Did you know that 40% of Malaysian cat owners have never taken their cats to the vet before? On top of that, 60% of cat owners have also not taken their cats to the vet in the past two years!
Of course, some people might think that cats, being the independent creatures they are, are totally capable of taking care of themselves but one can never be too careful.
Dr Dylan Choy, a qualified veterinarian and scientific communication manager at Royal Canin shares with FMT some helpful tips on what to look out for when it comes to cats and the common illnesses affecting them.
If you’re a cat owner, do keep all this information in mind, as they are essential for your pet’s health.
Familiarise yourself with and observe your cat’s habits
Cat owners should pay lots of attention and to details of their cats’ A.B.U. (appetite, bowel movement and urination) on a daily basis. Any variation at all in those aspects should raise concerns.
One should not ‘wait it out’ to see if things are going to get better in the next few days. Cats have predatory instincts, meaning they are good at hiding their pain and signs of illnesses.
Often times when it has reached the stage whereby a cat is visibly unwell, the condition has progressed to a critical stage. Medical interventions at this point in time can be challenging, and conditions may not be 100% reversible by then.
Get familiar with your cat’s behaviour and demeanour, as any changes in these can indicate health issues. For example, if your cat often runs and jumps around the house, but has been looking quiet or tired lately, that’s certainly a cause for concern.
Get to know the common illnesses and symptoms
Here are the most common illnesses affected cats and their symptoms:
- Cat flu and conjunctivitis. Inflammation of the conjunctiva is a common ailment seen in cats, especially kittens. Symptoms include runny nose or nasal discharges, or swollen eyes with discharge as well. These diseases are actually preventable through vaccination. Often times, cats with such signs presented in clinics are not vaccinated, and what’s worse is these diseases are highly contagious among cats. If left untreated, it can cause many other illnesses due to the suppressed immune system of the affected cats.
- Chronic kidney disease (CKD). Statistics have shown that one in every three cats over the age of 10 has CKD, highly prevalent among senior/geriatric cats. CKD can be further divided into four stages, each based on its own set of complications and progression. Stage 1 is a mild case, while Stage 4 is the end-stage. Signs of CKD can be relatively vague to cat owners, as the clinical signs can be as subtle as weight loss, decrease in appetite and lethargy. Other times, cats with CKD can also exhibit symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea which are often mistaken as digestive-related issues.
- Osteoarthritis. This disease is known to be underdiagnosed as the signs are often missed out by cat owners – and the sign can be as subtle as not wanting to walk much or jump as much as before.
Make sure vaccinations are up to date
For kittens, it is best to get them vaccinated from the age of six weeks old onwards and ensure the regime is completed; followed by boosters at the frequency advised by your veterinarian.
Quite possibly one of the most important tips of all is to ensure that your cat’s health gets checked out as regularly as possible, and one should never dismiss a pet health issue – even if it’s a minor one.
Just as Dr Dylan says, “Responsible pet ownership is no longer just about giving shelter, food and water to your pets. Cat owners should understand that all cats are entitled to be healthy and well-nourished.”
“With that, cat owners need to invest their time, love and money as well to cover for their needs and that includes proper veterinary healthcare.”
To encourage cat owners to take better care of their cats, Royal Canin has been organising the ‘Take Your Cat to the Vet’ campaign since 2016.
The goal is simple: to get pet owners to schedule regular check-ups, especially if they’re kittens or senior cats.
Want to support the ‘Take Your Cat To The Vet’ campaign? Play a proactive role in ensuring that your cat gets proper healthcare; it’s as easy as that!