Suburban is celebrating our feline friends during the month of November!

 

Research has shown that cats outnumber dogs as pets in the United States.  Despite the higher number of pet cats, veterinarians report that they see far fewer cats than dogs in their practice.  A common reason for this is that cats don’t like to travel, from being caught and stuffed in the carrier to the car ride itself.  Never mind the fact they end up at the vet!  In fact, many of our staff members are ‘owned’ by at least one feline and encounter this problem ourselves.

 

A more alarming reason that veterinarians don’t see as many cats in their practice is the common misconception that cats don’t need to go to the vet like dogs do.  In fact, cats need annual exams and vaccinations just like dogs.  Even cats who are 100% indoors need to see the vet at least yearly.

 

Cat owners ask why a cat who is inside only would need shots.  Suburban Animal Clinic follows the vaccination guidelines set forth by the American Association of Feline Practitioners and the American Veterinary Medical Association.  There are certain vaccines that all cats should have no matter if they are inside or outside or how many cats they live with.  Then there are certain vaccines that only some cats need.  At Suburban, we discuss your cat’s lifestyle with you to determine that vaccines your cat needs.

 

Cats are excellent at hiding the fact that they are sick or hurt.  In fact, many diseases remain undetected because the cat isn’t showing symptoms.  The only way to catch many of these diseases early is with routine exams and periodic testing such as blood work, urinalysis, blood pressure, and other tests.

 

Unfortunately, many cats only go to the vet when the owners see that they are visibly sick, such as drastic weight loss, increased urine output, vomiting, change in appetite, or change in behavior.  By now, whatever is making the cat sick is pretty progressed and therefore harder to treat or manage.  The earlier you detect a problem, the sooner we can begin treatment and give your cat a better quality of life.

 

The staff of Suburban recognize that cats need special care, and work to educate cat owners on the importance of routine preventative care for their feline friends.  In an effort to provide the best care possible for our kitty patients, we voluntarily became a certified Cat Friendly Practice by the American Association of Feline Practitioners in October 2012.  To become certified, our clinic had to meet a number of standards set forth by the AAFP.  These include, but aren’t limited to, feline preventative care, feline disease, anesthesia, x-rays, emergency and critical care, diagnostics, and feline handling.

 

Suburban Animal Clinic understands the challenges that sometimes come with living with a cat (or cats!).    Be sure to speak with a staff member about any concerns you have about your cat, or to set a preventative care schedule for your cat.

 

Below are several websites filled with lots of cat information:

OSU CVM Indoor Pet Initiative http://indoorpet.osu.edu/cats

American Animal Hospital Association www.healthypet.com

Catalyst Council www.catalystcouncil.org

American Humane Association www.americanhumane.org

Suburban Animal Clinic is located in West Columbus off I-70 near I-270. Suburban Animal Clinic serves Galloway, Hilltop, West Side, Georgesville, West Jefferson, Grove City, Grandview, Upper Arlington (including OSU Campus area), Hilliard and Dublin.