February is known as a time to celebrate love, and one way that pet parents can show their kitty companions how much they care is by scheduling a visit to the vet to mark National Cat Health Month.
How to Recognize National Cat Health Month
National Cat Health Month is observed in February each year. It’s a month dedicated to raising awareness about the health needs and well-being of our feline friends. The main aim of this month is to promote regular veterinary check-ups, educate cat owners about common health issues, and encourage preventive care to ensure that cats lead a long, healthy life.
During National Cat Health Month, veterinarians, pet organizations, and cat enthusiasts come together to:
- Educate on Preventive Care: This includes regular vet check-ups, vaccinations, flea and tick prevention, dental care, and spaying/neutering.
- Highlight Common Cat Ailments: By discussing common health issues that affect cats, such as dental diseases, obesity, and kidney issues, cat owners can be more proactive in recognizing symptoms and seeking treatment.
- Promote Proper Nutrition: Feeding cats a balanced diet suitable for their age, weight, and health condition is crucial. This month provides an opportunity to discuss diet and the dangers of certain human foods.
- Discuss Behavioral Health: A cat’s behavioral health is just as important as its physical health. This month can also address issues like stress, anxiety, and environmental enrichment to keep a cat’s mind active and engaged.
- Advocate for Regular Exercise: Keeping cats active helps prevent obesity and related health issues. Advocacy includes promoting toys, interactive play, and even leash training for walks.
- Raise Awareness about Senior Cat Care: Older cats have different health needs, and this month serves as a reminder to pay special attention to our senior feline friends.
- Promote Adoption: Many organizations take this opportunity to promote the adoption of cats from shelters, emphasizing the importance of giving a cat a forever home where it will receive proper care and love.
Overall, National Cat Health Month is a reminder to all cat owners and lovers about the importance of understanding and addressing the health needs of these beloved pets.
It’s a great time for cat parents to schedule veterinary check-ups, reassess their cat’s diet and exercise routines, and ensure they’re providing the best possible care for their feline companions.
And the problem of getting pet parents to take their cats to the vet is such a major one that this cause is also the focal point of August’s National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day.
More February Cat Holidays
February is also National Prevent a Litter Month and National Spay/Neuter Awareness Month — so one of the first veterinary appointments that all families who have welcomed a new feline into their heart and home should make is to have their cat altered. Along with helping to ‘fix’ the problem of pet overpopulation, sterilization can also help to stop spraying, curbs a cat’s urge to prowl, and can aid in the prevention of certain cancers.
February is also National Pet Dental Health Month. Statistics released by the American Veterinary Dental Society state that over 70 per cent of our purring pal’s pearly whites are subject to symptoms of periodontal disease by the time they reach the age of three. A pet parent can detect a problem with their cat’s choppers by checking their pet’s breath, looking for red or swollen gums, yellow deposits or pus on their teeth, and watching to see if their cat drools or paws at their face.
Photo Credit: DepositPhotos
- Tyler Bass Fans Donate to Cat Adoption Group - January 24, 2024
- Saint Gertrude of Nivelles, Patron Saint of Cats - January 19, 2024
- Offensive Tackle Daniel Faalele’s Defensive Play for Animal Rights - December 27, 2023