Is the Cat a "Second Class" Pet?

Poet Jean Burden once said that a cat “is still only a whisker away  from the wilds” and for many cat enthusiasts, this is the exact reason  they love their self-sufficient felines. But for all of our professed  affection for these animals, our cats aren’t seen by veterinarians  nearly as often as our dogs.  Is it because we value dogs more or are there other reasons for this inequity?


Nationwide, cats are 30% less likely to visit a veterinarian than dogs.  We  see that in Oconomowoc as well. Many cat owners dont see the need to vaccinate indoor cats.   Some owners are afraid that we might find something untreatable or expensive to treat and would rather not know that their cat is sick.  Others dread putting their cat in a carrier and listening to the meowing on the car ride or they think their cat will be stressed if they see a dog in the waiting room.

During my first year of veterinary school, one of my professors led a seminar discussion challenging the notion that cats need annual vaccinations. Another professor argued that the vaccine reminder got people to bring their cats in for the more important annual exam. Eight years ago Hallett Veterinary Hospital was one of the few practices in the area to recognize the research and adopt the notion of vaccinating for feline distemper every three years. Clearly this has been the correct medical decision as this is now considered the standard of care. But are our patients healthier because of that policy? Only if we can convince cat owners of the value of the physical exam, even if no vaccine is given during the visit.  Don't get me started on the value of the annual rabies vaccine in preventing rabies if your house cat finds a bat indoors or in preventing a huge hassle with the health department of your cat bites someone.

I believe that an annual (or semi-annual exam for older cats) is essential for keeping cats healthy. When we do examine cats, many times we find problems that could have been prevented or treated in earlier stages, resulting in better quality of life. Cats are experts at hiding their illnesses so many owners are not aware that their cat has been living with kidney failure or broken teeth or other treatable problems for months or years.

Our doctors perform a complete physical exam on all patients, working slowly and gently. Sometimes labwork is recommended to check internal organ function. A simple urinalysis, for example, can diagnose diabetes and give us important information about kidney function. Many people ask, "what if my cat is having kidney problems, can we do anything about it?" Actually, the earlier it is diagnosed, the easier it is to manage with special diets and sometimes medication to slow the progression of the kidney failure.  Diabetic cats that are diagnosed early are more likely to go into remission where they can be managed with diet alone without needing lifelong insulin injections.

Sometimes we find holes in teeth or broken teeth and the owners had no idea there was a problem. After the problem teeth are removed, many owners comment to me that their cat is more active and playful. They just hadn't noticed the gradual decline that was caused by dental pain.

So, if we agree in the value of the physical exam (and possibly screening lab tests), how can we make it less stressful for the feline patient? Try leaving the carrier or crate out in a room or area where your cat likes to hang out.  If the cat only sees the carrier when they go on a car ride, they just might run the other direction next time that carrier appears. Spray some Feliway (calming pheremone) in the carrier ahead of time to make them feel more relaxed. You could even try putting some cat food or treats in the carrier periodically. When you arrive at our office, the receptionist will take you directly into our "cats only" exam room where you can open the carrier and let your cat come out and explore when they are ready. There is even a windowsill where they can sit and watch the birds in the rosebush outside. We leave a Feliway diffuser plugged in 24/7 in the cat room. One of our techs will weigh your cat on a tabletop scale right in the exam room. Subtle changes in body weight might not be noticeable to the eye but can indicate medical problems.

Experts believe that cats and humans have interacted with each other for  more than 10,000 years.  From their humble beginnings chasing rodents  away from our food, cats have vaulted into our homes and hearts.

Cats are definitely NOT second class pets, they are family members! Let's work together to keep them healthy and comfortable.