September is Happy Cat Month, to remind cat owners to assess their furry pal’s emotional health and happiness. However, the Willow Wood Animal Hospital team knows that physical health and comfort are critical to overall cat happiness. Veterinary care and routine preventive services are crucial in maintaining health, reducing pain and stress, and creating well-adjusted felines. Here, we discuss the essential services required to sustain feline health, plus ways to create a home environment that optimizes your cat’s happiness.

Preventive care visits: The foundation of cat happiness

Routine veterinary check-ups are vital for preventing, detecting, and managing your cat’s health issues. Annual or semiannual visits allow our veterinary team to perform comprehensive physical exams and recommend age-appropriate diagnostic screening tests, so we can identify health problems before they become serious. Early disease detection can improve treatment outcomes and extend your cat’s healthy, happy years. Additionally, vaccinations and parasite control help prevent life-threatening infectious and vector-borne diseases and eliminate irritating pests, including fleas and ticks. Annual check-ups also provide an opportunity for owners to bring up their cat’s behavioral concerns so we can rule out underlying health problems, seek advice on reducing stress, and address their cat’s behavioral changes at home.

Dental care: Addressing oral pain in cats

Oral pain from dental disease often goes undetected, but can significantly impact your cat’s happiness. Periodontal disease, resorptive lesions, and inflammatory conditions can be painful, which leads to irritability, difficulty eating, reduced play, and generally diminished quality of life. Regular awake dental examinations and professional anesthetized dental cleanings by our veterinary team can help prevent, detect, and address these conditions to ensure your cat’s mouth stays healthy. In addition to professional cleanings, at-home dental care, such as toothbrushing, dental treats, or water additives, can help maintain good dental hygiene.

Managing chronic conditions: Improving cat comfort

Chronic conditions, such as arthritis, hyperthyroidism, or diabetes, are common in senior cats. These conditions can cause discomfort in the form of pain, chronic dehydration, frequent urination, or nausea. Ongoing veterinary care is crucial in managing chronic disease symptoms and helping cats maintain their quality of life. Medications, supplements, dietary changes, and regular follow-up visits are essential for monitoring your cat’s condition and ensuring their continued happiness.

Stress reduction: Supporting calm behavior

Stress is the enemy of the happy cat, yet cats can become stressed for many reasons, including changes in their environment or routine, illness, visitors, conflict with other pets, vacations, and moving. Illness can contribute to stress, but stress can also exacerbate or cause additional illnesses, including urinary tract disease or chronic immune suppression. Our veterinary team can offer solutions to help with feline stress management, including addressing underlying medical problems. Depending on your cat’s issue, we may recommend pheromone diffusers, calming supplements, behavioral modification, or anti-anxiety medications.

Creating a cat-friendly home environment

In addition to preventive, ongoing, and behavioral veterinary care, an enriching and cat-friendly home environment is critical for your cat’s happiness. A predictable daily routine with daily play and social bonding is an excellent place to start. Additionally, consider the following feline needs:

  • Resources — Provide enough food, water, litter boxes, and scratching posts that all household cats can access without competition or harassment.
  • Security — Provide cozy, partially covered, or enclosed resting places in elevated areas. Respect your cat’s wishes and space, and allow them to dictate interactions.
  • Enrichment — Provide climbing areas and window-viewing perches for entertainment and territory surveillance. 

Essential veterinary services and attention to detail at home can help you optimize your feline friend’s happiness during Happy Cat Month and beyond. Contact the Willow Wood Animal Hospital team to schedule your cat’s next veterinary visit and to learn more ways to keep your cat happy and healthy for life.