Cats don’t see the veterinarian nearly as much as dogs do. Let’s face it, a vet visit (and the car ride there) can be stressful for kitties – but isn’t it important to take our cats to the vet more often than just when it’s an emergency? We think so – because we learned this the hard way.
Cats are stoic beings and they mask their pain instinctively. In the wild, cats who show weakness or pain are easy prey for predators. This is why we usually have no idea that our cats are sick or dealing with disease until it’s often greatly progressed. This is also why we often don’t deem it necessary to take our kitties to the vet regularly. If they seem fine we like to think they’re “healthy”. But are they really?
We neglected regular vet visits for a long time – and our excuses were many of the same common excuses we hear from many cat parents today…
Why we didn’t take our cats to the vet for annual check ups
- A vet visit just stresses our cats out and we don’t want that.
- We haven’t found a vet that we like and I’m sure they’ll just give them drugs.
- Vet visits are expensive and we don’t have much money.
If you find yourself dealing with any or all of these excuses, we understand. We also feel it’s so important to share why we no longer feel the same.
Why we now take our cats to the vet regularly
- A regular vet visit is much less stressful for our kitties than living for months or years with a painful disease.
- It may take some time, but with a little effort you will be able to partner with a veterinarian that understands you and cares for your kitties.
- Using pet insurance or a savings account is a way to be able to proactively care for your cats. Also, regular checkups are often much less expensive than an emergency surgery or treatment for disease.
Younger cats (below the age of ten) should see their vet at least once per year for a checkup and dental. This doesn’t always require a blood test, but I do recommend doing this at least once every 2 years.
Because the body changes quickly as our feline’s age, it’s important to get a senior blood panel run on your kitties above the age of 10. If you take your cat to the vet regularly you will usually be able to avoid pain, chronic illness and larger vet bills. Let’s be proactive – not reactive – cat parents. 🙂
Proactive Supplement to Keep Cats Healthy
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