Cat Onwers Neglecting Their Feline Friends!

OK - it's time to write about cats, because I do care for them. In addition, the current statistics about cats are troubling. Despite becoming the most popular family pet in the United States - outnumbering dogs by roughly 5 million - cats are substantially more neglected and underserved by their owners. In 2012, while dogs averaged about 2.6 veterinary visits per household/year, cats averaged only 1.6. Furthermore, dog owners clearly invested 3 times more on their pets' health when compared to cat owners (see table below).

 

Statistically speaking, a large number of cats are seen by a vet only once every 3 to 5 years! I can certainly attest to that reality since I often find myself in a tough spot when a sick cat comes in and I have ask my client why their last wellness visit took place years ago. Unfortunately, this is a concerning issue, and I would like to address some of the reasons underlying it.

To begin with, cat owners often express a misconception that cats don't need medical care, because they don't get sick as often as dogs do. In addition, most cat owners perceive their cats as independent and self-sufficient making them less prone to diseases, and as such, requiring fewer veterinary visits. Unfortunately, these beliefs are unfounded! Not only cats do get sick just as often as dogs, but cats are masters of disguise, so they rarely show signs of an illness until it is well-advanced.  As such, waiting for your cat to exhibit signs that he/she is sick is an unwise approach, as you'll most likely end up with higher veterinary bills and fewer treatment options (if not a dead cat) in order to address a health issue that could have been cheaper and more successfully treated if diagnosed earlier...

Another common  concern voiced by feline owners is that veterinary visits can cause a lot of stress to the cat and the client.
It is true, but such stress isn't restricted to cats. Dogs may also get stressed; nonetheless, dog owners seem to understand perhaps a bit better that the hazards of not bringing the dog for a regular veterinary check-up far outweigh the amount of potential stress caused by that appointment. If a cat owner has concerns about a visit to the vet, I always encourage the client to call in advance to request that arrangements be made for a more cat-friendly visit i.e. away from barks, noise and other meows.


My role as a veterinarian is to establish & promote a partnership with pet owners that will create a framework for a

lifelong health care plan. That is why one of my blogs entries talks about the importance of wellness. The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) and the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) have created an evidence-based life stage wellness program to help veterinarians in delivering the best comprehensive veterinary care for cats, which includes: (1) health care recommendations for cats in different life stages; and (2) tools to facilitate efficient and enhanced client-veterinarian communication during visits. The need to work within a life stages framework is obvious: like humans, cats go through different life stages with different needs and susceptibility to different health problems. All are influenced by many factors such as lifestyle (indoors/outdoors), genetics (breed), geographical location, alimentary habits, etc. The AAFP/AAHA guidelines follow a very easy age classification whose goal is to help clients and veterinarians focus attention on the cat's needs during a specific stage of life.

I always enjoy educating my clients in regards to aging. After age 7, cats are considered "mature adults". After the age of 10 or 11 they become "seniors". It is not uncommon for these cats to develop insidious chronic diseases that easily go unnoticed for a couple of years by the owner. When the poor cat begins to show actual signs that something isn't quite right, it is because the level of health compromise has reached a point that makes it impossible for organs like the heart, kidney, pancreas, intestines and the immune system to function properly. Moreover, if the disease is in an early stage, the physical exam performed by the veterinarian will most likely not be enough to detect any changes. At this point, it is of paramount importance that the client be willing to allow the vet to perform a full health screen (blood work, thyroid check, urine check, etc.) -- even if the cat seems healthy. Trust me - in the end you will save money and most likely extend your pet's life. Another advantage of a full laboratory work-up is that it allows your vet to establish what is "normal" for that individual patient. That way, it will be easy to tell when things begin to change with age or illness. I'd like to emphasize that it is very important for cat owners to understand that cats are masterful at hiding illnesses -- even from folks who have owned cats for many years. Cats are not pack animals so they lack the protection afforded by living in groups. It has become part of their survival instinct to "pretend" they are OK when in reality they are not.

According to the recommendations of the AAFP and AAHA here is what a responsible cat owner should do for his/her feline pal:

1. A minimum of one annual wellness exam is highly justifiable for all cats. For the young cat such visits allow the vet to make recommendations in regards to vaccinations and de-worming programs, address health risks related to a cat's lifestyle (indoor vs. outdoors), discuss diet recommendations, behavior, environmental enrichment, socialization, transportation, etc.
2. More frequent examinations for senior or geriatric cats or cats with or without known medical and behavioral conditions are highly advisable.
3.  Semi-annual wellness exams are recommended for all feline life stages. The reasons for semi-annual exams include: (1) changes in health status may occur in a short period of time; (2) ill cats often show no signs of disease which unfortunately allows them to progress to critical stages; (3) earlier detection of body weight changes (losing or gaining weight fast), dental disease, heart murmur, food and water intake and irregular visits to the bathroom often indicate that something is wrong. Early detection allows for earlier, more effective treatments.

Let me know if you have any questions and enjoy your cat!