We Know It’s Hard – Why annual visits for your cat are so Important

We get it. Bringing your cat to us can be hard. A national survey revealed that 58% of cat owners report their cats hate going to the vet. Nobody wants to do something to a family member hates. Getting them into the carrier in some cases requires a proficiency in both MMA and magic, the car ride often initiates a voiding of bodily fluids, and the list of profanities that we all know they are spewing from their mouth can make anyone say, “this is just too hard, I don’t want to put them through it”. I get it. I have two cats and the above description is pretty accurate, but I understand the importance of annual exams and I hope by the end of this blog you will too.

The American Association of Feline Practitioners recommends that preventive care examinations for all cats should occur a minimum of once yearly, and more frequently for senior cats and those with chronic conditions1. Annual wellness exams allow us to discuss important issues as they relate to your cat such as dental health, weight management and diets, vaccinations, internal parasite control, flea prevention, and when annual blood work should be started. It also allows us to do a complete physical examination on your cat evaluating them for heart disease, arthritis, abdominal masses/discomfort, enlarged lymph nodes, dermal and subcutaneous masses, etc. Common ailments affecting our feline friends include dental disease, renal insufficiency, irritable bowel disease, lymphoma (intestinal), diabetes, asthma, and allergies, just to name a few. We may not be able to “fix” a problem but if we can identify it early, we are more likely to be able to manage it appropriately giving your fur baby the longest and best quality of life possible.

We get it, it’s hard, but as they say “nothing worth doing is ever easy” and we promise, they will forgive you… eventually.

1. Rodan I, Vogt A, et al. AAFP/AAHA Feline Life Stage Guidelines. J Feline Med Surg 2010; 12, 41–52.