Cat Sense Limited Reopening Procedures and Policies

We are pleased to announce that on June 4th Cat Sense will start allowing clients into the hospital on a limited basis. We will allow one person only to accompany their cat(s) into the hospital for the appointment, and will continue to offer curbside appointments for clients who are more comfortable with that option.

THANK YOU for being such wonderful clients during the pandemic this year!
Your patience, cooperation, and understanding have been key in aiding our efforts to provide care for your cats. We are confident that you will continue to support us as we navigate the transition back into our normal operating routines. We do not have a set timetable for this process, but we will inform you about changes as we move forward.

Before moving into the nuts and bolts of how our transition process will work, we will briefly describe our mask policy:

Regardless of vaccination status, all clients will be required to wear a mask that fully covers the mouth and nose at ALL times when in the building, even when they are alone in the exam room with their cat/s. This policy is non-negotiable. Clients who do not comply will be asked to leave the building immediately , and the appointment will continue as a curbside appointment.

Please keep in mind that any time we have to spend enforcing our mask policy will distract from our primary duties of caring for our patients. If you are unwilling, or feel that you are unable to wear a mask for the entire duration of the appointment, please choose the curbside option.

Our new protocol will proceed much like our current curbside service system:

—When you arrive for your appointment, please call our main number (410) 420-0535 to let a staff member know that your are here, and then remain in your car with your cat until we are ready to see you.

—When we are ready for your appointment , a staff member will call and ask you to come to the front door with your cat (in a carrier). Please make sure that your mask is on and fitting properly when you get to the front door.

—You and your cat will be taken directly to the exam room, where you will remain for the duration of the appointment. Our staff will be masked as well, and we will ask that you stay at least a few feet away as we examine your cat.

—If we will be drawing blood from your cat for lab work, we will ask your to sit in the front waiting room while we do so. One thing we’ve learned this year is that it is easier on the cats if we draw blood in the exam room rather than taking them into the back treatment area. Because our exam rooms are small, it is best to have staff only in the room while we do this. As soon as we have finished you will be brought back into the exam room.

—At the end of the appointment, we will have you wait in the exam room during the checkout process, and then we will escort you back to front door to let you out. If you need assistance, a staff member will be happy to help you get your cat, and any food or medications you may have, out to your car.

—Our hospital cat, Bernadette, has become accustomed to having only the staff in the hospital. Reopening is going to be exciting for her, but may also be a little stressful. Even if she approaches you, we ask that you refrain from petting her. Even at her best, she is choosy about where and how she likes to be touched, so admiring her without physically interacting is the best bet.

Visits that will remain curbside only:

Medication and food pickup, boarder pickup and drop off will still all be done curbside. Clients who have brought children, or other people who should not be left in the car unsupervised during the appointment, should choose the curbside option for that visit.

Boarding tours:

We will be scheduling boarding tours for those who would like to see our boarding facilities. To schedule, please call the main office number (410) 420-0535, and we will help you reserve a day and time for the tour. When you arrive for your tour, call the main number to inform the receptionist. When we are ready for your tour, we will call and ask you to meet one of our boarding caretakers at the front door. The tour will be for 1 person only, and will last no longer than 15 minutes. You will be required to comply with the masking protocols outlined above. Please do not take any pictures or touch any of the boarding cats. You are welcome to pet our cat Shaky, who lives in the boarding area of the hospital.

We are looking forward to seeing people inside the building again! With your help, we can make a successful transition back to a more normal way of practicing as we begin our gradual reopening.