Thanks to the Humane Society of the United States for reminding us to take our feline friends to our favorite veterinarian clinic with this unofficial holiday: “Take Your Cat to the Vet Day!” This effort serves more as a friendly reminder but an important ask for cat pet parents to take control of the health of their kitties. According to the Humane Society, local veterinarians see cats 50% less often than they see dogs. This is important because just as dogs need regular checkups, so do felines. Here are 4 purrrfect reasons take your cat to the vet sooner, rather than later:
1. Preventative care is better than reactive care
Just as routine checkups are necessary for children, adults and dogs – they are as well for cats. Routine checkups serve as preventative efforts to be sure your cat has a happy, healthy long life. Regular exams can help avoid medical emergencies as your veterinarian can detect conditions or diseases which may affect your cat’s health long before they become more significant, and therefore more costly, to treat.
2. Cats are masters at hiding pain and illness
The aloof behavior you enjoy from your feline can also hide something more concerning: pain and illness. Your feline friend may be sleeping more because they have pain associated to a variety of illnesses. Cats are masters at disguising their emotions and they can also hide the fact they may be developing a health condition. At regular appointments, your veterinarian is trained to spot and detect problems before they become too advanced to treat.
3. Cats age more rapidly than humans
According to Caster Magazine, cats age more rapidly the first two years of their life, then the process slows down. A cat reaches the age of 15 during the first year of their life. By age 2, they are now 24-years old. Thankfully, they aging process tapers off after the first two years. Then your feline will start to age 4 cat years for every calendar year. This means a 5-year-old cat would really be 36 human years old. It is important to keep your cat healthy as they advance so quickly in age.
4. Your cat may be overweight
According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, 60% of today’s household cats are overweight. By the time the kitten reaches around 6 months of age, he should be approximately half the size of an adult cat. The average adult domestic cat weighs between 8 and 10 pounds. Most of us do not want to admit our cats may be overweight. However, in the best interest of your cat’s health, you need regular readings on their weight so you can know what the trend is. An additional three pounds on a cat’s body can increase the risk of diabetes, heart disease and osteoarthritis.
Your veterinarian clinic might be doing something special to celebrate this particular day. Call them today and ask! Do not let this unofficial holiday slip by without making the most of it. If you haven’t been in to see your veterinarian in the past year with your feline fur-baby, pick up the phone now and schedule your appointment. Celebrate #TakeYourCattotheVetDay the right way and make a wellness check today! At Parnell, we love cats and dogs alike and work to ensure a healthier lifestyle for our fur-babies.
