Kermit the Frog sang, “It’s Not Easy Bein’ Green.” Being green may be challenging, but consider life as a cat. According to recent studies:
- About a quarter of all adult cats are overweight. (Banfield 2014)
- Since 2009 the number of cats with FIV has increased 48%. (Banfield 2014)
- In the past five years, arthritis in cats has gone up by 67%. (Banfield 2013)
- Kidney disease is 7 times more likely in cats than in dogs. (Banfield 2013)
At a time when feline health issues are increasing, feline veterinary visits declined by 4.4%. Unfortunately, the decline in veterinary visits is not that startling given that another Banfield study found that 58% of cat owners believed that their cats hate going to the veterinarian and 38% said that they stress even thinking about a veterinary visit. The drama and stress of the veterinary visit---whether real or perceived---suffered by felines and their owners is an obstacle to providing quality care to cats and one that veterinary practice must confront in order to remove the barriers to preventive care and treatment.
When owners neglect to schedule timely visits and follow preventive healthcare guidelines, they are failing their beloved companions. Preventive healthcare is the key to maintaining wellbeing and recognizing and treating diseases and medical conditions before they cause irreparable damage.
The VHMA/Partners for Healthy Pets protocols highlighted in this blog can be applied to treating feline patients, but there is a caveat. To become a Preventive Pet Healthcare Practice Champion for cats, practices must consider and address the unique needs of felines.
Felines are cats; not small dogs. Creating a welcoming environment for feline patients that reduces the stress and anxiety associated with the veterinary visit is at the heart of ensuring that clients embrace preventive healthcare.
Practices that want to design a cat friendly environment that is inviting and responsive to the needs of felines and their owners can advance their knowledge and acquire essential information by visiting the Partners for Healthy Pets website.
The site is a bonanza of feline-specific resources, tools and information. Many of the resources have been created by the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) ---an organization dedicated to the health and welfare of cats---and address the full spectrum of feline issues including: how to become a certified cat friendly practice, information about effective cat handling techniques, feline-centric webinars and special collateral materials for cat owners. For practices learning to navigate the world of the feline patient, the site focuses on the unique characteristics and needs of cats and provides practical advice for using this information to better serve felines so that they may benefit from preventive pet healthcare.
Short “how-to” videos created by the CATalyst Council are also available and can be used to help guide the practice through cat handling techniques and life stage needs.
For practices committed to creating an environment that is non-stressful for both the cat and owner in order to promote a stronger awareness of the need for preventive pet healthcare to better health for our feline friends, taking inventory of the resources and tools available on the Partners for Healthy Pets website is an important first step. The site contains information that is essential for transforming the practice and communicating this commitment and concern to patients and clients.
#ChampionsCorner