General Health and Wellness for Cats

Keeping your cat healthy depends on maintaining a healthy relationship with your veterinarian. It’s important for your veterinarian to see your cat on a regular basis – not only when he or she is sick.

Why are routine wellness exams so important? One of the reasons has to do with the pet aging process. Cats age faster than people – seven times faster, on average – and most cats are considered “senior” by age seven. Because they age so rapidly, major health changes like cancer, diabetes, arthritis or heart disease can occur in a short amount of time.

Cats also have a tendency to hide illness. Cat owners may not realize there’s a problem, which may be one reason cats are brought to the veterinarian only about half as often as dogs.

Regular wellness exams allow your veterinarian to diagnose, treat or even prevent potential health problems before they become serious. Common feline health screenings recommended by the American Veterinary Medical Association include:

• Immunizations
• Parasite check
• Heartworm check
• Dental health exam
• Blood panel (CBC)
• Chemistry panel
• Urinalysis
• Osteoarthritis check (for senior cats)
• Chest radiograph (for senior cats)
• Thyroid check (for senior cats)
• Blood pressure check (for senior cats)

Ask your veterinarian if wellness supplements are right for your best friend.