All cats should receive routine veterinary feline health care.
A disturbing fact is that many cats never visit a veterinarian or visit only very rarely. Often, cat owners simply are not aware that their cats need veterinary health care. Owners may also not be adept at determining when their cats are sick and requiring medical help. In addition, for many cats and cat owners, a trip to the veterinarian is a traumatic and stressful experience.
AAFP (American Association of Feline Practitioners) together with AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association) has issued “Feline Life Stages Guidelines” which help veterinarians standardize the care received by all cats. The guidelines cover suggestions for the frequency with which a cat (or kitten) should be examined, feline nutrition and weight control, feline behavior and environmental enrichment, control and prevention of feline parasites, feline vaccinations and feline oral health care. Find out more about each of these topics in the following articles:
Health care for cats: New recommendations for feline veterinary care – AAFP/AAHA have issued a publication suggesting feline health care guidelines with the objective of providing comprehensive health care for each individual age group, the “Feline Life Stages Guidelines”.
Feline health examiination: How often should cats receive wellness exams? – Cats need regular examinations, but too often cat owner neglect taking their cat to the vet. Find out how often your cat should be examined and what the veterinarian should cover during the examination.
Feline nutrition and weight management guidelines – Proper nutrition is essential for the well-being of any cat. Weight management is often overlooked by cat owners and an alarming number of our pet cats are overweight or obese. Discover what recommendations are offered for providing adequate nutrition and maintaining the correct weight and body condition.
Feline behavior and environmental enrichment guidelines – Feline behavior is often dictated by the cat’s surroundings and the amount of stress present within the lifestyle. Indoor cats in particular need environmental enrichment which is sufficient to reduce stress levels and maintain general overall health. (Living indoors is inherently stressful for cats because of the limited environment but indoor living also offers protection against trauma and disease.)
Prevention and control of feline parasites – Parasite control is important not only from a feline health angle but also because some cat parasites can infect and cause disease for people as well.
Vaccination guidelines for cats and kittens – Vaccinations keep our cats healthy and protect them from disease, but the days of administering every vaccine available to each individual cat are gone. Vaccination schedules need to be tailored to fit the life style and risk factors for each cat on an individual basis. A vaccination schedule appropriate for one cat may be totally inappropriate for another.
Taking a cat to the veterinarian: Making veterinary visits easy for a cat – Taking a cat to the vet is often challenging. Controlling your cat and keeping him calm before and during the visit may be difficult. Fortunately, some advance planning can help make the ordeal less stressful and much simpler for both you and your cat.
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We have a lot of great posts planned for the near future. They’ll be packed full of helpful information, so be sure to stop by again soon
Good stuff. this is why i love reading blogs other than my full time career as a dentist.
I know many who think it’s better to let their cat go without veterinary care instead of going through the stress of a vet visit, but it’s just not true! Thank you for such a comprehensive roundup of great information
Thank you for your kind words, Tamara. I agree with you wholeheartedly about the importance of veterinary care for cats! It can literally extend their lives.
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