Contrary to what you may think, millions of more cats are owned than dogs in the United States, making kitties the number one pet in America. However, statistics also show that cats visit veterinarians much less frequently than dogs, and of those that do visit the vet, on average it’s a quarter less of the time. Studies prove that older cats frequent the doctor even less often then the sprier members of their generation, resulting a trend of less vet care for cats over time.
Why is this? Most feline owners worry about the stress associated with getting their beloved to the vet. Some believe an indoor cat does not need as much care, and only vaccinations if that. The assumption is that indoor cats are safe from disease, although people may not known that diabetes, heart conditions, and other organ deficiencies may develop regardless of where a cat lives. Almost half of pet guardians admit to only taking their cat to the vet if he or she is visibly sick!
It is important to maintain the quality of your kitty’s life. There is great value in regular vet visitation, both from a health perspective and a behavior perspective. We can’t always know when our pets are feeling unwell, or what they’re trying to tell us. Cats are especially skilled at hiding signs of illness or injuries. But by making sure you find a practice that can properly handle and treat your cat upon, and by doing all you can to reduce his/her stress and desensitize any fear to the carrier or car, you can make veterinarian checkups possible. These appointments will help you find out more information about your cat’s overall wellbeing.
There certainly are misperceptions about feline needs, about the level of independence and self–sufficiency a cat displays. And depending on how you acquired your cat, you may not know or feel responsible for the fact that they require as much care as other pets. Please consider that even if your cat was abandoned, only to be nurtured and fed by you, even if your cat found and adopted you instead of the other way around, he or she deserves your attention and love.
If you live in the Los Angeles area, our clinic is open to you from 7am – 5pm on Wednesdays through Saturdays for spay/neuter surgery, and Saturday morning for our Vaccine and Microchip Clinic. For additional services, please see your full service vet. We encourage you to schedule an appointment for your feline friend to be checked out! If you live outside of the LA area, we hope you are finding a way to take good care of your cat. It may seem like a small feat, but for them it can make all the difference in the world.
