Most people who choose a cat for a pet do so because they are traditionally independent creatures. But this independence doesn’t excuse them from their vet appointments. Taking your cat to the vet is essential in order to keep them healthy, with the Baker City Herald outlining how vet appointments can detect early signs of sickness and provide preventative treatments. Moreover, these appointments will guide you on how to properly take care of your cat if medical issues arise.
Case in point, cats can be susceptible to worm problems. As we previously discussed in our “How to Deworm a Cat” blog post, the best way of treating your cat is to take them to the vet. Your vet will give you instructions on treatment options as well as give your cat a medical check-up. Instead of doing it alone at home, it is best to go to the vet and get a consultation to ensure that your cat will be in good health. This will ensure that any early symptoms of a more serious illness are picked up.
However, any trip to the vet can be hard for your cat – especially when it’s their first time. For a stress-free visit, check out the tips below.
How You are going to Prepare your Cat before the Vet visit
Touch your cat’s ears and paws and provide them a comfortable therapy. Lift its tail, then gently open its lips. Show them that these behaviors are not dangerous. All of these procedures will be carried out by your veterinarian during a standard physical checkup. The physical inspection will be less traumatic for your cat if they are accustomed to it. Additionally, this will make it simpler for you to wash your teeth, trim your nails, and administer medication.
Get Your Cat Used to the Carrier
As much as you just want to carry your cat in your arms, they need to be placed in a carrier for transport. However, being placed in an unfamiliar environment might stress your cat, so you need to let your cat get used to the carrier. A few days before your appointment, leave your carrier where your cat can inspect and sniff it. Having this familiarity will help your cat get accustomed to the carrier. You can place their blanket or toys inside to help them feel more comfortable.
Prepare for the Costs
Taking care of any pet comes with a cost, and Sound Dollar estimates that a cat’s initial medical expense is between $50 to $500. This is based on a cat’s first veterinary visit where procedures like flea control, vaccines, and heartworm prevention are done. If there are additional vaccines needed, the estimated costs are around $200 to $500 over a period of 12 and 20 weeks.
Gather the Documents and Paperwork
Whether your cat is purchased from a registered breeder or adopted it will come with paperwork. This paperwork will detail your cat’s health records and vaccination history to give your vet a guide on how to create a comprehensive care plan for your cat. Make sure you have all the paperwork ready to ensure the treatment goes as smoothly and quickly as possible. Inform your vet ahead of time if you are missing any.
Ready Your Treats
If you are bringing your cat to the vet without any medical concerns, you can prepare cat treats to provide encouragement. You can even give these to help them create a healthy association between treats and vet visits. Excited Cat points out that these treats should be healthy and have lots of protein for your cat to love them. If you want your cat to be more comfortable, finding a treat with catnip is one of the best treats you can give your pet.
If you are taking your cat to the vet for the first time we hope the above tips prove useful.