From their uncanny ability to inhabit boxes and their silly whiskers to their love of laser pointers and their crazy catnip personas, cats provide their people with endless hours of love and entertainment. As cat owners, you want to return the favor by giving your pets long and healthy lives. February is National Cat Health Month and as veterinarians, we appreciate the opportunity to shine a light on cat wellness, but cat health should be considered every month. And while you want your cat's years to be many, you should also want that time to be full of good health and plenty of enrichment. There are ways you can contribute to optimal health for your cat, and we share tips on that below by answering some FAQs about cat wellness.
What is a cat wellness exam, and what will my veterinarian be looking for during it?
A cat wellness exam is when you bring your cat into a veterinary hospital for a check-up when they are perceived to be healthy. Your cat may also be due for vaccines at these well appointments as part of a good preventive care routine. We generally start by getting the cat’s history. Your family veterinarian will ask you many questions about appetite and nutrition, water consumption, urinary habits, litter box behaviors, how they have been at home, and if there has been anything that you perceive as unusual happening. After we get the details on your furry friend, we move on to the physical exam. Let's break that down a bit.
The Eyes and Ears
Many vets start with the ophthalmoscope to look in both of the cat’s eyes to make sure that the eyes are bright and shiny, examining all the way back to the retina. We’re hoping to see young, shiny, healthy eyes with no conjunctivitis, blinking, or winking. We then turn the ophthalmoscope into an otoscope to check the ear canals. A vet wants to make sure there is no waxy buildup, debris, polyps, bleeding, or anything unusual in the ears.
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The Mouth
Typically, the next thing we do is an oral exam to check the cat's teeth, and let's be honest—this is probably the least enjoyable part of the exam, as cats have a particular loathing for it! We try to make it quick as we look at the outside of the teeth, their tongue, underneath the tongue, and at the roof of the mouth. We want the gums to be bubblegum pink and moist and the teeth to be clean. We rate the teeth based on a score of one to four, with one being the very best healthy teeth. The next thing we generally do is feel their lymph nodes going all the way down the body. We do not want to feel their lymph nodes, per se, as they shouldn’t be large and prominent.
The Heart and Lungs
We listen to the right and left-hand sides of the cat’s heart and lungs with a stethoscope, taking the heart rate. A heart rate in a cat can be anywhere between 150 and 200 beats per minute and be normal. Listening to the rhythm is also essential, as that tells us whether or not the cat has a heart murmur. The other thing we do is we do take their body temperature. Cats typically do not like having their temperature taken rectally. The ear thermometers are more comfortable, but they are also a bit more challenging to use and fit correctly.
The Organs
Lastly, we will squeeze the cat’s belly (abdomen) and to palpate the bladder, kidneys, liver and intestines to make sure they are not uncomfortable or feel abnormal. We want to ensure that the organs that are supposed to be there are there and nothing else. We also evaluate their overall posture and how they 'hold' themselves, and assess their body score. A body score of one is too skinny and nine is too heavy. Five is right in the middle and a good target value.
The Optional
It is not required by law, but most veterinarians will also use the wellness exam to urge you to microchip your cat if you have not done so already. Losing your cat can be a heartbreaking situation. Although a microchip does not guarantee a safe return, it can help if another person or family finds your cat and has them scanned at a vet clinic or shelter. What is even greater is that the newer chips help scan cats for their body temperature.
The AAHA also has some helpful guidelines on optimal wellness for cats, including the proper preventive care for felines.
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Does wellness impact the longevity and health of my cat?
Absolutely! The longer you keep your cat free of diseases, the better off they will be.
Other ways wellness can contribute to the health and longevity of your cat are as follows:
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Keeping them free of internal and external parasites
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Enlisting optimal nutrition
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Keeping them at the right body weight
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Ensuring good dental care
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Getting them access to regular physical and mental stimulation
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Pursuing veterinary care whenever you notice a change in cat behavior
Regular wellness visits also help us pick up on things like heart murmurs and, the early we catch and treat conditions, the better the prognosis will be. Preventive care goes hand in hand with cat wellness.
Will my cat's wellness exam require lab work?
Most veterinarians will give you the option to run an early detection profile—a CBC chemistry and thyroid test. We obviously hope it is normal every year. Still, if we find something that's not normal, it gives us a chance to get started and research that before becoming a potentially life-threatening and perhaps costly illness.
When should I bring my cat in for a veterinary wellness exam?
Kittens need to see a veterinarian for a series of appointments at 8 weeks, 12 weeks, and 16 weeks. And then they'll also likely come in to be spayed or neutered. Beyond that, an annual exam is generally sufficient. When cats become seniors, we’ll likely suggest two visits a year with blood work and perhaps blood pressure because cats can get hypertension. Sometimes we’ll ask you to bring a fecal sample with you to the clinic.
What are some signs and symptoms that my cat might be feeling unwell?
Cats are stoic creatures; unfortunately, they hide a lot when they are not feeling well. They do not come and greet you and do other typical behaviors. Maybe they're limping, vomiting, having diarrhea, not eating, sleeping way more than they used to, or not playing. Any change in your cat's routine should alert you to a problem and, at the very least, warrants a call to your veterinarian.
How can I make in-person wellness visits easier on my cat?
Cats are notoriously hard to get to the vet as, unlike dogs, they generally loathe trips in the car. And to keep your cat safe, you need to use a cat carrier. As veterinarians, we suggest that you use the cat carrier for things other than taking your cat to the vet. Consider using their favorite treat or toy to get them in there and used to it so they can associate the carrier with being a happy place, and not just as transportation to a place where they get poked and prodded!
Happy National Cat Health Month!
If you have questions and you'd like to reach out to us, you can call us directly at (650) 535-3557, or you can email us at clinic@northpenvet.com. Don't forget to follow us on social media Facebook, Instagram.