Chase Valley Veterinary Clinic

11/06/2026

Do you know who this kitten belongs to?
Was found on the corner of Connor Road and Chase Valley Road

08/06/2026

🐱 Feline Stress Month: Is Your Cat Stressed by Another Cat?

Many people assume cats are naturally social animals, but the truth is that most cats are solitary hunters by nature. While they may tolerate living with other cats, sharing their home with another feline can be a major source of stress.

A stressed cat may not always show obvious signs. Instead, they may:
🐾 Urinate outside the litter box
🐾 Overgroom or pull out fur
🐾 Hide more often
🐾 Become aggressive or irritable
🐾 Eat less or overeat
🐾 Develop bladder problems such as FIC (Feline Idiopathic Cystitis)

🏠 Tips for Multi-Cat Households

✔ Provide enough resources

One litter tray per cat, plus one extra
Multiple feeding stations
Multiple water bowls or fountains
Several scratching posts

✔ Create vertical space
Cats feel safer when they can escape upwards. Cat trees, shelves and window perches can reduce conflict.

✔ Give each cat a safe zone
Every cat should have a quiet place where they can sleep and retreat without being disturbed.

✔ Avoid forcing friendships
Some cats may never become best friends—and that's okay. The goal is peaceful coexistence, not cuddling.

✔ Watch for subtle bullying
A cat doesn't have to fight to be a bully. Blocking access to food, litter trays, doorways or favourite resting spots can create significant stress.

✂️ Why Neutering Helps

Neutering is one of the best ways to reduce stress-related behaviour.

Benefits include:
✅ Less territorial marking and spraying
✅ Reduced roaming behaviour
✅ Less fighting with neighbouring cats
✅ Lower risk of injuries and abscesses
✅ Fewer unwanted litters

Male cats especially become much less motivated to patrol and defend large territories after neutering.

🌍 How Far Does a Cat Actually Roam?

Most owners are surprised by the answer!

Studies have shown:
🐱 Neutered cats often stay within 50–300 metres of home.

🐱 Unneutered males may roam 1–3 kilometres from home every day.

🐱 Some entire tomcats have been recorded travelling more than 5 kilometres in search of mates or territory.

This means your cat may be encountering many unfamiliar cats in the neighbourhood, leading to territorial stress—even if you never see the other cats.

💙 Remember

If your cat is showing signs of stress, the problem may not be inside your home at all. Sometimes it's the neighbourhood cat peering through the window, visiting your garden, or leaving scent marks around your property.

Reducing feline stress can improve:
🐾 Bladder health
🐾 Behaviour
🐾 Appetite
🐾 Relationships with other pets
🐾 Overall quality of life

A calm cat is a healthier cat. 🐱💙

06/06/2026

🐾 No More Crazy Saturdays! 🐾

Dr Katrin has just one more week left at the clinic before she heads off on her new adventure.

From this morning, we are excited to welcome Phumie, our Animal Health Technician (AHT), to our Saturday team. Phumie will be assisting with:
• Vaccinations
• Cytopoint injections
• Librela injections
• Pentosan injections
• General preventative healthcare

This means that our veterinarian can focus on sick pets and medical consultations, while wellness visits receive the time and attention they deserve.

These appointments will be charged at our Wellness Clinic rates (excluding the normal Saturday surcharge), making routine preventative care more affordable and less rushed.

For the immediate future, Dr Estee will be the only veterinarian on duty on Saturdays while we continue the search for our next full-time vet.

Thank you for your patience and support during this transition period. We look forward to continuing to provide the best possible care for your pets! 🐶🐱💙

03/06/2026

Why Do We See More Blocked Cats in Winter?

Winter is the season when many cats become less active, drink less water, and spend more time indoors. Unfortunately, these changes can increase the risk of urinary tract problems, especially in male cats.

A urinary blockage occurs when a cat's urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder) becomes obstructed. This is a life-threatening emergency that requires immediate veterinary attention.

Why Does Winter Increase the Risk?
Cats Drink Less Water

Cats naturally have a low thirst drive. During colder weather, many cats drink even less water than usual. This can lead to concentrated urine, which may contribute to crystal formation and bladder irritation.

Cats Are Less Active

Cold weather often means more sleeping and less movement. Cats may urinate less frequently, allowing crystals, mucus, and inflammatory debris to accumulate in the bladder.

Cats May Avoid Going Outside

Many outdoor cats dislike cold, wet, or windy weather. Some will delay urinating rather than venture outside. Holding urine for prolonged periods can contribute to bladder irritation and urinary tract problems.

If your cat normally toilets outdoors, consider providing an indoor litter tray during winter. Having a convenient indoor option may encourage more frequent urination and reduce stress.

Winter Can Be Stressful

Cats thrive on routine and predictability. Changes in the household, visitors, less outdoor access, and spending more time in close quarters with other pets can all increase stress levels.

