Why is a Wellness Care Exam so Important for My Cat?

You give your sweet cat the absolute best of everything. She gets quality food she actually likes to eat, and you surprise her with a new toy every week. And, of course, you give her plenty of attention. Although cats seem to be completely independent, they do need a little help from us. The team at East Sacramento Veterinary Center wants to help you understand why regular wellness care helps to keep your feline friend healthy.

Why a Wellness Care Exam is Important

At least once each year, your cat’s veterinarian should perform a thorough cat wellness exam. Senior cats should get an exam on a twice-yearly basis. Because cats age at a faster rate than humans, it’s important to catch emerging health problems before they get out of hand.

As part of the cat wellness care visit, your veterinarian will perform annual lab tests. Equipped with the results, the vet can develop a plan to resolve any concerns, often in a simple and cost-effective way.

You might also be aware that cats are highly skilled at hiding illnesses and injuries. In the wild, their very survival depends on being able to hide vulnerabilities from predators. Although your cat doesn’t have any predators in your house, her instinct tells her to mask any developing health problems. Again, early detection is the key to positive outcomes.

What’s Involved in a Cat Wellness Exam

The East Sacramento Veterinary Center care team knows how to address cats’ special needs and make your cat’s wellness care exam as comfortable as possible. For starters, we know cats get a little nervous in unfamiliar settings. To help calm your cat, we have placed Feliway® diffusers at several locations in our clinic. Our veterinary team has also been trained to interact with our feline patients in a non-threatening way.

Once your cat gets into the exam room, your veterinarian will give her a nose-to-tail exam and ensure that she’s current on her vaccinations. The vet will also give her a dewormer to keep her free of nasty internal bugs.

Next, your vet will talk about your cat’s appropriate weight and her current diet. Her daily water consumption also plays a key role in her health. If your cat has begun to put on a few pounds, the vet will recommend some steps (and perhaps a new food) that can help her to slim down.

Finally, the vet will also discuss your cat’s behavior and her normal daily activities. Ideally, she’ll be alert, energetic, and generally content. If you have noticed anything unusual about her behavior, now is the time to tell your vet about your observations. If everything checks out fine, there’s an excellent chance your cat is in good health.

When Additional Tests Might be Necessary  

If your vet sees any red flags, they’ll conduct diagnostic tests to pinpoint the cause. Equipped with the test results, they can recommend a targeted treatment plan to address the problem. To get your cat on the path to better health, call East Sacramento Veterinary Center to book an appointment at (916) 737-5670.