Did you know that after the first year, 50% of cats don’t visit the vet unless they are sick? With that in mind, August 22, 2020, is National Take Your Cat To The Vet Day, a reminder to cat parents that cats require as much attention as we do.
Regular cat check-ups are a way to keep your pet happy and healthy. Below are five reasons not to postpone your cat vet visit:
CATS AGE MORE RAPIDLY THAN HUMANS
A cat reaches the human age of 15 by its first year and 24 by its second year. Each year after, your cat ages 4 ‘cat years’ for every calendar year. Every life stage has its own unique set of health conditions that your veterinarian checks for.
CATS ARE MASTERS OF HIDING SICKNESS AND PAIN
Cats are excellent at hiding signs they are sick or in pain. Your cat could be developing a health condition long before you notice anything is wrong. Veterinarians are trained to spot these and may detect a problem before it advances or becomes more difficult to treat.
YOUR CAT MAY BE OVERWEIGHT
Over 50% of cats are overweight or obese. Your veterinarian will check your cat’s weight at each visit and provide recommendations to help keep your cat at its ideal weight. Just an extra three pounds can put cats at risk for diabetes, heart, respiratory, and kidney disease, and more.
DISCUSS BEHAVIOR CHANGES
Has anything changed with your cat’s eating patterns? Weight? Activity level? Make a list of information, concerns, and questions to share at your cat’s annual check-up. You may not recognize some behavior changes as being significant because they are subtle or minor, but when your veterinarian takes a thorough patient history, these subtle changes may help to uncover hidden issues.
PREVENTATIVE CARE IS BETTER THAN REACTIVE CARE
Information discussed, along with a thorough physical exam, allows your veterinarian to create a plan to help your cat remain healthy. Regular exams can help avoid medical emergencies since veterinarians can often detect conditions or diseases that may affect your cat’s health long before they become significant, painful, or more costly to treat.
So take this opportunity to make an appointment with your vet to discuss your cat.
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