Everything You Need To Know About The Importance Of Cat Health
Cats are truly beautiful animals that bring comfort, joy, and love into our lives. They are more than just pets. They are our companions, our friends, and our family. Cats are so important to us, that the whole month of February is widely celebrated as National Cat Health Month. This article will cover everything you need to know about National Cat Health Month and some general advice on how best to maintain your cats’ overall health.
We Are Not Veterinarians, But Still Professionals
Full disclosure, we are not a medical practice, nor are we trained in veterinary medicine. We are however professionals when it comes to pets and pet behavior. With over 10 years of experience working as professional pet sitters, we’ve seen it all. We know what it means and what it takes for a pet to have a healthy lifestyle (click here to see our testimonials). We hope this article helps educate and inform you about cat health and how you can better improve your cats’ quality of life.
The Importance Of The Holiday
The purpose of National Cat Health Month is to promote, educate, and remind people about the importance of cat health. Cats are typically regarded as low maintenance pets, compared to dogs, and are often given less thought when it comes to their overall health needs. This is not to say that cat owners are neglectful, but rather there isn’t enough information or promotion for cat health. That’s why the month of February is dedicated to cat health and informing cat owners about the do’s and don’ts of cat health.
How You Can Get Involved
The best way to get involved in this month-long pet-themed holiday is to do something healthy for your cat. We will mention some general cat health tips and advice later in the article that we encourage you to try. If you’re not a cat owner, then you can still get involved by spreading the word! Share this article with your friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers. There’s a good chance one of them is a cat owner and this information could prove useful. You can also turn to social media and let others know about this wonderful, educational, and feline friendly holiday.
Some General Advice Regarding Cat Health
Knowledge is power and you should never stop learning. This February we encourage you to go above and beyond for your cat and their overall health. Here are a few tips and pieces of advice that can help make your cat healthier and happier.
Annual Checkup:
Just like people, cats need annual checkups to make sure they’re healthy and that nothing is out of the ordinary. Make sure your cat gets at least once veterinarian visit a year so you can stay on top of their overall health. Cats are very good at hiding their pain and we often don’t know if something is wrong until it’s too late. Annual checkups will help you catch and treat any illnesses or diseases before they get out of hand.
Vaccinations:
During your cats’ annual checkup, be sure they’re up-to-date on their vaccinations. According to the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP), there are 4 core vaccines that all kittens and cats should have. They are vaccines for Feline panleukopenia (FPL), Feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR), Feline caliciviral disease, and Rabies. To learn more about these various vaccines and the diseases they prevent, check out the VCA Animal Hospitals website.
High Quality Diet:
Your cat deserves the best. That includes the foods they eat. In honor of National Cat Health Month, we encourage you to spoil your cat with some high quality cat food. Whether it’s dry food or wet food, you should always pay extra close attention to what your cat is eating. Be sure to check the nutritional label on the box, bag, or can before buying. Avoid cat foods with chemical preservatives, meat byproducts, and carbohydrate fillers.
Spay & Neuter:
We encourage you to have your cat spayed or neutered both for their health and to reduce cat overpopulation. Studies have shown that unspayed female cats have a significantly higher risk of getting mammary tumors than spayed female cats. Having your cat spayed or neutered will also help reduce the risk of them getting pregnant or getting another cat pregnant. Cat overpopulation is a serious problem that can only be prevented and solved by responsible pet owners like you.