The Importance of Preventive Vet Visits with an Elderly Cat

An older cat may have secrets from their owners. In particular, she can hide her illness right now, and you will never know about it.

That is why preventive visits to the veterinarian with an elderly cat should never be missed. In fact, with age, it is recommended to increase the frequency of visits to the veterinary clinic with a cat. This is the best way to prevent serious health problems and promote your pet’s longevity.

Here are a few more reasons why frequent veterinary visits are so important for older cats:

• Cat owners may not notice subtle changes in their older pets and may not understand the importance of detecting them early.
• In older animals, health conditions can change very quickly.
• Some diseases begin to develop in cats when they reach middle age.
• Cats, especially older cats, are prone to hidden health problems that are asymptomatic.
• Early detection of such conditions usually helps to facilitate their treatment, improve the quality of life of the animal and reduce treatment costs.
• The incidence of behavioral problems in cats also increases with age – a recent study* showed that 28% of domestic cats aged 11-14 develop at least one behavioral problem

** American Association of Cat Practitioners – Senior Cat Care Guide, December 2008.