At South Austin Cat Hospital, we understand that behavioral issues can be just as detrimental to your cat’s wellbeing as health issues. That is why we offer behavior counseling services. Some of the issues we can help you address include:

• Socialization & positive reinforcement training
• Introducing a new cat into the home
• Urinating or defecating outside the litter box
• Scratching & destructive behavior
• Aggression toward humans or other animals in the home
• Excessive vocalization
• Other behavioral issues

Most of the behaviors that we humans consider a problem are really just normal cat behaviors being expressed in undesirable ways. Using a combination of positive reinforcement training, environmental modification, nutraceuticals, and (in rare circumstances) medications, we can help you solve your cat’s behavior. If you are in need of behavioral advice for your cat, please call to schedule a cat behavior consultation & examination.

Need a cat diet plan? Unlike dogs and humans, cats are true carnivores. This means cats need a high-protein low-carbohydrate diet. For this reason, we generally recommend canned food over dry. The extrusion process that is used to make kibble requires a large amount of carbohydrates. So, in order to meet their minimum protein requirement, cats eating dry food tend to eat more calories than they actually need. This over-eating can lead to weight gain, obesity, and diabetes.

Also, there is some evidence that cats who eat primarily dry food spend their lives chronically dehydrated. Because cats do not share the same thirst drive we do, they tend not drink enough water on their own. Canned food has the added benefit of increased moisture content to help keep your cat well hydrated.

South Austin Cat Hospital offers an array of diagnostic testing.

At South Austin Cat Hospital, we are equipped to handle a wide array of surgical procedures, including elective procedures,* emergency surgery, soft tissue surgery, orthopedic procedures, and declaw repairs. For advanced or complicated procedures, we partner with a mobile board certified veterinary surgeon to ensure your cat gets the best possible care.

We understand that your cat is a furry member of the family, and it can be scary any time a loved one needs surgery. With this in mind, we take every precaution necessary to minimize the risks of anesthesia. Pre-anesthetic blood work allows us to assess your cat’s internal organ functioning and choose the anesthetic medications that will be safest. Every surgical patient will have an IV catheter placed in order to provide fluid support throughout the procedure. Also, in the rare case of an emergency, the IV catheter provides a route for us to immediately give potentially life-saving medications. Finally, your cat’s vital signs will be monitored by a trained veterinary technician using the most accurate feline anesthetic monitor available. This monitoring includes heart rate, respiratory rate, body temperature, pulse oximetry, ECG, blood pressure, and capnography.

In order to keep your cat comfortable throughout surgery, external body temperature support with a warm air or water blanket will be used. Pain medications will be administered both before and after surgery. Local anesthetics are also employed during most procedures to minimize pain. Proper pain control has been shown to aid in healing and speed your cat’s recovery! Because cats hide their pain so well, these medications are vital to avoid any unnecessary suffering.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding a surgical procedure, we will be happy to further discuss the procedure with you!

*South Austin Cat Hospital does NOT recommend or perform elective onychectomy (“declaw”) surgeries. Please see our Alternatives to Declawing page for more information.

Dental disease may result in tartar buildup, gingivitis, bad breath, tooth root infections, loose or missing teeth, and pain in your cat’s mouth. Cats are also prone to resorptive lesions; similar to cavities, these lesions are actual holes in the tooth that lead to pain, discomfort, and tooth loss. To combat dental disease, a combination of at-home dental care and veterinary dental care is recommended.

At South Austin Cat Hospital we are equipped to perform COHAT (Complete Oral Health Assessment and Treatment). During the dental procedure, your cat’s teeth will be scaled and polished, full-mouth intraoral digital radiographs will be taken, a complete oral exam will be performed, including measuring of any periodontal pockets, and all signs of dental disease will be charted. Additional dental work, such as tooth extraction, crown amputation, or antibiotic therapy may be recommended based on the severity of dental disease and the findings during the dental procedure.

To ensure the safety and comfort of your cat, dental procedures do require general anesthesia; please visit our Surgery section above to learn more about the steps we take to minimize the risks of anesthetic procedures.

When your feline family member is sick, you need a veterinarian who understands the unique needs of cats. South Austin Cat Hospital is equipped to treat nearly any feline illness. Critically ill cats may require IV fluid therapy, oxygen support, nutritional support, blood transfusions, or other advanced procedures. In addition to ICU capabilities, we have a dedicated isolation ward for infectious disease management. Some conditions may require 24-hour care, and we will partner with local emergency and specialty hospitals when necessary.

Because we are a feline-exclusive hospital, we are able to provide advanced medical care in a low-stress environment for your cat. Our hospitalization area remains quiet with absolutely no barking dogs! We also offer flexible patient visitation, so you may visit your kitty nearly any time during normal business hours.

Please contact our office immediately if you feel your cat is unwell!

If your cat has a medical emergency, please contact our office immediately at 512-910-2287.

To ensure adequate time to thoroughly examine your cat and answer any questions, we see patients primarily by appointment. However, we understand that emergency situations inevitably do occur. If your cat is in need of immediate veterinary medical attention, we will strive to accommodate you; however we cannot guarantee availability.

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