Health Care for Cats

Caring for America's Number One Pet

Cats are now the number one pet in America, outnumbering dogs by 10 million, yet annual wellness checkups for cats is half that of dogs.

Why this is not good news for Garfield......

You'd think from the numbers that cats are "man's best friend." According to the American Veterinary Medical Association's "U.S. Pet Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook," cats outnumber dogs by more than 10 million (82 million to 72 million). And, no question, kitties have legions of fans.

But here's the dirty little secret: Cats are more often neglected than dogs, more often relinquished to shelters than dogs and less often taken to veterinarians than dogs.

Health Warning Signs in Cats

Cats are masters at HIDING PAIN and suffering.They may look perfectly healthy, but could have a major undetected illness

Seek annual routine care and watch for these subtle signs of disease.

Changes in chewing, eating and drinking habits
Drastic weight gain or loss
Withdraws from social interaction or avoids touching
Changes in activity level including sleeping more or hyperactivity
Increased vocalization
Increased urination and "accidents"
Struggling to urinate – this is an emergency
Grooms less or grooms certain areas excessively
Acts out of character

Is YOUR Cat at Risk?

Many of the most common feline diseases show few, if any, clinical signs but fortunately can be managed if caught early (ie, around 7 yrs of age). Routine veterinary visits are critical to early diagnosis and effective treatment of cat ailments. Below are some of the most common diseases based on your cat's age.

Many of the most serious feline diseases, including diabetes, hyperthyroidism, and kidney and heart disease, show few, if any, clinical signs until the disease has progressed to the advanced stages when treatment options are limited. The good news is that many feline diseases progress slowly, so they can be easily managed through nutrition or drug therapy if they are caught early through routine urine and blood tests.

Young (younger than 4 years)

Infectious diseases – most common

- FeLV/FIV (2-3% avg, 13% of sick pets)

Parasites: fleas, intestinal worms, heartworm

Behavioral Disorders

Middle-aged
(4–10 years)

Dental Disease – most common

Obesity – close second

Inflammatory bowel disease
Heart disease
Asthma/respiratory diseases

Geriatric/Senior (older than 10 years) NOTE: ALL of these diseases are detectable in the Middle Years!!!

Dental Pathology with Dead Teeth

Chronic renal failure
Hyperthyroidism
Diabetes mellitus
Arthritis

Fantastic Feline Websites

http://www.research4cats.org/

http://www.vet.cornell.edu/FHC/

http://www.thecatsite.com/

http://www.usaweekend.com/08_issues/080706/080706cats.html


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