Frequently Asked Questions

Cat Friendly veterinarians and veterinary professionals have completed the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP)’s Cat Friendly Certificate Program, which provides specialized training in feline behavior, reducing the stress of the veterinary visit and  best practices in the treatment of feline conditions and diseases.  All staff members at Atrium Cat Hospital have completed the Cat Friendly program.

• Regular checkups, sick visits, and recheck appointments can be scheduled online. 
• To schedule surgery, dental care, an end of life visit, or any other type of appointment, click here.
• You can always call us at 919-351-9292 or email us at scheduling@atriumcathospital.com

We understand that plans change. To cancel or change your appointment, go to your appointment confirmation email and click the “Confirm or make changes” button.  You can also call the office at 919-351-9292  or email scheduling@atriumhospital.com and we’ll be happy to help.

In the case of a cancellation, please contact us as soon as possible—and no later than 24 hours prior to your scheduled appointment. 

• During business hours: Please call us before bringing your cat into the office. We want to ensure that we are ready to treat your cat upon your arrival. For extremely critical cases, we may refer you directly to a nearby emergency hospital.

• When we are closed: Please contact Quartet Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Hospital at 919-605-6300, or your nearest 24 hour emergency center.

A telehealth appointment is a lot like an in-person appointment, but you’ll see our staff on a screen or speak to them on the phone from the comfort of your own home. Video visits are performed via Zoom. During a telehealth appointment, our veterinarian can give medical advice, diagnose issues, and prescribe treatment or medications. To do so, we must have a current Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR) with your cat. This is the law, and it is good medicine. This means we have physically seen your cat for an exam within the past year.

Learn More >

To request a telehealth appointment, click here, call our office at 919-351-9292, or email scheduling@atriumcathospital.com.

A technician appointment is a visit with a registered veterinary technician (RVT). An RVT is similar to a registered nurse (RN) for animals. Technician appointments are quick—typically 20 minutes or less— convenient, and great for things like blood tests, nail trims, fluid or medication administration, bandage changes, vaccine boosters, blood pressure checks, diabetic monitor placement and nutritional or behavioral consultation.

We offer technician appointments for patients who have recently been seen by our veterinarian. To request a technician appointment, click here, call our office at 919-351-9292, or email scheduling@atriumcathospital.com.

A “Pawsitive Visit” is basically a practice appointment, with the goal of getting your cat more comfortable with their carrier, the car ride and with our practice and staff. During the visit, we spend time building positive associations with our staff and the hospital through gentle handling, treats, food puzzles, toys and petting/grooming. 

Appointments are not required for Pawsitive Visits, though we ask that you call ahead if you’d like to stop by.   

Note: We cannot provide veterinary care or services during Pawsitive Visits. Please contact us to schedule a regular appointment.

Collect your cat’s complete medical records—including doctor’s notes—for at least the past two years. 

• If you have a copy of your cat’s medical records, please email them to records@atriumcathospital.com at least 24 hours prior to your appointment, so we can review them before your visit. 
• If you do not have a copy of your cat’s medical records, we are happy to request them for you.  We will need the name of your previous veterinarian and their phone number.

Take steps to minimize your cat’s anxiety.  Many cats are fearful or distressed when going to the veterinarian. This article from the AAFP offers tips to make the trip a more positive experience for you and your cat. For information on choosing a carrier, training your cat to enjoy being in their carrier and helping your cat ride in the car, we recommend the video Cats & Carriers: Friends not Foes.

Bring a favorite toy, treats and a blanket/towel that smells of home to help your cat feel more comfortable during the visit.

Bring your cat in hungry! We use food and treats liberally to make your cat’s appointment more enjoyable. For cats with morning appointments, withhold breakfast. For appointments later in the day, give your cat half of their normal breakfast.  

Separate your cat from the litter box for 1-2 hours prior to the appointment—unless your cat has a urinary problem. This makes it easier for us to collect a urine sample from your cat should the need arise.

Bring all medications, supplements and a picture of your cat’s food label(s). Check to see if you need any medication refills so we can handle those during your visit.

• Prior to entering the hospital, all cats must be secured in an appropriately sized carrier or on a leash. We are happy to loan you a carrier, if needed.




