How does this Segway into the discussion below? Why are fewer cats being seen at the veterinarian?
There is an estimated 74 to 86 million cats (70 million estimated dogs) in the USA (averaging 2.2 cats per household). During the last 5 years, the percentage of households owning cats declined 6.2 percent (dogs decreased 1.9 percent). 40 to 45 % of USA cats have NOT been to the veterinarian in their lifetime for preventative care. New guidelines by shelter and adoption agencies have changed the social experience of many of these cats, especially the indoor ones.
With so many new preventative treatments in cats for fleas and heartworms, including better nutrition, are related infections rising? Is there more Diabetes Mellitus in cats now than in the past?
Yes, even though they are far more expensive to treat than to prevent (there is no treatment for heartworms in cats as there is in dogs). For cats, in the last 8 years, flea infestations were up 12 percent, diabetes mellitus increased 16 percent, and internal parasite hookworm infections were up 3.5 percent in cats.
Flea bites make cats itch in reaction to flea saliva, carry diseases (feline infectious anemia, cat scratch disease, tapeworms, & plague for example), drain blood, and increase risks of flea bite allergies. Fleas can also spread disease to people within the household (think children crawling on the carpeting). Obviously, if cats had a choice they'd clearly pick prevention over crazily itching from flea allergies or suffering the effects, even succumbing, to heartworm disease. Once a household has a flea infestation, it can take at least 3 months to get the situation under control.
My cat hates a car ride and I dread the veterinary visits. Could that be a contributing factor to a decline in veterinary visits?
Of course! Unpleasant experiences make pet owners avoid such episodes. 25% of cats in the USA had no regular preventative care in the last year alone. This is in large part because the cats themselves resist so vehemently being put in a carrier (remembering my own experience with Freddie Mertz), improper socialization/conditioning, and negative veterinary experiences. It’s stressful to the cats, and often more so to the cat owner.
With house calls for cats being an option at Creature Comforts, are there other reasons beside the economy to explain a downturn in veterinary visits for preventative care ?
Many indoor cat owners feel lack of exposure to other cats or the outdoors significantly lowers the risk of parasitic infections. Yet raccoons and opossums drop hundreds of fleas and eggs at entrances to pet homes. (Note squirrels and rabbit fleas are not of risk to cats). Pet owners and indoor/outdoor pets provide the mechanical vehicle for the fleas to ride into the house searching for a blood meal from vulnerable indoor cats. Mosquitoes fly through an opening door carrying heartworm disease through a bite to your cat resulting sadly in an untimely death for this totally preventable illness.
I would know my cat is sick, wouldn’t I?
Not always as this is often false. Cats are masters at hiding illness as a protective behavior. Owners need to be aware of grooming, feeding, activity, interaction, sleeping, gum color, water consumption, breath, vocalization, and elimination habits of their beloved feline friends. Weighing of cats at home on a food scale is helpful on a monthly basis. However, in a recent survey, 15 percent of cat owners feel they can "Google" anything their veterinarian can do (forget hands- on physical exam, blood work, and radiographs).
What is the take home message on socialization & acquisition of kittens?
Although isolating a kitten may seem like a good thought from the health perspective of infectious diseases, it’s the worst thing than can be done to a kitten emotionally. The key develop period socially for a kitten is between two and seven weeks of age in observation and interaction with queen mother, fosters, and surrounding siblings/kittens. During this sensitive time a young cat learns what to fear and what is safe. If a kitten is missing exposure to different animals, people or experiences during this key development period, it will probably retain a life- long fear of novel people, places, car rides, and sadly the veterinary experience. Eventually they often become dominating and controlling cats with both claws and teeth to demonstrate their discontentment. Perhaps this is why healthy, barn cats often are well socialized pets?
What about preventative care visits for cats?
All cats in North Carolina -- indoor and outdoor -- need to be on preventative flea control/ heartworm preventative year round. Rabies immunization is required to be current and guidelines are established by local health departments, not your veterinarian. Working with the team at Creature Comforts, let’s work together to try to develop strategies to keep visits calm and healthy. This may involve food, positive re-enforcement, warm towels, hormonal Feliway spray, and yes, in some cases, medication for cats to lower their stress.
I am sure that Ricky Ricardo and Ethel Mertz (the kittens) are out there somewhere looking for their forever home with me. Let’s celebrate together the true love pets bring to our lives by updating the preventative care for all pets in our community/households. – Dr. Betsy Sigmon, Creature Comforts Animal Hospital
For more information on raising kittens
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