Preventive measures to keep your cat healthy

During periods of economic instability, many pet owners are forced to forego veterinary services because they simply cannot afford the tens of thousands of dollars to pay veterinary bills. Despite the need for annual veterinary check-ups, the best way to save money on veterinary visits is to prevent your pet from having health problems before they start. 

You can prevent many diseases if you take care of the health of the cat throughout the year. A few tips for saving money for preventive cat care are in this article.

Investment 1: Food

Choosing a quality cat food is the best way to keep your pet healthy for a long time. The right type of food can eliminate skin problems, bowel disease, obesity, diabetes and other disorders. What cat food to choose – it is better to ask your veterinarian. It will take into account the peculiarities of the pet’s lifestyle, age and other individual needs.

It is important to remember that the cat should not be overfed. Obese animals are prone to many diseases that require expensive treatment, such as arthritis, lower urinary tract diseases and diabetes. The correct serving size will prevent unwanted weight gain and save your cat unnecessary visits to the veterinarian. 

Many owners love the attention their pet gives them when it’s time for treats, but too many treats can affect a furry friend’s weight—especially if human food is used as a treat. Cheese and other similar foods can contain too many calories, so it’s best to avoid them.

Investment 2: Hygiene

The cat is perfectly able to wash itself, but even the cleanest pet needs additional attention from time to time. It will take some time to get used to the ritual, but proper care of your cat’s eyes, ears, and teeth can prevent several costly procedures in his old age.

Teeth

Without regular dental care, one day you will have to choose between leaving your cat in pain or paying for the services of a veterinary dentist. There is always a third option – to develop the habit of gently brushing the cat’s teeth. How to brush your cat’s teeth, the veterinarian will tell.

Eyes

Technically, you don’t need to do anything special to take care of your cat’s eyes. Taking the right precautions will help prevent common eye problems that will require additional veterinary care in the future. Watch for signs of excessive tearing and irritation and check for foreign objects such as hairs or dust particles that can scratch the cornea in the cat’s eye.

Ears

One of the places a cat can’t take care of on its own is its ears. Developing a monthly habit of properly cleaning your pet’s ears will allow any problems in this area to be detected in a timely manner. It could be a buildup of earwax, ear mites, and even a potential infection. During the next visit to the veterinarian, it is worth clarifying how to clean the ears of a cat correctly and safely.

Investment 3: Flea and parasite control

Whether your cat is outdoors or not, flea, tick and mosquito prevention and control is a valuable investment in your furry friend’s overall health. Given the speed of flea reproduction, it is necessary to regularly check the cat for their presence. Some veterinary drugs effectively destroy and / or repel insects, so you need to check with your veterinarian how and how to treat a cat from fleas.

Investment 4: Exercise

An active pet is a happy pet, so regular exercise will help maintain its physical and mental health. Giving your cat the movement it needs isn’t difficult, as there are many ways to stimulate its natural desire to hunt and explore. In fact, you can even try something like cat yoga together!

Although this set of steps may seem like a lot of work, it’s important to remember that you can start preventive cat care with just a couple of minutes a month. Small, regular checkups can help identify potential problems early, keep your pet comfortable, and quite possibly save thousands of dollars on unnecessary visits to the veterinarian. It’s also a very productive way to spend a little more time with your furry friend.