• If you need help carrying your cat’s carrier into the hospital, simply text or call us at 919-351-9292 when you arrive and a team member will meet you at your vehicle.
  




• If your cat is coughing or sneezing, has diarrhea, is vomiting, or is lethargic, please notify us prior to your arrival. A member of our team will escort you and your cat directly to an examination room to prevent the possible spread of contagious diseases to other cats. Also inform us if any vomit, urine, stool or other bodily fluids are outside the hospital so that area can be cleaned and disinfected promptly.




• We provide convenient self check-in service. You can check in by clicking the link in your appointment confirmation email OR by visiting the self-service check-in station in our reception area.




• After you check in, a team member will be out to greet you and escort you to the exam room.

• Yes!  We prefer that you be with your cat for as much of the visit as possible. Your presence may make your cat feel safer and more at ease.  

• For surgery, dental procedures and inpatient care, your cat will stay with us.  We will provide regular updates throughout the day via phone or text.

We will need your cat’s complete medical record—including doctor’s notes—for at least the past two years. 

• If you have a copy of your cat’s medical records, please email them to records@atriumcathospital.com at least 24 hours prior to your appointment, so we can review them before your visit. 

• If you do not have a copy of your cat’s medical records, we are happy to request them for you. We will need the name of your previous veterinarian and their phone number.

Yes. Please complete the Medical Record Release Authorization.  Please allow up to 48 hours for your request to be processed.

We do not offer boarding, but are pleased to recommend Meow Inn in Morrisville and Cozy Cats Hotel in Cary. If your cat requires overnight medical care, we’ll facilitate a transfer to a nearby emergency hospital.

We do not groom cats, but are pleased to recommend Trilling Cat Inn and Spa in Durham.

Yes!

• Dental care – We perform oral examinations, x-rays, and teeth cleaning and polishing under general anesthesia. We also perform oral surgery for cats with severe dental disease. You can find more information here.

• Surgery – We perform spays and neuters, mass removals, abdominal surgeries (including bladder, stomach, and intestinal), some eye surgeries, and skin and organ biopsy, among other procedures learn more here. Please note that we do not perform orthopedic procedures, i.e., any surgeries involving bones, muscles, or joints. However, we can arrange to have a specialist in veterinary surgery come to our office to perform orthopedic and advanced procedures.  

No. Declawing is an elective procedure that is not medically necessary for cats in most instances. Unlike human nails, cats’ claws are attached to the last bone in their toes. Declawing entails the amputation of that bone. It is comparable to cutting off the last joint of each human finger.  In its position statement, The International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM) strongly opposes declawing as an elective procedure and we do, too. 

Scratching is a normal behavior for all cats, and serves important functions.  For more information about scratching as a normal behavior and alternatives to declawing, please visit the following:

• Cat Scratching Behaviour: A Nuisance or Necessity (International Cat Care) 
• Scratching (AAFP Cat Friendly Homes)
• Alternatives to Declawing (AAFP brochure)
• Video: Managing Destructive Scratching (Cornell Feline Health Center)

• We are open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

   

• If you have an emergency and we are closed, please contact Quartet Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Hospital at 919-605-6300, or your nearest 24 hour emergency center.

Atrium Cat Hospital is located at 301 Keisler Drive, Suite E, Cary, NC 27518. It’s near the intersection of Kildaire Farm Road and Tryon Road in Cary, across the street from Wake Med Cary Hospital.

Please note: to reach our office, you must turn into the Atrium Center parking lot at 301 Keisler Drive and drive around to the back. We are in Suite E.

• We believe in pricing transparency.  A list of prices for our most commonly performed services can be found here. 

• Prices vary depending on the type of care your cat needs.  After the doctor has examined your cat, you will receive a personalized treatment plan and estimate based on your cat’s needs. You can then decide whether you’d like to move forward with care. No charge will be ever made without your approval.

Yes!  We offer payment plans and pet health savings accounts through VetBilling.com.  Read more here.

We understand that veterinary expenditures are often unplanned, so we encourage you to investigate pet health insurance options. For up to date information on the major pet insurance providers in the United States, visit Your Pet Insurance Guide. 

We want to know what we are doing right and what we can do better. You can provide feedback or alert us to an issue by calling us at 919-351-9292 or emailing us at hello@atriumcathospital.com.