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National Bring Your Cat to the Vet Day {Why Cats Are Lagging Behind Dogs!}

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National Bring Your Cat to the Vet Day is a day that encourages cat lovers to show their love for their cat by making sure he or she has the proper veterinary care. This important day points out a statistic that’s sad but true: 83% of cats are taken to the vet in the first year of ownership but over half of them never return! Cats may outnumber dogs in family homes…but the number of cat vet visits is lagging.

National Bring Your Cat to the Vet Day

When is National Bring Your Cat to the Vet Day?

Launched by the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP), National Bring Your Cat to the Vet Day takes place every August 22.

National Bring Your Cat to the Vet Day is sometimes referred to as National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day.

When is Take Your Cat to the Vet Week?

In 2009 Feline Pine launched Take Your Cat to the Vet Week. It is observed the third week in August.

National Take Your Cat to the Vet Week

A nationwide survey conducted by the nation’s leading cat litter brand for families with felines revealed that less than half of cat owners schedule an annual check up for their fur babies– a fact that can be costly later, on both a financial and emotion level.

According to Feline Pine’s in-house veterinarian, Dr. Michele Gaspar, “Cats are often subtle in their signs of discomfort or illness. As a result, many owners miss early warning signs of a problem. When caught early enough, many diseases can be treated so that a cat enjoys a good quality of life. When left too long, many illnesses progress and so does the intensity – and cost – of treatment.”

Why Don’t Cats Go to the Vet?

Why Can't Don't Go to the Vet

A feline health study conducted by Bayer HealthCare in collaboration with the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) and Brakke Consulting found that more than half (52 percent) of America’s 74 million cats are not receiving regular veterinary care.

Royal Canin joined The American Association of Feline Practitioners, The International Cat Association, CATalyst Council and The Cat Fanciers’ Association to help make pet parents aware of the importance of taking cats to the veterinarian. They noted that cat owners avoid scheduling veterinary visits for many reasons, whether it be difficulty getting their cat to the vet or the belief that indoor cats aren’t as susceptible to illness or disease. Cats are also known to disguise their discomfort, which can allow health-related problems to go undetected by their owners.

According to Royal Canin research, 21 percent of cat owners said they take their cat to the vet only after it’s already showing signs of illness. 

“Regular feline veterinary care is crucial for the health and happiness of your cat,” said Dr. Catherine Lenox, Royal Canin Scientific Affairs Manager and board-certified veterinary nutritionist. “Just like dogs, cats need to see the veterinarian on a regular basis for wellness exams, not only when there’s a serious medical need. Cat owners should identify a time throughout the year that can serve as a regular reminder for this important check-up – such as back to school or when they schedule their own annual medical appointment.”

We all know the dangers of that lack of veterinary care — but what is the cause?

The Bayer Feline Findings Study revealed four major reasons why a majority of cat owners do not take their cats to the veterinarian for routine annual examinations:

Lack of knowledge.

Most cats (69 percent) are acquired at no cost, with little or no instruction on proper veterinary care.  

More than one-third of cat owners (37 percent) noted they didn’t even think their veterinarians recommend annual exams and 81 percent believed their cats are self-sufficient and in excellent health, thereby requiring little attention.

Feline resistance to pet carrier and travel.

Fifty-eight percent of cat owners report their cats hate going to the veterinarian. The study found most cats fear being placed into a cat carrier and transported by car, so many owners simply opt to avoid the hassle. In fact, for 38 percent of owners, just thinking about bringing their cats to the clinic was stressful enough.

For many cat owners, simply getting their cat in and out of a travel carrier was a preventing factor–three times more likely to mention travel as a deterrent to vet visits than dog owners who didn’t see a vet in the last year.

Stressful experience in the veterinary clinic.

Once at the clinic, more than half of cat owners are less than completely satisfied with waiting room comfort, reflecting the fact that only 18 percent of veterinary practices have created cat-only waiting areas that are physically and visually separated from dogs.

The study also found nearly one-third of practices have not trained staff on making visits more comfortable and only 11 percent have established cat-only days and appointment hours.

Value.

When asked how satisfied they are with their veterinary experience, 59 percent of cat owners indicate they are least satisfied with “value for money.”

The study shows that oftentimes pet owners do not understand that the procedures done when their cat visits the veterinarian can improve their quality of life. Veterinarians should take the opportunity to educate clients on the value these visits bring to their cat.

Here’s an important infographic from the American Association of Feline Practitioners about why you should be sure to take your cat to the vet!

5 reasons routine vet visits are an important part of your cat's health - national bring your cat to the vet day

What’s the hardest part of taking your cat to the vet? Getting them in the carrier? The stress of the vet visit on your cat? On you? The cost? We’d love to hear your feedback!

More Cat Holidays

CatTipper features nearly 200 cat holidays in our annual roundup of cat holidays and observances including these special events:

National Cat Health Month

Spay/Neuter Awareness Month

National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day

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National Bring Your Cat to the Vet Day
Paris Permenter
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