Pet Smarts: Whether indoors or out, all cats need to visit the vet at one time or another

There are almost 8 million more cats owned in the U.S. than dogs (AVMA.org), yet we see far fewer cats in the veterinary hospital than we do dogs. Why is that? There are many reasons, and hopefully the following will shed some light for cat owners and their frustration in getting their feline family members to the clinic.

My cat is an indoor cat only
One of the biggest misconceptions about indoor cats is that they do not need to go to the veterinarian. It is just as important for indoor cats as it is for outdoor cats to visit the clinic once or twice a year. All cats need the basics: vaccines, intestinal parasite testing and heartworm and flea prevention. Indoor cats may escape and meet other cats that carry common viruses that can be deadly if they are contracted by a non-vaccinated cat.

It is required for all domestic animals to be vaccinated for rabies in the state of Kentucky. Cats should also be vaccinated with an upper respiratory combination vaccine (FVRCP) and a feline leukemia vaccine (FeLV). Indoor cats can become infected with intestinal parasites by eating rodents and fleas, and they can be infected with heartworms from mosquitos (yes, they can get in your house!). Several intestinal parasites are zoonotic, meaning people can get them from animals, so it is very important to check your pets regularly for intestinal parasite infections so they can be treated appropriately.

My cat never gets sick
Cats are very stoic animals, and it is very difficult to tell when they are under the weather until they are REALLY sick. Subtle signs include not eating as much, losing weight and decreased self-grooming. Cats will also hide when they are not feeling well, sometimes for days, so if your cat’s daily routine seems to have changed and you don’t see him/her out and about as much, it may be time for a check-up with your veterinarian. Wellness bloodwork is a good way to check for internal diseases that you may not be able to detect by just looking at your cat. Common feline illnesses detected on blood work include kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, diabetes and liver disease.

My cat hates going to the veterinarian
One of the top reasons we don’t see many cats at the vet clinic is that they hate everything about the entire process. They hate getting in the carrier, riding in the car, all the noises and smells at the clinic and being restrained. Overall, it can be an extremely stressful event for cats.

Many veterinarians strive to make the visit as stress-free as possible by providing the following: separate areas for dogs and cats to check in and out, immediately putting cats in an exam room away from barking dogs, using a pheromone plug-in or spray to help calm the cats, allowing the cat to stay in the carrier during the exam (if the top is removeable) and using the least amount of restraint possible. Some cats may need to be sedated to be examined thoroughly or to obtain a blood sample.