A Wakefield veterinary practice is comforting frightened felines with soothing classical music.

Inpatients at Palmer & Duncan Vets in Ossett are purring to the sound of carefully chosen classical pieces while awaiting treatment or surgery in the practice’s new cattery.

The practice is hitting all the right notes as introducing classical music has helped them to obtain the International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM) Gold Standard status as a cat-friendly practice.

Classic FM is played in the new cattery, which has dim-lighting and pheromone plug-in diffusers and is located well away from the sound of barking dogs.

Vet nurse Jo Wood and Clinical Director Julia Platts in the cattery.

placeholder image — Vet nurse Jo Wood and Clinical Director Julia Platts in the cattery.

The team has also created a cat-only consulting room to minimise the scent of dogs, while feline patients are offered a choice of litter in their trays and food and water are served in a selection of different types of bowl.

Veterinary nurse Jo Wood, who holds an ISFM Certificate in Feline Nursing, said every detail had been designed with cats’ wellbeing in mind.

“Cats all have their own unique personalities, and they each respond differently to visiting the vets,” she said.

"Some are naturally confident, while others can find unfamiliar sights, sounds and smells quite overwhelming. We want every cat to feel as relaxed and comfortable as possible from the moment they arrive.

"By creating a calmer environment, we’re not only improving their experience, we are also helping to reassure their owners that their pet is in the best possible hands.

“A less stressed cat is much easier to examine. When they’re calmer, we’re able to carry out a more thorough assessment, which helps us make more accurate diagnoses and decide on the most appropriate treatment."