By David Sachs

Some of you may have noticed that the majority of our monthly information series has been targeted towards our canine loving audience. In the spirit of the New Year, we believed it was time to give a nod to our feline friends. After all, there are approximately 75 million pet cats in the United States.

This month my esteemed colleague, Dr. Peggy Sayer, discusses the topic of prevention and the importance of routine examinations for our feline friends. Dr. Sayer is a board-certified veterinary cardiologist at CVRC. Cats are prone to a significant amount of cardiac diseases and the benefits of early diagnosis and treatment are numerous. Here's to a healthy New Year!

In the last decade, pet owners in the United States began to take preventative care much more seriously. However, it seems that some of us are scheduling yearly appointments for ourselves and our canine companions while overlooking our feline friends. Both the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Association of Feline Practitioners recommend that cats be seen by their veterinarian once a year. However, a 2011 report showed that less than half of pet cats in America visited the veterinarian that year. So why are so few cats getting to the vet? The same report showed that most owners didn’t take their cat to the vet because the cat didn’t seem sick.

As someone who sits on the other side of the exam table, I can tell you that cats are notoriously good at not seeming sick! When they are sick they can be very sneaky. Your cat may be successful in hiding subtleties like weight loss, change in appetite, hair coat, or gait. To compound the problem, these changes are often gradual. In multiple-cat households it can be nearly impossible to identify the individual leaving undesirable gifts on the carpet. Luckily, your veterinarian is trained to decode your pet’s behavior based on physical exam findings and your keen observations of his or her daily routine. Regular physical exams with your veterinarian may make it possible for us to identify a medical problem before the problem becomes serious.

As a veterinary cardiologist, I can tell you that cats are particularly good at hiding heart disease. In one retrospective study of cats that experienced strokes, 50 percent of them had never been suspected of having heart disease. So how do I help prevent stroke when these cats show their families no signs that they are at risk? There is no perfect answer to this question. However, red flags like heart murmurs or arrhythmias are much more likely to be discovered if a cat sees the vet for a yearly physical exam. If a problem is identified, we can take steps to characterize how serious it is. For cats out there with more serious diseases, early recognition allows us to prevent unneeded painful complications.

Owners also report that they are worried about the stress that a trip out of the house may cause their furry friend. We recognize that getting your cat to the vet is not as easy as it may sound. In the event that you are able to catch your cat on the morning of the appointment and get them into the carrier, the car and the office often prove stressful environments for them. We take your cats comfort seriously and take every possible precaution to keep them calm once they arrive. In addition to moving slowly and taking our time during exams, we often use aromatherapy to calm cats during their visit.

Many cats are a little stressed by their yearly physical, but it is a small price to pay for keeping them healthy and happy. I don’t particularly like going to the doctor either, but I recognize that a good preventative care routine will help me stay healthy so that I can care for my patients and my family. Your cat isn’t any different. Even if they hide or howl the whole way there, it is important to take them to see their veterinarian once a year. After it’s all over you can give them their favorite treat and maybe even get yourself a milkshake. You both deserve a treat after a trip to vet.