Why cats need to see the vet

Cats are special creatures. They are bold and brave, but they are also experts at hiding pain and keeping to themselves if they feel unwell. This is an innate way of helping them survive in the wild – if they appear weak or sick they are more susceptible to predators.

It is very common for a cat suffering from painful arthritis, insidious dental disease, or chronic kidney disease to just ‘sleep a bit more’ and maybe be ‘a bit picky with their food’ – things that are easy to miss in a busy household. Because of this, it is essential that you bring your cat in for regular health checks with us.

In a checkup, we look at things such as your cat’s weight (a small amount of weight loss can be very significant for a cat and can indicate an underlying disease). We examine their mouth for signs of dental disease and look for potentially painful teeth, listen to their heart to detect any abnormalities, and have a good feel of their abdomen for any lumps or obvious organ changes.

Blood and urine testing, as well as blood pressure checks, are also important for our feline friends. We can get a lot of information about the health of your cat from these diagnostic procedures.

So next time you think to yourself “oh, it’s all a bit too hard to take the cat to the vet,” take a moment to re-think. Preventative health care, and early detection of disease is the secret to a happy and healthy feline!

Call us to arrange a health check-up for your feline friend. For those cats that don’t like the cat box or the car, please be reminded that we can visit your cat in your home! Home visits on Wednesday afternoons are a popular option for cat owners, are only $10 more than an in-clinic visit, and cat be arranged by calling the clinic on 9841 5422.