Many animal lovers choose to foster, adopt or bring cats into their homes. However, not all of these cats go to the vet for an annual checkup.
“In 2021, 81.8% of the dog population saw a veterinarian, compared to just 39.8% of cats,” said Dr. Casey Locklear, veterinarian and senior medical officer at Zoetis, told HuffPost. “The journey to the vet looks a little different for every pet owner, however, there are some fundamental differences that can lead to this disparity.”
The phenomenon is complex but not hopeless. HuffPost spoke with Locklear and Dr. Mondrian Contreras, veterinary expert for Pumpkin Pet Insuranceon why cats don’t visit the vet as regularly as dogs, why it’s a problem, and how to ensure more felines get the medical care they need.
Cats tend to hide their pain.
“As cats are prey animals, they are more likely to hide their pain than dogs,” Locklear explained. “This means it can be difficult to detect subtle changes in your beloved furball’s behavior.”
This feline instinct to hide pain or distress makes it difficult to tell if your cat is suffering from a medical condition. An annual visit to the veterinarian is therefore even more essential.
“Partner with your veterinarian for regular checkups to detect pain and illness early, allowing for the care needed so your pet can continue to live their best life,” Locklear said.
Owners may have a false perception of a cat’s health needs.
Many animal lovers choose to bring a cat into their home rather than a dog because they think owning a cat will be easier. While this may generally be true, the reality varies from animal to animal. Even if your cat is low-maintenance, that doesn’t mean he won’t ever need extra care.
“The main reason for the disparity between cat and dog vet visits is due to their owners’ perception of cats,” Contreras said. “Most cat owners consider these animals low-maintenance, and if they don’t see anything obviously abnormal, they feel healthy. These owners obviously love pets, but if they’re extremely busy, it’s just hard to get them to annual checkups on a busy schedule, especially if everything seems to be fine.
There may be transportation issues.
“While dogs often feel eager and excited to embark on a fun new adventure, cat owners feel apprehensive about transporting their cat to the vet, as it can be difficult to get them into the vet. a car,” Locklear noted.
If your cat is used to just hanging out inside the house, a change in environment can be intimidating. Owners may find it difficult to calm their cats on the way to the vet and in the office.
“Pick the right carrier for your cat and your vet team — bonus points if the lid is removable,” Locklear advised. “Introduce your cat to this carrier early and often to help acclimatize it. »
Abraham Gonzalez Fernandez via Getty Images
But missing annual vet visits can lead to bigger problems.
“Lack of veterinary care in cats can be problematic for many reasons, but simply put, you don’t know what you don’t know,” Locklear said. “By not seeking annual wellness visits, we may miss important opportunities to detect and intervene early in conditions such as chronic kidney disease, parasitism and osteoarthritis. Early intervention can help your wonderful feline feel better.
Contreras echoed Locklear, noting that cats suffer from many of the same preventable or treatable medical conditions as dogs, such as dental disease, allergies, obesity, endocrine diseases, and more.
“These issues can be successfully addressed if one manages to address these issues as early as possible, before they become a bigger problem,” he explained. “For example, resorptive lesions can affect up to 50% or more of all cats but can be easily treated which will help prevent severe chronic pain.
“Caring for a cat isn’t just about feeding and cleaning its litter box.”
– Dr. Mondrian Contreras, veterinary expert for Pumpkin Pet Insurance
Detecting even minor changes in your cat’s weight or vital signs from the previous year can also help you recognize a potential medical problem.
“I often hear feelings like, ‘Well, we took our pet for their annual get-together, but they couldn’t find anything,'” Locklear said. “It’s essential to realize that when you take your pet to the vet, it’s a big win for your pet, and in this case, no news is good news!” I want to encourage cat owners to stand up for their cat’s well-being and feel satisfied with the care opportunity you have just given your adorable feline.
She recommended taking the time to talk with the vet about necessary vaccinations and parasite prevention techniques.
“Prevention is better than cure,” Locklear stressed.
However, progress is possible.
Although statistics indicate that cats do not receive annual veterinary care as consistently as dogs, it is not impossible to correct this disparity.
“The first step to changing feline undermedicalization is awareness,” Locklear said. “Cat parents like me should embrace the need for regular vet visits, knowing that we’ve come a long way, even in the past decade, to make visiting the vet with your cat an easy, rewarding, and can-do experience. – be nice.”
She touted advances in feline veterinary medicine and pointed out that many veterinary clinics “have made significant strides in creating cat-friendly environments and visits.”
Contreras called for better education about owning a cat and what its daily care should entail.
“It starts with people adopting pets and letting their families know that cats can live long if properly cared for,” he said. “Caring for a cat isn’t just about feeding and cleaning its litter box.”
He encouraged owners to brush their cats’ teeth, provide them with proper nutrition, create a nurturing environment, provide them with opportunities for exercise and mental stimulation, and take their pets to the vet for check-ups. annual health.
Understanding how important it is to have your cat evaluated by a veterinarian “will in turn provide them with better short- and long-term care and achieve the ultimate goal of optimal quality of life for cats,” says Counterras.