We know it’s not always a walk in the park to bring your cat to the vet, and that’s why we understand when people question whether or not they really need to bring them in for their annual exams if they seem to be just fine at home. We recommend, however, that all cats, no matter how healthy or unhealthy they seem, should come in for an exam at least once a year, and here’s why:
1. Annual exams provide a good baseline for if your cat were to get sick in the future. If your veterinarian is familiar with what your kitty is like when they are healthy, then it is much easier to notice small changes as time goes by and/or know how to better proceed when they do get sick. It’s like being lucky enough to have a pediatrician for your child that knows them so well that they don’t need to do a CAT scan to know that he pushed a peanut up his nose.
2. Cats are experts at hiding their symptoms. They evolved to mask injury and illness as a survival strategy for living in the wild. Unfortunately for us, that means that oftentimes once we are able to recognize that something is wrong, the illness has progressed to a point where they are no longer able to hide it. Our veterinarians, however, are experts at detecting things that may seem invisible to the naked eye.
3. Your veterinarian can examine your cat in a way that is impossible to do on a superficial level at home. For example, did you know that by palpating the abdomen, your veterinarian can get a lot of information about your cat’s internal organ function? Also, by using a stethoscope, they can evaluate the heart as well as the lungs. Some other things they are able to check are inside of the ears, the mouth, the lymph nodes, and the anal sacs… All from just one exam! It’s also important to be able to detect subtle weight changes which can be indicative of underlying illness (home scales are usually not accurate enough to show such small increases or decreases in weight).
4. Lastly, one year in a cat’s life is equivalent to 5-7 years in a human’s life. A lot can change in that time. When it comes to healthcare, it always better to act sooner rather than later. Remember what it feels like to have a nagging, aching tooth and then have the pain go away once treated?
The most important thing to take away from this article isn’t that something horrible might happen if you don’t bring your cat in for their annual exam, but as you can see, good things definitely happen when you do. We care about each patient as if they were our own, and our mission is to always provide the best care possible for each and every one of them.
P.S. We’d love for you to join us on social media where you can connect with everything that’s happening here at CCP. For the latest news, inspiring stories, helpful information to improve your cat’s life, and, of course, adorable cat pics, follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/catcareprofessionals.