Cat-Friendly Veterinary Care in Rialto, CA

Because Cats Deserve Veterinary Care That Actually Understands Cats

Let’s be honest: bringing a cat to the vet can feel like preparing for a tiny, furry hostage negotiation.

Trying to get your cat in the carrier. The car ride. The suspicious side-eye from your cat. We get it.

At Rialto Animal Hospital and Rialto Cat Hospital, we believe cats deserve a calmer, gentler, more thoughtful veterinary experience — and cat parents deserve to feel confident, not stressed, when it’s time for care.

That is why we are proud to be recognized as Cat Friendly Practice® certified through the Feline Veterinary Medical Association, formerly known as the American Association of Feline Practitioners, since 2016.

Rialto Animal Hospital is Silver Level Cat Friendly certified.
Rialto Cat Hospital, our dedicated cat-only hospital right next door, is Gold Level Cat Friendly certified.

The Cat Friendly Practice® program helps veterinary teams create a better experience for cats by focusing on feline behavior, gentle handling, staff training, hospital environment, preventive care, pain management, and reduced-stress visits. Silver status reflects essential cat-friendly standards, while Gold status reflects the optimum level of Cat Friendly Practice criteria.

What Does “Cat Friendly” Mean?

Cats are not small dogs — and they definitely do not appreciate being treated like one.

A Cat Friendly Practice® takes specific steps to better understand cats’ unique needs and reduce the fear, stress, and anxiety that often come with veterinary visits. These steps may include:

Gentle, feline-friendly handling
A calmer environment
Team training in cat behavior and body language
Thoughtful exam room and hospitalization practices
Recommendations to make travel and carrier time less stressful
Care plans built around your cat’s age, lifestyle, health, and personality

The goal is simple: better care, less stress, and a more comfortable experience for both you and your cat.

Why This Matters

Many cat owners delay veterinary care because the visit feels too stressful — for the cat and for the human. The Cat Friendly Practice® program is designed to help reduce that stress and make visits easier for cats and caregivers.

Regular veterinary visits are especially important for cats because they are experts at hiding illness. A cat may seem “fine” at home while quietly dealing with dental disease, arthritis, kidney disease, thyroid disease, weight changes, or other concerns.

A calmer visit helps us better examine your cat, notice subtle changes, and partner with you before small problems become bigger ones.

Rialto Animal Hospital: Silver Level Cat Friendly Certified

At Rialto Animal Hospital, we have proudly maintained our Cat Friendly Practice® certification since 2016.

Our Silver Level certification reflects the extra steps our team takes to provide thoughtful, feline-aware veterinary care within our full-service animal hospital. From wellness visits and urgent care to diagnostics, surgery, dentistry, and long-term care, our team is trained to approach cats with patience, compassion, and respect.

Your cat may still have opinions — cats do love a dramatic review — but we are here to make the experience as smooth and supportive as possible.

Rialto Cat Hospital: Gold Level Cat Friendly Certified

For cats who would benefit from an even more feline-focused experience, we encourage you to consider scheduling at Rialto Cat Hospital, our dedicated cat-only hospital located right next door to Rialto Animal Hospital.

Rialto Cat Hospital is Gold Level Cat Friendly certified, meaning it has achieved the highest level of Cat Friendly Practice® recognition.

Because Rialto Cat Hospital is designed just for cats, it offers a quieter, cat-centered environment without the sights, sounds, or smells of dogs. For many cats — especially nervous cats, senior cats, shy cats, or cats who really, really hate car rides and vet visits — this can make a big difference.

If you have not visited Rialto Cat Hospital yet, we would love for you to experience it.

A Better Vet Visit Starts Before You Arrive

Cat-friendly care begins at home with our tips on "How to get your Cat to the Vet". We are happy to help with tips for:

Choosing the right carrier
Helping your cat feel more comfortable with the carrier
Reducing car ride stress
Preparing for your appointment
Making the return home easier after the visit

Cat Friendly Practices® can help guide cat owners on ways to reduce stress before and after the veterinary visit, including carrier comfort and travel preparation.

Schedule Your Cat’s Visit

Whether your cat needs a wellness exam, vaccines, dental care, urgent care, senior screening, or help with a behavior or medical concern, our teams are here to help.

Choose Rialto Animal Hospital for full-service veterinary care with Silver Level Cat Friendly certification.
Choose Rialto Cat Hospital for a dedicated cat-only experience with Gold Level Cat Friendly certification.

Your cat deserves care that understands cats. And you deserve a veterinary team that understands how much your cat means to you.