Lake Emma Animal Hospital

by Jill Duff-Hoppes

Lake Emma Animal Hospital is as good as gold, and the practice has a newly earned credential to prove it.

This summer, the full-service animal hospital in Lake Mary achieved Gold status on its Cat Friendly Practice certification, awarded by the Feline Veterinary Medical Association. That’s an accomplishment worth purring about. 

“We now meet the highest standard for being a Cat Friendly Practice,” says                 Dr. Tami Groberg, who joined Lake Emma Animal Hospital in 2011 after practicing feline-only medicine for 10 years. “I came here wanting to make things better for the cat patients.” ​​​​​​​

Thank You for Being a Friend

With Dr. Groberg serving as its Cat Advocate, the practice made improvements in areas such as the handling of feline patients and their overall environment. Because of those changes, Lake Emma Animal Hospital became a Silver status Cat Friendly Practice in 2014. The recent bump from Silver to Gold status means the animal hospital now adheres to even more stringent standards, such as requiring staff members to complete a higher number of hours of continuing education in feline care.

Research by the Feline Veterinary Medical Association shows that cat owners often avoid taking their kitties to see a vet because of the fear, anxiety, and stress that cats frequently experience during visits. With the establishment of Cat Friendly Practices, the association helps veterinary offices accommodate the special needs of feline patients.

“If you think about it, dogs go on car rides. They go on walks. They’re more socialized and used to going places,” says Dr. Groberg. “For cats, this [a veterinary office] is literally the only place they travel to, and so it’s terrifying for a lot of them.”

Creature Comforts

As a Cat Friendly Practice, Lake Emma Animal Hospital has several designated cat-only areas, including exam rooms equipped with pheromone diffusers to help calm feline patients and lights that can be dimmed, because kitties typically prefer darker, quieter areas.

If all cat exam rooms happen to be full, owners and their kitties can hang out in a separate, enclosed waiting room just for felines until an exam room becomes available. The cat-only waiting room, also used by the practice’s feline boarders for playtime, is equipped with toys, a window, and a pheromone diffuser.

In addition, Lake Emma Animal Hospital has a separate feline-only ward for its cat boarders with kitty condos and a window view to the outside world. Keeping cats separate from canine patients in the boarding area, exam rooms, and waiting area helps reduce noise and unfamiliar scents that could frighten the felines.

A Noticeable Difference

During exams, the practice’s team members take care to restrain cats as minimally as possible, using towels to gently wrap kitties. Scruffing a cat’s neck or pinning them down is not allowed.

“I’ve had multiple owners comment on how much more comfortable and calm their cats are at our practice,” says Dr. Groberg. “They notice the difference.”

In addition to being certified as a Cat Friendly Practice, Lake Emma Animal Hospital is accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association and goes above and beyond to care for every patient, from cats and dogs to exotic pets, avian companions, and pocket pets/small mammals.

“This new Gold status accomplishment is a reflection of our commitment to giving cats the care they deserve,” says Jen Grefenhaus, the practice manager. “I’m grateful to Dr. Groberg for her guidance and to our team for embracing new skills that will benefit our patients for years to come.”

To learn more, visit LakeEmmaAnimalHospital.com.