National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day Aug. 22
by Jenny Alonge
August 22 is National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day. It's a reminder for pet owners that cats require regular veterinary care to keep them happy and healthy. Approximately 83% of cats are evaluated by a veterinarian before their first birthday, but more than 50% never return until they are sick or injured. This percentage isn’t surprising, because 58% of owners report that their feline friend hates going to the veterinarian.
Use National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day to educate your clients on why their cat needs routine veterinary care and provide them with tips to help make the process easier.
Explain why cats need routine veterinary care
Cat owners love their feline friends, and to encourage them to schedule a veterinary appointment, you must educate clients on why routine wellness care is important. Cat owners need to recognize that their feline friend needs regular preventive veterinary care appointments for the following reasons:
- Cats are masters at hiding illness and pain — If cats’ ancestors exhibited illness or pain, predators quickly targeted them. Your feline friend doesn’t have to worry about lions and tigers when lounging on your bed, however, they retain the instinct to conceal their vulnerabilities. Many cats never exhibit illness or pain signs until their condition is advanced. Routine wellness checks help your veterinarian detect conditions, such as kidney disease, that can significantly impact your whiskered pal’s quality and quantity of life.
- Cats age more quickly than people — Cats age more quickly than people, and are considered to be seniors at about 10 years of age. Senior cats have a higher risk for several serious health complications, such as kidney disease, cancer, diabetes, and arthritis, than younger cats, and your veterinarian should evaluate your aging cat at least every six months.
- More than 50% of cats are overweight — Veterinary care providers consider 50% of their feline patients to be overweight. You may think a few extra pounds are harmless, but they can increase your cat’s risk for conditions such as diabetes, cancer, kidney disease, and arthritis. Through regular wellness exams, your veterinarian can monitor your cat’s weight and devise a safe-weight loss strategy if necessary.
- Periodontal disease is prevalent in cats — Most cats have some degree of dental disease by the time they reach 3 years of age, and this pervasive infection can cause problems including painful, bleeding gums, loose or missing teeth, tooth root infections, and jawbone fractures. In addition, the harmful oral bacteria can enter your feline friend’s bloodstream and damage their internal organs. During a routine wellness exam, your veterinarian evaluates your cat’s oral health to determine if they need a professional veterinary dental cleaning.
- Arthritis is common in cats — Veterinary researchers estimate that arthritis affects 45% of all cats and 90% of cats older than 10 years of age, resulting in pain and decreased mobility. By performing your feline friend’s regular wellness exams, your veterinarian can detect joint problems and devise an appropriate disease management plan.
- Preventive care helps prevent emergencies — When your veterinarian performs your cat’s regular wellness exams, they can detect conditions before they become emergencies. Preventive care is much less expensive than an emergency veterinary bill.
Educate cat owners about veterinary exam considerations
In addition to teaching cat owners how preventive veterinary care helps protect their cat’s health, let them know how they can make the appointment-scheduling process less stressful for themself and the office visit less anxiety-provoking for their cat. To help clients prepare for their cat’s wellness examination, recommend they consider the following:
- Scheduling an appointment — Schedule your cat’s appointment well in advance to ensure you get a time and date that is convenient for you.
- Making the appointment for early in the day — Schedule your cat’s wellness exam as early in the day as convenient. Doing so reduces the risk that the veterinarian will be sidetracked by more urgent cases.
- Being prepared — Be prepared so you aren’t stressed or in a rush when heading to the veterinary facility. Your cat picks up on your emotions, and if you are stressed about getting to the clinic on time, your cat will be too.
- Making notes — Bring written notes about any abnormal behavior or illness signs your cat has exhibited so you can discuss these with your veterinarian. Subtle changes, such as increased hiding behavior or decreased playtime, can indicate serious problems, so ensure you share all observations with your veterinarian.
Educate owners on how to acclimate their cat to the carrier
Many cats only travel in a carrier when they go to the veterinarian, which may cause them to develop a negative association with the crate. Teach your clients how to acclimate their cat to the carrier by offering them the following tips:
- Ensure the carrier is the right size — Your cat’s carrier should be large enough that they can turn around while inside.
- Leave the carrier out — Leave your cat’s carrier open and in an area where they frequently play or rest. This allows them to investigate the item and become accustomed to going inside.
- Place familiar bedding in the carrier — Place in the carrier bedding that your cat has used or clothing you have recently worn to help make the space feel welcoming and comfortable.
- Feed your cat in the carrier — Feed your cat in their carrier to help them consider the space in a positive way.
- Go slow — Once your cat is comfortable entering the carrier, try closing the door for a few minutes. Over several sessions, gradually increase the time you leave your cat inside the carrier with the door closed.
Explain how owners can reduce their cat’s stress
In addition to acclimating their cat to the carrier, clients may want to consider additional ways to help reduce their feline friend’s anxiety about going to the vet. To help cat owners learn how to help reduce their cat’s stress, recommend they follow these tips:
- Use feline pheromones — Spraying synthetic feline facial pheromones in the carrier or on the bedding you place inside can help reduce your cat’s anxiety.
- Withhold food — To help prevent your cat from experiencing motion sickness, avoid feeding them for several hours before going to the veterinary facility.
- Bring toys — Bring your cat’s favorite toys to help distract them during the car ride and veterinary visit.
- Cover the carrier — To help your cat feel more secure and prevent them from observing other pets, cover their carrier with a towel or blanket.
- Treat your cat — Bring your cat’s favorite high-value treats to help tempt them into cooperating during the veterinary visit.
Routine preventive veterinary care is extremely important for your feline patients. By providing this information to your clients, you will surely spur them to schedule their cat’s preventive care appointment.
Source: https://catfriendly.com/keep-your-cat-healthy/cat2vetday/
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