Everybody knows cats don't have nine lives and black cats aren't a cover for witches. But these types of tall tales have contributed
to people's incorrect notions about cats. Here are often-heard feline health yarns, and what to say to clients to unravel
1. Cats are aloof, unsocial creatures
Dogs wag their tails and bark in delight when you come home. Cats show affection by nuzzling your leg. Even though they're
not boisterous, they still want—and need—attention. Some cats do shun human affection, but these introverts don't represent
the whole feline species. In fact, lack of interaction can be an early sign of illness.
2. Indoor cats don't need preventive medicine
A cat doesn't have to go outside to get sick, especially if it lives with other pets that do head out. Animals that go from
the outdoors in might harbor—and pass on—all sorts of infections, from respiratory viruses to internal parasites. And fleas
and mosquitoes can easily make their way into the house then jump onto or bite an unsuspecting indoor cat.
3. Cats are independent and don't need care
Cats don't need to be let out to go to the bathroom, but they can't open a can of food. Even though putting out extra food
might satisfy their physical needs for a weekend alone, it doesn't cover their emotional needs. What's more, if a cat gets
sick—say from ingesting a foreign object—while home by itself, it can be very sick by Sunday night.
4. Cats go outside the litter box to be spiteful
Behavior problems aren't at the root of inappropriate elimination. Instead, missing the box often signals an underlying medical
condition, such as urinary tract disease or infection, kidney disease, and diabetes mellitus. It can also be a sign of arthritis,
which makes getting into the litter box difficult. Teach clients that when they notice their cats "going" in the wrong place,
they should contact you immediately.
5. Cats don't get heartworms
Heartworms affect dogs and cats differently, but they do affect cats. Cases of feline heartworm disease have been reported
in all 50 states. Unlike dogs, cats are troubled by heartworm larvae (juvenile adult heartworms) rather than mature adult
heartworms. When the larvae die in cats' lungs, they cause lesions that may lead to airway and arterial disease referred to
as heartworm-associated respiratory disease (HARD). Cats that exhibit asthma-like symptoms may in fact be suffering from HARD.
The disease can't be cured, but it's totally preventable with the proper use of preventive medication.