Fear Free Veterinary Care Helps Cats Get the Care They Deserve

CATS NEED TO GO TO THE VETERINARIAN

It is a sad state of affairs that most of the pet cats in this country do not receive adequate veterinary care.  Oh, I’m not necessarily saying that people don’t bring their cats to the veterinarian when they are sick; I’m saying that for many reasons, they do not bring them to the veterinarian before they are sick, when disease can be prevented. Wellness care and preventive medicine can improve the overall quality of life and increase the lifespan for our feline companions.  I’ve heard all sorts of excuses and I think this is a good place to start to address them.

My cat doesn’t go outside so it doesn’t need shots every year.  

This one is sort of true.  Indoor cats are at a lower risk of contracting infectious disease than cats that go outdoors.  Kittens that receive complete inoculation series and are boosted at a year of age probably have a good immunity to many viral diseases for several years.  We actually do not vaccinate adult cats against most diseases every year; rather we recommend that with the exception of rabies vaccination, adult cats should be given an FVRPC vaccine every three years.  Why?  Today’s scenario was an unvaccinated senior cat, living alone in a home with its owner until 4 days ago when she adopted a rescue cat from Florida. Now her older cat has potential disease exposure.  Or, last week’s case where I made a house call to a second floor apartment where the cats never went outside but the owner did some work with a cat rescue group.  Guess what?  She brought home a respiratory tract infection to her two pets.

We always had cats and they lived to be old and never got sick.  

That was true until they died of some illness.  30% of pet cats that die in the United States die of chronic kidney disease.  Now, coming to the veterinarian will not prevent renal disease, but early detection can slow the progression of this disease and increase your cat’s lifespan by years.  The same is true for diabetes, hyperthyroidism, dental disease, heart disease, cancer, inflammatory bowel disease; the list goes on and on.  Many chronic diseases that eventually lead to decrease vitality and early death in our pet cats can be treated, if not cured if detected early enough.

My cat hates going to the vet. 

This may be true but it is just an excuse, a barrier that owners create that prevents their pet from receiving the care it deserves.  If your cat is stressed by veterinary visits, just let us know.  Dr. Stephanie Waters is certified as a “Fear Free” veterinarian and she has brought many ideas to our practice that lessen the stress for both our feline and canine patients.  Medications can be given prior to the visit to reduce anxiety. Pheromone sprays can decrease stress, and treats in the office are always appreciated.  We now have soft, warm pads on the exam tables because we know that cats hate the cold stainless steel surface.  We have sheets in the waiting room if you think that covering your cat’s carrier will decrease stress.  We have office hours on Thursday evenings that are exclusively for cats, no barking dogs in the waiting room (except for emergencies).  If that isn’t enough to convince you that Crawford Dog and Cat Hospital is feline friendly, we make house calls.  Our doctors and staff will come to your home and examine your cat.  Just think all the benefits of proactive veterinary care on your very own couch.

Don’t let your anxiety, or your cat’s stress prevent you from doing what is best for your pet.  Wellness visits, routine blood work, and rational vaccination and parasite prevention can lengthen your pet’s life and keep your bond strong for years to come.