Spring into wellness – for cats!

Scheduling regular wellness visits for your cat is a very important and often overlooked. Nationally, veterinarians see five times as many dogs than cats, even though cats are a more popular pet in the U.S. Put simply, cats aren’t getting the same level of care that dogs do.

Veterinary care is just as important for felines as it is for canines. Regular wellness visits will help your cat to live a longer, happier, healthier life, and detect early signs of problems that could reduce their abilities or lifespan if left undiagnosed or untreated.

There is unfortunately a persistent myth among some people that cats don’t need to go to the vet unless they’re actively sick- but the fact is, many diseases and conditions can develop that do not present visible symptoms until they’re already advanced, when treatment may be more difficult.

Annual blood work can catch issues with a cat’s thyroid, liver, or kidneys before they have done silent, irreversible damage. In addition, any cat who spends time outdoors or with other cats should also be getting regular parasite preventatives for fleas, ticks, and internal parasites such as heartworm, most of which must be prescribed by a veterinarian.

Most people think their cat hates going to the vet, and there’s likely some truth to that. Around 38% of cat owners say they get stressed just thinking about taking their cat to the vet; no wonder cats aren’t getting to the vet more often!

There are simple things you can do to make the whole situation less stressful on your cat as well as yourself. For instance, if your kitty hides when you bring their carrier out of storage, there’s a way to make this easier on everyone: a carrier that only shows up when it’s time to go to the vet is frightening, but a carrier that is part of the usual living room landscape and serves as a place to nap on a regular basis isn’t scary at all. Try to make the carrier a familiar place when it’s time to go to the vet or anywhere else. For high strung cats who are really afraid of the vet, you can talk to your vet about using one-time-use anxiety medication to calm them down before their visit.

It’s not fair to your cat to assume that they will let you know when they need medical attention. Help them live a happier, healthier, longer life by bringing them in for regular wellness visits. Call AMCMA today to schedule an appointment for your cat at 314-951-1534.