When is a second opinion warranted and how does a client go about getting one? Who should be seen for a second opinion? These are all important questions and the answers to them depend on each individual case.
Just like their human counterparts, veterinary emergency clinics typically charge higher fees than “day” practices. Never compromise your cat’s care by foregoing a trip to the emergency hospital for a life-threatening situation, but realize that payment will need to be made, either through a credit service (like Care Credit, where a client’s good credit history is mandatory) or credit card, cash or checks when the animal is released or as a deposit if you cat is hospitalized (the bill will need to be paid in fill on the release or death of the kitty). If times are truly tough, have a heart-to-heart with family and friends and see if they will be able to loan you the money necessary for veterinary care.
It’s often easy to think about what we do for our cats because we love them. However, stories such as this one show us that the human-cat bond often goes both ways, with the kitties sometimes providing the necessary nudge for many to get up each day and engage fully with life’s challenges.
Not all dental care for cats is the same. Choose to have your kitty’s dental work done professionally under anesthesia and know what questions to ask of the practice before you sign the authorization for your kitty’s COHAT or other surgery.
Remember that you play an important role in your kitty’s health care. Ask questions (politely, please) if you are unfamiliar with a medication that is being prescribed for your cat, having problems administering certain types of formulations or just want to know why a particular drug is being used.
Even the most well-loved cat may be tempted to take a "walk on the wild side,” and escape from comfy chairs and regular meals. Making sure that indoor-only cats (and cats who do go outside) are microchipped is a must.
Ideally, cats also should wear collars (breakaways, so that the kitty doesn’t hang if the collar is snagged) with identification tags. But tags can get lost under a bush, or while shimmying under a fence, etc., so the microchip (which can be inserted at the veterinarian’s office) is the best “insurance” for returning a wayward feline to his or her home.
Summer is “kitten season.” That’s because most unspayed female cats start heat cycles in the late Winter, as the days get longer. With a feline 63-day gestation period , that means most kittens are born during the Spring and Summer.
If you are considering adding a kitten to your household, some thoughtful planning needs to be done prior to bringing home your new little friend. As a cat specialist, I am particularly interested in making sure that the kitten is not only healthy, but is socially, mentally and behaviorally sound and an excellent companion. With many cats now living well into their late teens and even to the early twenties, there is the potential for your new kitten to be part of your life for the next two decades.
Starting off on the right “paw,” gives the best chance for a great life-long relationship with your new friend.
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