Although you don’t need to take your cat to the vet more than once a year – unless of course they get sick or injured – there are steps you can take in order to ensure that your cat is in good health.
On a weekly basis, set aside about 5-10 minutes to examine various parts of the cat that can highlight the start of any health issue.
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Call kitty to you. Watch how your cat moves. Is his/her weight distributing evenly on all legs or are they trying to avoid putting weight on any of them?
Pick him/her up and look directly into the eyes. The eyes should be clear and not clouded. There should be no discharge around the eyes. If there is, once your examination is over, clean these and check them the next day – if it’s back, then you should ring your veterinary clinic for advice. The same goes for kitty’s nose. This should be moist but with no discharge. Ears should be clean and also discharge free. Discharge is a sign of possible infection. If you carefully clear it (no cotton buds/q-tips!) and it returns, then it’s time for the vet to take a look.
Gently open the mouth and check that he/she hasn’t lost any teeth since the week before and that teeth are white without looking as if any problems may be present.
Run your hand down the tummy and back. Are there any lumps or bumps that don’t belong? You’ll get to know what’s “normal” for your cat! Lumps and bumps are another reason to call the veterinary clinic for advice. They are not always cause for concern, but they should always be checked out.
Check out the quality of the fur – is it sleek and healthy looking, or is it looking as if it’s falling out in places, or is a bit greasy/dull in appearance. This could be a grooming or nutritional issue. Fur falling out is more likely to be something associated with an allergy or even fleas, and a word with your veterinary nurse could start you monitoring possible causes for this. If it’s a greasy/dull coat issue, then try bathing your cat and doing a nightly brush of the fur to see if you can improve the condition. If it doesn’t improve after a couple of weeks, it’s time to seek the advice of the veterinary clinic.
The weekly check-up that you give will take only a few minutes and he/she will get used to it and will let you do whatever you need to do – and the main thing is that because you do this same routine every week, you’ll soon know when something’s not right and can get it looked at by the professionals before it gets too bad and therefore becomes more severe and expensive! Plus your cat will love the extra bonding time with you each week.
Photo Credit: © Bennymarty | Dreamstime.com
