Cats Are Masters of Disguise

By Dr. Kathy Boehme

It is difficult to tell a cat’s age by their appearance. Their face, haircoat, bodies

and behavior can look and seem young well into their senior years. This does

give us the impression that cats are “just fine” and they certainly might be.

However, we also know that cats are masters of disguise. In general, they do

not show evidence of disease in its early stages which makes it hard for us as

pet parents to really know when something is going on. Annual examinations
and preventative care are crucial components of maintaining long term health

and life quality in both young and senior cats. We are learning this as we

navigate new research into what constitutes well being in a species that is

very different from us and from dogs.

The “wellness visit” consists of a medical examination of a cat who appears

healthy, as opposed to an examination of a cat who is ill. The focus of a

wellness visit is the maintenance of optimal health. The frequency of these

visits varies by age and condition. Kittens come in monthly for vaccines until

about 16 weeks of age. Healthy adult cats should have wellness visits

annually unless they become ill. Cats 8 years of age and over should have

wellness visits twice yearly unless their health status dictates more frequent

visits.

The wellness visit also includes a discussion and updating of preventative

care based on the particular risk of that pet. Preventative care includes an

annual fecal analysis. There is a new, much more sensitive PCR test for

parasites called the Keyscreen fecal. We know that intestinal parasitism is

possible even in strictly indoor cats. Most cats are exposed as kittens to these

parasites and they can be very difficult to detect on the tests that have

historically been available. Parasites can be dormant in the muscles of cats

when they are kittens but then come out and migrate into the intestinal tract in

reaction to stress or illness when cats are adults. Internal parasites may or
may not lead to diarrhea so it is important to perform a stool check even if the

feces appears normal.

As we learn more and more about lifestyle, diet, and environments that

promote health in cats and those components that are capable of causing

stress, we look for markers of early disease in their blood work. Cats age
much more quickly than humans do and assessing their internal health not

only gives us a baseline on what is normal for that individual, it also gives us a

window into what is going right and what is not. Annual testing helps us

monitor trends to pick up on abnormalities earlier. If we have been monitoring

lab work regularly, then even if a particular blood test falls within normal

range, we can see if it is not normal for this particular pet. A complete blood

cell count, which assesses the blood, and biochemical profile, which assesses

organs, will be recommended. The extent of testing depends on the cat's age.

In addition to blood work, a urinalysis is an important piece of information to

help us assess kidney function and to tell us if cats are acquiring enough fluid

from their diet. We recommend checking this lab work annually so that we can

tailor diet, water intake, supplements and activities based on what we learn.

We always hope for normal lab work but we also often pick up on changes

that can benefit from early interventions. These interventions may prevent or

slow progression of disease states.

1 in 7 adult cats under 8 years of age have abnormalities in their screening lab

work that necessitates follow up, further diagnostics or therapy.

1 in 5 cats aged 9-13 years have abnormalities in their screening lab work that

require follow up, further diagnostics or therapy.

2 in 5 cats over 13 years have abnormalities in their screening lab work that

require follow up, further diagnostics or therapy.

**These are all patients that came in with pet owners thinking their pets were

healthy. These are not pets that were sick or had a history of chronic illness.
The wellness visit also includes a discussion involving what we know about

cat health and behavior as our knowledge grows and changes. This may

include discussing an appropriate diet for your cat’s age and activity level,

body weight assessment, activities that a normal healthy cat should have

available and engage in and ways to alleviate the stress we so commonly see

in indoor cats. This visit would also address any questions or concerns that

you have about your cat.

To prepare for the wellness visit please collect basic information such as the

quantity and brand of food, any treats or table food and supplements. Please

bring a sample of feces even if it is not from that day and even if covered in

kitty litter. It would be advisable to keep your cat away from the litter box for

several hours prior to the visit in case a urine sample needs to be collected.

Please bring your questions, concerns, and observations. If there is something

your cat is doing that you are not sure of, bring one or two short video clips as

this can be very helpful and save a lot of time trying to explain.

We are here to help you and it is our passion and privilege to do so. The more

we both learn and observe regarding your pet the better we can tailor their

preventative care to their individual needs. Cats will rarely tell us on their own

if things are not quite right. If we want to know how they are we need to really

look and pay attention together in a multifaceted approach.

The Drake Center for Veterinary Care is an AAHA-accredited animal hospital

located in Encinitas, CA. The Drake Center loves being a source of information

for all pet owners across the country; however, if you have any questions

regarding pet care and do not live in Encinitas, CA, or surrounding cities, we

encourage you to contact your local veterinarian.