Why Kitty needs Regular Vet Visits

 

 

I know, I know, I have a Cat at home too.

 

Getting the cat to a Vet is like a whole different workout routine. This species is just too smart for us. The minute that carrier is out, they scoot and hide in areas that are inaccessible. Then you feel like a monster for making them go to the Vet.

 

I am a mind reader ain't I!

 

But guess what? You aren’t a monster if you take your cat for routine checks to the vet. Infact, it makes you a very responsible pet parent and here’s why:

 

 

Cats are expert illness maskers

 

 

Unless it gets really bad, a cat will never let on that it isn't at its 100%. And definitely not around you, slave. If they have a mass growing somewhere or if they are having harder than usual stools in their belly, they are not going to let you know till it completely is beyond their control. Oftentimes, parents notice something is up a little too late and that makes all the difference in treatment.

 

Since they are so uptight about letting us know when they need help, you must always be one step ahead of your cat and take them for routine checks.

 

The vet will be able to diagnose signs of illness way  before stubborn cat lets us in on it.

 

 

Cats have very private toilet habits

 

 

Your cat loves staring at you while you do your business but isn't going to let you be an equally avid spectator when she is using her litter tray. A lot of times therefore a small amount of blood in stools, urine or difficulty in urinating or passing stools goes unnoticed. Since we don’t have x-ray vision (or such a facility) yet, having your vet palpate all internal organs at regular intervals can help pre-empt any major disasters

 

 

Cats will not smile for you

 

Dental disease in cats is very common because most Indian pet parents have not learnt to brush their cats teeth. Cats will not show you their small pearly whites often for you to know if they are still white. Signs of pain also are pretty well hidden till they absolutely are unable to eat and by that time it can mean extraction of the whole set of teeth.

 

Let your vet look into that mouth once in a while.

 

 

Cats are cute even when fat

 

 

Most pet parents look at their pet with rose filtered glasses and just cannot see that extra fat. Or tons of that extra fat. This has led to rise in pet obesity and obesity related illnesses. Sometimes you just need an honest opinion from your vet on if Kitty is a bit too heavy on the scales.

 

 

Cats do grow old

 

 

They do it with great grace and pizzaz but felines are not immune to the process of ageing. They look so good even while they are at it that as a parent you might not even notice. Arthritis does set in along with age and that joint pain may be stopping her from jumping up on the sofa. Heart ailments are also part of the ageing deal and a lot more cats have heart ailments as opposed to the ones that get diagnosed.  

 

Regular vet visits help keeping them comfortable even as age catches up.

 

 

 

Don’t use the carrier as an excuse. It is not a negative experience if you make it a positive one. Don’t let the carrier just be a mode of transport to the vet. Make it part of her toys, her everyday activity, leave it out always and it won't be all that hard to visit the vet or even take her on a small trip.

 

Bring your cat to the Vet often.

 

Every 6 months is great (remember, 6 months of your human life is a lot of time in a cat’s life). That one day every 6 months will give your kitty a lot more fun years!

 

 

See you at the clinic,

 

Dr. N