Your children visit doctors once a year, you visit the dentist once every six months, and your car gets an oil change every 5000 miles. So, why aren’t people taking their cats to the vet for regular checkups? Cats visit the veterinarian half as often as dogs, and many people only take their cats to the veterinarian when they are unwell.
Cats, too, can become ill. While they are experts at concealing illness, they are still susceptible to many of the same diseases as their canine and human counterparts.
Take Your Cat To The Vet Day is August 22nd, In case you missed it, it’s also a great moment to remind everyone of the need of preventive care. You wouldn’t skip your kids’ doctor appointments, so why should your cats?
So, what exactly does your veterinarian do during these visits, and why are they so important?
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Here are a few reasons why you shouldn’t put off your cat’s check-up:
- Cats mature at a far faster rate than humans.
- In its first year, a cat reaches the human age of 15, and in its second year, it achieves the age of 24. Your cat will age four ‘cat years’ for every calendar year after that. Every stage of life has its own set of health issues that your veterinarian will look for.
- Cats are experts at concealing illness and pain.
- Long before you notice anything is amiss, your cat could be developing a health problem. Veterinarians are trained to recognize and diagnose these issues.
- Your cat could be overweight, putting her health at risk.
- More than half of all cats are overweight or obese. Your veterinarian will weigh your cat and make recommendations to help you keep it at the right weight.
- You can address any behavioral changes with your veterinarian during your visit.
- Changes in behavior might often indicate an underlying problem that isn’t visible to the untrained eye.
- Care that is proactive rather than reactive is preferable.
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Regular exams can help you avoid medical problems by detecting problems or diseases that may damage your cat’s health before they become serious, painful, or expensive to treat.
What Should a Cat Owner Do?
Commit to taking your cat to the veterinarian. Even if you don’t think you’ll be able to bring him to the vet today, phone your vet and schedule an appointment. Assist in ensuring your cat’s wellness for the rest of his or her life. Preventative measures and regular vet visits are the first steps in providing lifetime care.
How Long Has It Been Since We Last Saw Your Cat?
Only about 48% of cats receive routine veterinary care. What is the reason for this?
Take A Look At Some of The Most Common Cat/Kitten Misconceptions:
Myth #1: 51% of cat owners consider their cats to be “low-maintenance.”
While cats may appear to be more laid-back than their canine relatives, when it comes to veterinary care, they are very similar. All pets require annual wellness examinations to ensure their health is good. Regular checkups can aid in the prevention of sickness by allowing your veterinarian to assess minor changes in your cat’s behavior that you may not notice at home.
Myth #2: 75% of cat owners believe their pets do not hide symptoms.
It’s a natural feline inclination to hide discomfort and disease. Predators perceive an ill or injured cat as weak or vulnerable in the wild, thus masking these symptoms is simply a matter of survival. Unfortunately, this frequently means that infections are not addressed until they have progressed to an advanced stage in domestic cats.
Myth #3: 63% of cat owners believe that indoor cats are safe.
Closed doors do not keep out nearly as much as you may believe. While an indoor cat is considerably less likely to catch an infectious disease or suffer a severe injury. Indoor cat is not immune to other illnesses such as heart or renal disorders, or even parasites. 25% of cats diagnosed with heartworm disease, which is spread by mosquito bites, are indoor-only cats. Fleas are another typical issue for indoor cats, particularly during the summer. Remember that your cat may not be able to get in and out, but you can!
Take Your Cat to the Vet Day was established to refute these myths and encourage more veterinary appointments for our feline companions.
