– by Dr. Shelley Breadner –
Cats can be sociable, but many are elusive. Many people observe their cats hiding when guests come to visit. It is okay for cats to go unnoticed at home. It will not do them any harm. They find a safe secure place and wait till company is gone before they venture out.
Where it WILL do them harm to go unnoticed is when it comes to medical care. Many cat owners have never had their cat to their veterinarian since being neutered. Often, people are anxious that their cats get distressed about travel. Some have great difficulty even getting their cat into a cat carrier.
Cats have evolved as predators, but more importantly, they have survived by avoiding being eaten by bigger predators. This means that they are masters at hiding illness and vulnerability. It is extremely common for cats to have painful dental disease or arthritis, high blood pressure, kidney disease, heart failure, chronic pancreatitis – “oh, just another hairball” – and many more conditions that can be masked.
By the time we as veterinarians see these patients, the conditions may be so far advanced that they are no longer treatable. Annual physical examinations are essential for identifying disease processes early on and acting on them to prevent worsening or to provide appropriate supportive care.
So how do we make our cat’s trip to the vet less worrisome? First, select an appropriate cat carrier. This should be one where the top half of the carrier easily detaches. This enables your cat to remain in its carrier bed at the vet for greater sense of security.
Help your cat learn that the carrier is their safe place. Keep it out in the living area with a comfy blanket inside. Rub it with catnip or put some favourite treats around it and inside. Make it a safe, everyday resting place. Cat Sacs are another great way to help with this. Once they like them, put the sac in the carrier to continue the concept of safe places. The carrier becomes the place to be, at home or away.
Utilize the feline pheromone, Feliway, to help reduce anxiety in association with the carrier and travel. Individual sachets are available to wipe the inside of the carrier an hour or so ahead of travel time.
Once at the veterinarian, select a quiet corner away from the bouncy dog that may want to investigate. During the exam, your cat may be more comfortable in the carrier with the top half removed. Good planning on your part to have that type of carrier! After your cat’s visit with the veterinarian, the carrier becomes that safe haven for the trip home.
Oh, and for the guests that stay too long? Let them know the poor cat really needs to use the litter box, and won’t come out until they leave. “You have a cat?” they ask. “We do now… thanks for the visit. See you next year!”
For more information visit www.breadnervet.com.
