Cats, like humans, need annual checkups. Studies have shown that 40% of cats have not seen a veterinarian in the past year. Emergencies and vaccinations are often the only reason that cat owners visit a vet. Cat owners give many reasons why the vet visit is not annual. A majority of cat owners (81%) think their cat is healthy, while more than 50% say their cat has never been sick or injured. And when the time comes to take your cat to the vet, 58% of owners know the vet visit as a drama that ends with an unhappy human and miserable cat.
How Often Should My Cat Have A Physical Examination?
One reason cats do not get the care they need is that owners misunderstand the need for annual and routine pet examination by a qualified veterinarian. Since many cat vaccinations are not required each year, owners do not think or see a need to visit the vet annually unless there is an emergency. According to the experts, cats should visit a vet at least once a year for a health examination and annual shots. Annual visits are essential whether or not that cat owner thinks the cat is healthy. Signs and symptoms of a disease, like cancer, are often difficult to detect and do not show until the disease has progressed to the point where it cannot be successfully treated. Annual veterinary visits help your cat live a longer healthier life.
My Cat Has Crate Fear – What Can I Do?
The decision to take a cat to the vet is impacted by how your cat responds to the first step on the journey to the vet – cat in the crate. Many cats do not have an annual veterinary visit because of crate fear. The container appears, and the cat disappears. Or your cat takes on a yoga pose to make sure he does not get put in the crate. Two tips to help you change the way you and your cat prepare to visit the vet. First, be positive about the visit. Your cat will sense the anxiety you have to think differently. Second, make the cat carrier a fun place to be for your cat. Associate the cat carrier with more than a stressful visit to the vet. Consider the carrier a fun place for your cat to be with toys and treats. Then the carrier will be attached to suitable events, like food and toys, making an entry for a vet visit easier.
My Cat Has Extreme Stress When Taken To The Vet – What Do I Do?
There are several steps in the vet visit that you can practice. Teach your cat to accept a small physical examination as a regular event in her life. Pretend you are the vet and examine your cat, so she becomes accustomed to you observing them. Hopefully, your cat will be less nervous when a vet examines her. Take a car ride with your cat as a regular practice, so he does not think every car ride ends at the vet with a stressful physical examination. If dogs are the problem in the waiting room, try to book the first appointment, so you don't have to wait. Or share that you have a cat that needs a place to wait. With practice, the vet visit becomes a healthy habit for your cat.
Find out how you can help your cat (or dog) have the healthiest life possible. Visit Pet4CPR for information about treating pet emergencies today. ---- Julie Ellison, PhD