Tuesday, August 22, 2017

National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day

It still amazes mom when she is working on applications for the rescue when she calls the vet office only to learn that pet listed hasn't been seen in....years. This year Royal Canin is getting on board and helping people be more aware that cats need regular vet visits.

REGULAR FELINE VETERINARY CARE IS CRUCIAL

In the United States, less than half of cats see the veterinarian on a regular basis. Cats need regular check-ups to make sure they’re healthy. National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day on August 22 was created to build awareness among cat owners for the need of regular veterinary care.

The American Association for Feline Practitioners has great information and WHY and HOW to get your cat to the vet. As rescuers, we always recommend taking a new pet in to meet your vet within 30 days. Mom says it is more a "look we got a new cat visit" than anything else, but it helps to have been seen before something urgent pops up and you are scrambling to get an appointment.
wait - we is going where??

Don't get us wrong - stick us in a carrier and take us to the v-e-t and we will LOUDLY sing the song of our people. To which mom replies - suck it up kids. MOL She knows it is stressful but she also knows it is necessary.

Cats hide illnesses better than anyone out there and it pays to keep on top of things. From just an annual check up to make sure everything looks and sounds good, to regular vaccines (based on your vet's recommendations), to blood work, to dental cleanings, it is all important. Preventative care is always going to be cheaper than the panicked moment when you have to try to get an appointment or worse have to find an emergency vet.

Luckily the vet we are using now is wonderful and does everything to make sure things are done quickly and without stressing the cats. Of course, Tommy and Mo don't mind strangers, so they are pretty easy. Daiquiri and Ivy get wound up, but mom has taken to using the carriers that have the top come off easily, so she simply takes the carrier apart and no one has to be forced out.

And here is where mom confesses something: Junior and Spud don't actually get regular visits. We know - it is a bad thing. However, both are pretty wild (Junior would actually be considered semi-feral in all honesty). It causes more stress to catch them and get them to the vet and have them be handled than to just leave them alone. It is a hard decision to make, but those two boys aren't your "typical" housecats and so mom makes the exception. Mom has had conversations with the vet and we do have a medication that we can try to "slip" them in order to get them to the vet if mom notices changes in their habits or behaviors. Don't get us wrong....this is NOT ideal and you need to talk to your vet about these situations...but Junior and Spud are exceptions not the rules.

In fact - this is a good reminder: she needs to call to get Mozart in and get his vaccines updated.

During the month of August, if you post a picture or a tip about getting your cat to the vet and use the hashtag #Cat2VetDay Royal Canin will donate $5 to Frankie's Friends which is an organization that helps provide grants for emergency care to family pets in need.

14 comments:

  1. Unfortunately, we do not have a veterinarian for Angel these days. I fired our old vet, and refuse to use a vet that will do declawing. Here in Michigan, SO MANY vets amputate the toe bones of poor cats, that is sickening. The nearest non-declaw vet is in downtown Detroit, and they have a great reputation. Guess it's time I put on my big-girl panties and schedule an appointment for Angel!

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  2. WE are ashamed to say that not all the cats get to the vet on a regular basis. They are almost all feral so it stresses them out to go or even get in the carrier. But the Mom keeps a good eye on them, to watch any change in their eating or behavior. But great post.

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    1. mom says she completely understands....Marg is a good cat lady and we know she keeps a close eye on everyone.

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  3. We've seen a little too much of our vet recently... But you're right, it's a good idea!

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  4. We all need regular vet care! This is a great reminder!
    Yours sincerely,
    Margaret Thatcher

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  5. Agreed! I definitely take Beau whenever we notice any odd things!

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  6. Excellent post. I have been at the vet a little too often lately.

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  7. I'm going to the vet on Friday! Therapy cat check up and rabies vaccines. I hope I can wander on my leash while I'm there.

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  8. Bear makes it so incredibly difficult to take him - and I feel horrible for making him go. Luckily, he doesn't sound as difficult as Junior and Spud - so I just try to make the best of it. Quite honestly, I'd probably not be motivated to take him if I thought I could forgive myself if something happens to him. (and by the way, that's not an indirect insult on how you treat Spud and Junior ... Bear's difficult, but not impossible ... apples to oranges in this case).

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    1. no insult taken....mom worries about them but knows the stress of catching them and taking them (not to mention risk of injury to a person) isn't worth it for our boys. every situation is different.

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  9. It's so sad that many people don't think cats need regular care as much as dogs do. This is such an important day to remind people how quickly a small medical problem can become something really big if it's not caught early.

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  10. We hate going to the vet but we know how important regular vet visit are. Zoey is like Junior and Spud and the last time the mom took her to the vet, she slipped her that medicine and it kinda worked. The vet was able to pick her up. Amazing. So don't be afraid to give it a try.

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  11. Excellent post. Each cat, each dog, is different. And they each need regular, individualized care. Hugs.

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  12. it is sad how many people do not think this is important

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