We love our cats! We cuddle them, give them nicknames and spoil them with special treats. Yet, a recently published study conducted by Bayer Animal Health determined that pet owners are far more likely to take their dogs to the vet than their cats.
Among the reasons the study found for this trend was that many people believed that indoor cats and older cats don’t need as much veterinary care as other pets.
We would like to dispel that belief. Annual wellness exams are vital to your cat’s health!
Even young indoor cats are at risk for health problems such as parasites, fleas, and ticks. Cats are at risk for many of the same ailments as their human and canine housemates, such as diseases of the heart, liver and kidneys, hypertension and cancer. Dental care is important for cats as well; in fact, more than 70% of cats over three years old have some form of periodontal disease, which can lead to pain and tooth loss, and the resulting infections can spread through the bloodstream and damage other organs. Many times cats do not show signs of illness until they are fairly advanced which is why annual wellness exams and blood screening are so important.
Preventive care for your pet covers far more than just vaccinations—it also entails nose-to-tail examinations that help to detect illness in the early stages, when it’s easier and less expensive to treat, and the prognosis is usually better as well.
Now, we realize that sometimes transporting your cat to the vet is the hardest part of the visit. We have all gone through the getting kitty-into-the-carrier dance and the crying meow song on the car ride to the hospital. We do have handouts or videos on our website with tips to help make the trip easier.
You can help your cat live a longer, healthier life! The safest and most cost effective way to do that is through regular wellness exams.
