No one can question our love of cats (and cat memes), but that love isn't translating into visits to the vet. While 92 percent of cat owners agree that their cat's health is important to them, only 41 percent take their cat to the vet for regular checkups, according to a survey from Royal Canin, a pet nutrition company. In fact, only one cat is seen by a veterinarian for every five dogs, despite the fact that 10 million more cats are owned in the U.S.
"We know our cats are smart and expressive, never hesitating to let us know how they feel about every situation," joked Carrie Ann Inaba, choreographer, host, owner of three cats and founder of The Animal Project Foundation. "So it may be easy to forget that they cannot always communicate to us about their hidden health issues. That's why I'm proud to partner with Royal Canin this year for National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day on August 22 to encourage cat owners everywhere to take time to support your cat's health."
Veterinary visits should not be limited to treating an illness or pain. Preventive care through annual or semi-annual visits is critical to a cat's overall health and well-being. According to the American Association of Feline Practitioners, there are several things cat owners can do to make visits to the veterinarian more stress-free:
- Understand your cat's behavior. The veterinarian's office is unfamiliar and has sights, sounds and smells that can cause your cat to feel anxious or fearful. Cover their carrier with a towel to help block the sight of other animals and dampen the unfamiliar sounds. Respect your cat's need for time to acclimate to the new environment.
- Help your cat become comfortable with the carrier. Place the carrier in a room at home where your cat spends most of their time and equip it with familiar soft bedding as well as special toys.
- Get the best carrier for your cat. Secure, stable, hard-sided carriers that open from the top and the front, and can also be taken apart in the middle, are best for your cat.
- Take your cat to a Cat Friendly Practice®. These veterinary practices have made specific changes to decrease the stress and provide a more calming environment for you and your cat.
- Keep peace in a multi-cat household. Leave the returning cat in the carrier for a few minutes to see how all your cats react to unfamiliar smells, and separate if there are signs of tension.
Joining the brand in urging more attention to preventive veterinary care for cats are the American Association of Feline Practitioners, CATalyst Council, The International Cat Association and the Cat Fanciers' Association.