Do Cats Need as Much Veterinary Attention as Dogs?

The title of this blog asks an important question, and the short answer is a resounding yes!

You don’t have to be a cat veterinarian to know that cats, just like dogs, often become sick or injured and require veterinary care. One species doesn’t trump the other as far as health concerns. Cats and dogs are equals in that respect.

However, because cats are prone to hiding symptoms and discomfort, any cat veterinarian would argue that this underscores why owners should prioritize regular wellness visits for their cats.

Why Cats are Such Stoics

Big cats are predators. In the wild, by concealing illness or weakness, they avoid becoming easy marks. This survival instinct explains why today’s kitty behaves so stoically.

Cats have evolved from being solely predators to both prey and predator. Unlike dogs that are pack animals, cats are loners and have only themselves for protection.

Dr. Fern Slack, a cat veterinarian, noted that cats are more like birds. Many bird owners don’t know their bird is sick until they find it dead in its cage, having hidden its illness until it was too late.

Dogs, on the other hand, will alert you when something is wrong with them. They’ll limp, scratch vigorously, or even whimper or bark to vocalize their discomfort.

Cat owners will bring their seemingly healthy kitty to the vet for a checkup, only to discover from lab results and a thorough physical examination that kitty is ill.

Cat veterinarians recommend annual wellness visits for young cats and twice-annual for senior kitties. The visit should include a thorough physical examination to assess the cat along with any necessary bloodwork and fecal and urine samples. Cats older than 10 require annual senior labwork.

These wellness visits also provide the opportunity to be sure the cat is up to date on vaccinations and flea and tick preventatives. Veterinarians can stay abreast of cats' dental health, too, as dental care is recommended every 1-3 years.

Don’t wait for your cat to tell you she’s sick. Her instinct is to keep that a secret. Show your kitty your love by scheduling regular veterinarian visits. Catch potential health problems before they become unmanageable.