Stress is one of the major triggers for Feline Idiopathic Cystitis (FIC), a painful inflammatory condition of the bladder that occurs without infection.

Stress Causes Bladder Inflammation

When cats experience stress, the bladder lining can become inflamed. This inflammation produces mucus and debris that may combine with crystals to form plugs within the urinary tract.

Male cats are particularly vulnerable because their urethra is much narrower than that of female cats. Even a small amount of inflammatory material can cause a complete blockage.

Signs of a Urinary Blockage

Seek veterinary attention immediately if your cat shows any of the following signs:

- Frequent trips to the litter tray
- Straining to urinate
- Crying or vocalising while urinating
- Passing only small amounts of urine
- Blood in the urine
- Excessive licking of the ge***al area
- Vomiting
- Lethargy or collapse

A blocked cat cannot pass urine and may become critically ill within a short period of time.

How Can You Reduce the Risk?

✔ Encourage water intake with multiple water bowls or a drinking fountain

✔ Feed wet food where appropriate

✔ Provide an indoor litter tray, even for outdoor cats

✔ Keep litter trays clean and easily accessible

✔ Ensure your cat has warm, comfortable resting places

✔ Maintain a consistent routine

✔ Provide environmental enrichment such as toys, scratching posts, climbing areas, and window perches

✔ Reduce stress between cats in multi-cat households

✔ Discuss calming products or stress management options with your veterinarian if needed

The Take-Home Message

Winter is the perfect storm for urinary problems in cats. Drinking less, moving less, avoiding the outdoors, and experiencing increased stress can all contribute to bladder inflammation and urinary blockages.

Remember: a blocked cat is a veterinary emergency. If your cat is straining to urinate or repeatedly visiting the litter tray without producing urine, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Stressed Cats Get Sick – and sometimes that stress starts with something as simple as cold weather and a litter tray that isn't available when they need it.

29/05/2026

09/05/2026

Just a reminder of the power outage today. We will have business as usual, but won't be able to take any x-rays. Please be patient with us!

01/05/2026

🇿🇦🐾 Happy Workers’ Day

Today we celebrate the people who keep everything going — and at Chase Valley Vet, that means our incredible team.

From the early mornings to the late afternoons, the busy consults to the quiet moments behind the scenes…

it’s the hands that care, the hearts that worry, and the people who show up every single day for your pets that make all the difference.

A special thank you to:
Nkosi, Sihle, Lyndi, Debbie, Jaden, Katrin, Jameson & Sandile 💙

Veterinary work isn’t always easy — but it is always meaningful.
And we’re so grateful for a team that goes the extra mile (and sometimes skips a lunch break or two 💙).

To our CVV family — thank you for everything you do.
And to all workers out there, in every field — today we celebrate you 👏

15/01/2026

💛 A note from our team at Chase Valley Veterinary Clinic 💛

You may have noticed that we’ve recently adjusted our consulting hours.

This wasn’t an easy decision to make.

Veterinary work is incredibly rewarding, but it is also emotionally and physically demanding. Like many in our profession, we have learned that if we don’t protect time for rest, family, and personal wellbeing, we simply can’t give our patients the level of care they deserve.

We truly believe that a rested, supported vet team is a better vet team — more focused, more compassionate, and better able to make good decisions for your pets. Taking time to recharge allows us to come back with the energy, patience, and care that every animal deserves.

These changes are about sustainability:
🐾 for our team
🐾 for our families
🐾 and ultimately, for the quality of care we provide to your pets

On a more emotional note, we also want to share that Dr Katrin will be leaving us in mid-February as she moves to Ireland. While we are incredibly sad to see her go, this is also a very exciting adventure for Dr Katrin and her new husband and fellow veterinarian, Dr Daniel Archibald.

She will be missed by our team, our clients, and the many pets she has cared for so lovingly. We are so grateful for everything she has brought to our clinic and wish them both every success and happiness in this next chapter.

As we move forward, you will be seeing some old familiar faces — including Dr Kirsten Cole — as well as some new ones, such as Dr Lelanie Terblanche.

We are excited to continue offering the same compassionate care you know and trust. We are also still on the lookout for a like-minded veterinarian to join our team, someone who shares our values of kindness, quality care, and balance in this profession.

Please note that we will be closed over the Easter weekend from Friday 3 April to Monday 6 April 2026. We will make sure that all our chronic patients have their repeat medications, food, and any ongoing treatments arranged in advance, so no one is left without what they need.

We are deeply grateful for your understanding and continued support. Thank you for being part of a community that values not just excellent veterinary care, but the people behind it too.

💛 One last thing: we will be sharing our holiday hours closer to the time, including our planned Christmas closure (25 December – 3 January 2027). Please rest assured that we will make sure all repeat medication and treatment needs are sorted well in advance.

With appreciation,
Estee & the CVVC team 💛