What your vet wishes you knew… Your cat might be tricking you.

Statistics show that for every 5 dogs that go to the vet, only one cat will visit the vet. The numbers also show that there are more cats than dogs as pets in the United States. That means cats aren't getting the same level of veterinary care that dogs do and that's not fair! A survey found that cats are less likely to go to the vet unless they seem sick. Since cats are very good at hiding illness, that means more cats are losing out on catching health conditions early. Annual bloodwork on senior cats can catch health conditions before silent, irreversible damage occurs.

Did you know cats suffer 13% more than dogs with arthritis? Worse: Around 90% of cats over 12 years of age hurt in silence. An estimated 12 million cats suffer from this painful condition, yet few pet owners are aware of it. With dogs, limping is generally the sign to look for when arthritis is beginning, however, with cats, only 15% will show signs of limping. The most common sign to look for in cats for arthritis is the reluctance or inability to jump, less playing/hunting, unkempt hair coat/ decreased grooming and personality changes like being more grumpy or laying around more.

Another thing that does not get much attention because of a lack of veterinary visits is cat nutrition. Always discuss your cat's nutrition concerns with your veterinarian. Veterinarians are trained in nutrition and under the delicate balance of nutrients needed to keep a pet healthy. Your veterinarian can make food recommendations based on your pet's personal physical examination and health status to help with getting more happy and healthy years with your feline roommate.

If most cat owners are only bringing their cat to the vet when they are showing signs of sickness, we can bet that most cats' dental disease is going untreated. By the age of 4, most cats will have significant gingivitis and periodontal disease. It is a slow progressing but serious disease that can cause pain and affects the overall health and well-being of cats. Cats will not show signs of oral discomfort. Because the pain associated with dental disease comes on slowly over time, they just learn to live with it. That's why it is so important to have a veterinarian check your pet's teeth once a year. As a pet owner, you can establish dental care at home at an early age and watch for signs of dental disease like bad breath. Early prevention is key to avoiding treating serious dental issues. We love our feline friends here at Broadway Veterinary Hospitaland want to make sure they are getting the attention and care they deserve. Do you want to brighten our day?? We would love to hear the "cats are better" stories you have since dogs always tend to get all the attention.

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