3 Make or Break Questions to Ask Your Vet
/If you haven't seen your vet in a little while, or like ever, consider this your sign from the universe.
Cats are notoriously cool and maybe a little psycho. I may be channeling my inner Ophelia Von Hairball V, but the data doesn't lie. Aloof behavior and propensity to eat your corpse aside, cats ruggedness doesn't change the fact that they need regular veterinary care.
If it's been a year or more, schedule a check-up. You know all the reasons why, but I'll say them anyway (I hear these are good SEO keywords or something):
Be up to date with immunizations
Test for common kitty diseases
Ensure that any chronic problems are under control
Spay or neuter your cat if you haven't already
When you get to the appointment, keep in mind these three questions to ask and ensure that your vet is ready to care for your furry friend.
Do you follow best practices for feline immunization?
Look, if you're an anti-vaxxer and this extends to your cats, you're unnecessarily endangering yourself, others, and cats. Stop it. Get your shit together and get the facts on the effectiveness and safety of life-saving vaccines.
Even Catster agrees. A good vet will make sure you understand what immunizations your cat needs and why (spoiler alert, it's cause they'll live longer and healthier lives).
When do you recommend lab work?
Many veterinarians will recommend a full laboratory work-up if you've recently rescued a cat off the street. Likewise, if a cat has a sudden shift in behavior, eating, drinking, or litterbox usage, labs may be in order to determine a potential cause.
Most veterinarians will regularly check fecal samples for parasites, which outside of being super gross can also be life-threatening to their feline hosts. It's not glamorous, but it can save you from bodily harm, too.
While many people have now heard of the common cat parasite Toxoplasma gondii and the TMZ worthy news that it potentially endears cats to us even more, some may not know about its devastating effects on fetal development in humans.
Do you declaw cats?
It's super tempting to run, not walk, to a vet for a quick fix to one of the biggest frustrations cat parents face--clawmaggedon. Am I exaggerating? Not really.
Cats need to scratch. Cats use their claws as tools, weapons, and toys. Cats will absolutely shred everything except the shitty cardboard scratching post you purchased specifically for this purpose.
So, it makes sense to get those tiny Swiss Army knives of the animal kingdom benched. And while some vets will use laser technology to reduce procedure time, potential complications, and minimize recovery time and pain, it's still not a great idea to declaw your feline friends.
"But why not?! I was so close to freedom, why would you do this to me?!" you shout at me while shaking your fists. And I hear you. I've been there. And I'm going to gently guide you to our friends at The Paw Project for a fabulous list of FAQs developed by experts.
But hey, that's why you're here. The one-two punch of a great local groomer along with Clawndoms means you'll avoid the potential problems (hello life-long litterbox aversion) and still keep your favorite sweater intact.
