January 20, 2010 Wellness

Taking Better Care of Our Cats

Taking Better Care of Our Cats

It seems that cats are getting the short end of the stick when it comes to veterinary care. Research has shown that cat owners are taking their cats to the vet less often. Research sponsored by the American Veterinary Medical Association determined 83% of dogs see a veterinarian annually while only 64% of cats see a veterinarian annually.

Cats are medically underserved, in part because owners are unaware how sick their cat is. Cats, being the clever creatures that they are, can hide illness until it has reached catastrophic proportions.

The veterinarians at The AMC recommend annual examinations for all healthy younger cats and for senior cats (>7 years of age) twice annual examination. During the examination, your cat’s veterinarian will monitor your cat’s weight and body condition score as a measure of his/her overall health. The American Association of Feline Practitioners recommends the minimum database in senior cats include a complete blood count, chemistry screen, and urinalysis. Once cats pass their 10th birthday, testing thyroid function and blood pressure are recommended. Together, you and the veterinarians will discuss your cat’s lifestyle and decide on what preventive healthcare measures are required to keep you cat in tip top condition. The preventive measures include: vaccinations, parasite prevention, behavioral interventions and nutritional recommendations. Your cat’s veterinarian may suggest testing for occult infections such as feline immunodeficiency virus, feline leukemia virus and feline heartworms.

People other than just those of us at The AMC are thinking about cats and cat health too. There is an interesting new cat website (www.kittytest.com). This website displays the frequency of important cat diseases by geographic location. The information contained in this website will help the cat owner determine how often a disease is diagnosed in their county and open the door for a risk analysis for their cat with the family veterinarian. This website is similar to, but not the same as, a registry of disease for people like the governmental vital statistics bureau. The data shown on the website is compiled from the tests performed since 2000 by only one laboratory, but it will help cat owners to know how common these diseases are in their neighborhoods and give them some information with which to open a discussion with their veterinarian. Ultimately, any medical tests and treatments should be customized to the lifestyle issues of your cat.
_______________________
For nearly a century, The Animal Medical Center has been a national leader in animal health care, known for its expertise, innovation and success in providing routine, specialty and emergency medical care for companion animals. Thanks in part to the enduring generosity of donors, The AMC is also known for its outstanding teaching, research and compassionate community funds. Please help us to continue these efforts. Send your contribution to: The Animal Medical Center, 510 East 62nd Street, New York, NY 10065. For more information, visit amcny.gbtesting.us. To make an appointment, please call 212.838.7053.

Tags: animal medical center, animals, ann hohenhaus, cat, cat book, cat care, cat grooming, cat health, cat healthcare, cat vaccinations, cat vaccines, cat weight, economic crisis, economy, feline, grooming, health, kitty test, kittytest.com, new york vet, pet, pet dental month, pet emergency, pet first aid, pet gifts, pet health, pet healthcare, pet insurance, pet owner, pet remedies, pets, senior cat, senior pet, vet, veterinarian, veterinary care,

Related Posts

  • Pets and Family
    A human hand embracing a dog's paw
    July 26, 2023

    Home Euthanasia: The Pros and Cons [2023 Update]

    Learn More
  • Cats
    Dr. Brausa with AMC patient Banana
    June 28, 2023

    Feline Research 2023: Caregiver Burden, Medication Preferences, and COVID-19

    Learn More
  • Cats Oncology
    Feline lymphoma under a microscope
    June 21, 2023

    Feline Lymphoma: What You Need to Know

    Learn More