our wonderful clients for their continued co-operation & support throughout these trying times & we hope to resume normal services as soon as we possibly can.
Changes effective from Tuesday 14th April 2020:
With the COVID movement restrictions likely to be in place for a period of time still, the British Veterinary Association has offered new guidance for vets aimed at minimising the impact of lock down on our animal's health and welfare. These changes must still be balanced with the very real need to minimise movement/contact between people. Thus:
1st April 2020 COVID UPDATE
⚡⚡
IN LINE WITH BOTH LATEST GOVERNMENT AND RCVS (Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons) ADVICE, WE ARE CURRENTLY ONLY ABLE TO SEE URGENT AND ESSENTIAL CASES AT THE CLINIC.
⚡⚡
The clinic WILL continue to be open daily and staff will be more than happy to help you decide if your cat's case warrants a visit to the clinic.
Vets Now Emergency service will continue to be available when The Cat Clinic is closed.
In order to be there for your cat's less pressing needs, we are now scheduling TELEPHONE CONSULTATION appointments throughout the day. Consulting in this manner is obviously much less hands on but our vets are usually able to gather a fairly complete picture of your cat's complaint and can then offer advice or prescribe medication to be posted directly to your door as appropriate.
Vaccinations during COVID: The current guidelines advise that adult cats, already having had at least 1 annual booster vaccination are at little risk if their vaccines are delayed so these should be postponed for now.
However, it is still considered important to ensure completion of the vaccine course for those animals whose immunity is not fully boosted. Therefore, we are continuing to vaccinate:
- kittens/cats in the middle of their initial vaccine course
- 1st annual vaccination (this vaccine helps cement the immunity offered by the kitten course)
- Rabies vaccines if required for travel.
The clinic will be running with reduced staff numbers over the coming weeks, ensuring that only essential staff are travelling to and from work, so please bear with us.
We will continue to operate our closed door policy during this time.
Closed Door Policy
In response to the worsening coronavirus ( COVID-19) pandemic we are instituting a number of measures aimed at protecting both clients and our team, and helping us (hopefully) provide uninterrupted medical care for your cats.
We would ask that, if you/any immediate family members are showing coronavirus-like symptoms, you do not attend the practice in person.
😺 If you feel your cat may need attention, please call the practice to discuss the best options for their care. If urgent care is required, please arrange for someone else to bring them but ensure to telephone us in advance.
😺In order to minimise the number of people congregating in our waiting room it would be helpful if, wherever possible, only 1 person attended the appointment with your cat.
😺We have very low stocks of hand sanitiser within the clinic but you are welcome to use your own - we wont be offended - and both consulting rooms have hand wash / sinks that you can ask to use.
😺Consider delaying non urgent appointments for a while. Vaccinations for example are usually fine to be given several months late (though may need to be done ahead of a cattery visit).
😺In many cases we will be able to provide several months supply of long-term prescription medication. Check your stocks and plan ahead to reduce the number of visits to the practice you need to make. As always, PLEASE GIVE US AT LEAST 48 HOURS NOTICE OF YOUR PRESCRIPTION REQUEST, especially if ordering a bigger supply!
😺If you arrive at the practice by car and wish to minimise your time in our waiting room, you are welcome to let us know of your arrival and we can call you in to the practice when our vets are ready for you. Obviously our waiting room is still open and available to those that wish to use it.
😺Where possible, payment by bank card would be appreciated to reduce the risk of transfer of infection whilst handling cash.
Obviously this situation is changing rapidly at this time. We will keep you updated of any changes in the clinic as they occur.
With the COVID movement restrictions likely to be in place for a period of time still, the British Veterinary Association has offered new guidance for vets aimed at minimising the impact of lock down on our animal's health and welfare. These changes must still be balanced with the very real need to minimise movement/contact between people. Thus:
- Vaccinations In some circumstances it may be prudent to start offering initial vaccination courses again - however most of our kittens remain very low risk whilst indoors only and in this situation we would still advise delaying vaccines wherever possible.
- Neutering If you have both unneutered male and female cats living within the same household OR if you have unneutered cats you are unable to keep indoors, we are once again permitted to consider neutering these cats.
1st April 2020 COVID UPDATE
⚡⚡
IN LINE WITH BOTH LATEST GOVERNMENT AND RCVS (Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons) ADVICE, WE ARE CURRENTLY ONLY ABLE TO SEE URGENT AND ESSENTIAL CASES AT THE CLINIC.
⚡⚡
The clinic WILL continue to be open daily and staff will be more than happy to help you decide if your cat's case warrants a visit to the clinic.
Vets Now Emergency service will continue to be available when The Cat Clinic is closed.
In order to be there for your cat's less pressing needs, we are now scheduling TELEPHONE CONSULTATION appointments throughout the day. Consulting in this manner is obviously much less hands on but our vets are usually able to gather a fairly complete picture of your cat's complaint and can then offer advice or prescribe medication to be posted directly to your door as appropriate.
Vaccinations during COVID: The current guidelines advise that adult cats, already having had at least 1 annual booster vaccination are at little risk if their vaccines are delayed so these should be postponed for now.
However, it is still considered important to ensure completion of the vaccine course for those animals whose immunity is not fully boosted. Therefore, we are continuing to vaccinate:
- kittens/cats in the middle of their initial vaccine course
- 1st annual vaccination (this vaccine helps cement the immunity offered by the kitten course)
- Rabies vaccines if required for travel.
The clinic will be running with reduced staff numbers over the coming weeks, ensuring that only essential staff are travelling to and from work, so please bear with us.
We will continue to operate our closed door policy during this time.
Closed Door Policy
In response to the worsening coronavirus ( COVID-19) pandemic we are instituting a number of measures aimed at protecting both clients and our team, and helping us (hopefully) provide uninterrupted medical care for your cats.
We would ask that, if you/any immediate family members are showing coronavirus-like symptoms, you do not attend the practice in person.
😺 If you feel your cat may need attention, please call the practice to discuss the best options for their care. If urgent care is required, please arrange for someone else to bring them but ensure to telephone us in advance.
😺In order to minimise the number of people congregating in our waiting room it would be helpful if, wherever possible, only 1 person attended the appointment with your cat.
😺We have very low stocks of hand sanitiser within the clinic but you are welcome to use your own - we wont be offended - and both consulting rooms have hand wash / sinks that you can ask to use.
😺Consider delaying non urgent appointments for a while. Vaccinations for example are usually fine to be given several months late (though may need to be done ahead of a cattery visit).
😺In many cases we will be able to provide several months supply of long-term prescription medication. Check your stocks and plan ahead to reduce the number of visits to the practice you need to make. As always, PLEASE GIVE US AT LEAST 48 HOURS NOTICE OF YOUR PRESCRIPTION REQUEST, especially if ordering a bigger supply!
😺If you arrive at the practice by car and wish to minimise your time in our waiting room, you are welcome to let us know of your arrival and we can call you in to the practice when our vets are ready for you. Obviously our waiting room is still open and available to those that wish to use it.
😺Where possible, payment by bank card would be appreciated to reduce the risk of transfer of infection whilst handling cash.
Obviously this situation is changing rapidly at this time. We will keep you updated of any changes in the clinic as they occur.
Thank you for your understanding!