When Should You Take Your Cat to the Vet – On Annual Take Your Cat to the Vet Day of Course

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Royal Canin. All opinions are 100% mine.

Did you know cats need preventive care just like us humans? Take your cat to the vet day aims to reminder pet parents why a check up is important for your cat!

Adopting my kitties was one of the best things I’ve ever done. They added so much joy to our family and we couldn’t imagine life without them. Most parents feel the same way about their cats and want what’s best for them. But many well-meaning cat owners just aren’t sure how often their cat actually needs to visit a vet. I didn’t even know the answer to that but after adopting a few cats and some with special needs, I quickly found out.

Just like us humans, cats need regular preventative check-ups to keep them healthy and happy.

MY CAT IS AN INDOOR CAT SO DO I STILL NEED TO TAKE THEM FOR ANNUAL CHECK-UPS?

Yes, you do. Since cats are such stoic animals it can be difficult for owners to tell when their cats aren’t feeling well. That yearly check-up is a great way to make sure kitty is staying healthy.

CARING FOR YOUR CAT DURING A PANDEMIC

With pet parents being home more often, there is plenty of time to watch our cats and wonder if what they are doing is considered “normal” for them or not.

If you’ve been quarantining with your cat you may be one of the 66% of cat owners surveyed that learned or noticed something new about their pet.

For example, I learned that my kitten loves to dunk his face in the water bowl despite having his own bowl to use. He just likes the “big kid” bowl better. Who could be mad at him though. Just look at that wet chin!

Maybe you want to know if that new “thing” is normal or not or maybe you noticed something out of the ordinary since you’re around them all day.

That’s why taking your cat to the veterinarian yearly can help identify problems before they become serious.

While 75% of American cat owners said they couldn’t have gotten through the quarantine without their pet, 23% of those surveyed believe cats don’t need to be taken to the vet as often as dogs.

A lot of pet owners are so thankful for their furry friends and helping them make it through quarantine that 36% plan to take their pet to the vet to make sure they’re healthy.

And that’s a great reminder for all of us. Our cats give us so much, making sure they’re healthy is the least we can do for them.

SIGNS YOUR CAT ISN’T FEELING WELL

While it’s not easy to tell when you kitty isn’t feeling well, there are some signs you should watch out for. Look for signs like:

• Changes in appetite or water intake
• Coughing or sneezing
• Acting lethargic or not like herself
• Vomiting
• Changes in stool quality – either softer or harder than usual
• More or less urine in the litter box

While there can be more signs, many of which we may miss, this is a good start and might signal it’s time to take you cat in to the vet.

HOW TO TAKE YOUR CAT TO THE VET DURING A PANDEMIC

Most animal hospitals are open but the way they see your pet has changed. Instead of waiting in a lobby with your pet, many vets are doing curbside service.

Once you make your appointment, you park outside, call the office to let them know you’re there and the veterinary team will come out to the car to pick up your cat.

You can tell your veterinary team what’s going on and they’ll call you over the phone during or after they examine your cat.

One of my cats had a really bad seizure a couple of months ago. Our typical vet was closed because of the pandemic but I was able to find a great new vet right by my house who saw him right away.

While I hated having to wait in the car, the office took such good care of him and gave him plenty of love while he was under their care.

MOBILE VETERINARY SERVICES

Mobile veterinary services are also available in many areas, so the vet could come to you. Mobile vets typically utilize a van where they come directly to your house to examine your cat.

Services can be available for routine visits, sick visits, and hospice visits or other specialized care.

EMERGENCY VET CLINICS

Emergency clinics and specialty hospitals are also open if they are needed. Many of them are taking a similar approach to your regular vet where you call and they come out to get your cat.

TELEHEALTH VISITS

Check with your veterinarian about virtual appointments! With Telehealth services on the rise, some veterinarians are offering this service for pet owners now.

I’ve used Telehealth services for myself in the past and would LOVE that ability with my cats.

TIPS FOR CARING FOR YOUR CAT DURING A PANDEMIC

My friends at Royal Canin, the brand of cat food I feed all of my babies has but together a great array of ways we can learn and keep our cats healthy for take your cat to a vet day.

WATCH

A new cat-centric web series: Catology Presents Kitten Lady and Friends, a new cat-centric web series that covers everything cat…from behavior to health and nutrition. You might learn a new thing or two.

LEARN

Ready to learn more about cats and their specific needs? The best way to keep your cat healthy is to learn more about them. Stay Curious.

CHAT

Always be curious about your cat’s health and what you can do to improve it. Receive a complimentary chat with a veterinarian 24/7, brought to you by Royal Canin and Ask.Vet.

SHOP

Purchase your favorite Royal Canin cat food from PetSmart and receive a free vet visit from Banfield. It’s the perfect way to get your kitty in for his exam!

DONATE

Having adopted all of my cats from a local shelter (and volunteering with them before the pandemic), I know first hand how important the donations from organizations and people are.

When you purchase Royal Canin cat food from Chewy.com, your purchase supports veterinary care for shelter cats through GreaterGood.org. It’s so easy to give back this way and

WIN

Enter the #Cat2Vet sweepstakes to win a prize pack to help you get ready for your cat’s next vet visit. Every entry will also receive a free sample of Royal Canin Hematuria Detection by Blücare.

The #Cat2Vet sweepstakes can be entered at RoyalCanin.com/cathealth

Hopefully you’ve enjoyed all this time home with your pet (although I have to question if our cats are really enjoying it) and maybe you’ve noticed a new thing or two about them.

Use this time to call your vet and set up your cat’s annual check up or head on in to Petsmart, pick up some Royal Canin cat food and get your FREE vet visit! And don’t forget to learn more about cat health and enter the sweepstakes now

Dawn