Yowling could be a part of your cat's personality, but it can also indicate other issues like cognitive dysfunction, vision problems, or disease processes like hyperthyroidism which can increase vocalization. It's crucial to have them evaluated to determine what is normal behavior and what is not.

Good quality of life is about knowing your cat and their behaviors. If they stop doing things they normally enjoy, like watching birds from the window or climbing their cat tree, it's something to pay attention to. Cats with a poor quality of life may retreat, become less interactive, or hide. This is individually tailored to your pet and should be discussed with your vet.

We strongly recommend keeping your pets vaccinated or at least ensuring that their antibodies are at protective levels. Age is not a disease, but with aging comes an increased risk of disease. Vaccinations can protect against severe life-threatening diseases. We use the safest vaccines and offer vaccine titers. If your pet has been regularly vaccinated, you can check their titers to see if they still have the necessary protective levels of antibodies.

Cats display pain in many different ways. It's not always obvious, but signs can include licking an area excessively, limping, or changes in behavior. Cats may not vocalize pain, especially with chronic or slowly developing conditions like arthritis. If they struggle to use the litter box or choose different areas in the house, or their mood changes, these could indicate pain. A physical exam and palpating the areas of the body is usually the best way to tell.

I recommend making sure your cat has a comfortable place to rest. This could be a covered area or a place up high, but it should have a cushion for their elbows and joints as they become more achy or bony with age. Preventing pressure sores is important, especially if they like to sit on hardwood floors or similar surfaces. Creating a pad, like a yoga mat, can be helpful. Additionally, ensure the litter box is easy for them to access. Arthritis can make it difficult for them to get into it, so a shorter entryway can help. Place these areas conveniently so they have choice. Having freedom of choice is crucial for their welfare. If they struggle to move around, place these areas closer together and away from the busiest part of the house, allowing them to remove themselves from activity if they choose.

The physical exam can reveal issues, especially obesity, that predispose cats to diseases like diabetes. So that physical exam alone can determine whether there's future things that need to be done.

Just a few minutes. The veterinarian is going to examine your cat's face for symmetry. He's probably going to use an otoscope to look in your cat's ears. He's going to look at your cat's teeth and gums and in the back of your cat's throat. He's going to palpate your cat's neck and try to feel his thyroid gland, especially if the cat is a senior over seven years old. He's going to feel your kitty's lymph nodes and listen to the cat's heart and probably feel the kitty's abdomen. The unique thing about examining cats is you can feel their kidneys and their internal organs when you do an abdominal palpation.

You should ask if they're going to do a physical exam on your cat. You should be able to answer several questions like about your cat's environment. Does he go in the house and outdoors or is he a house cat? Does your kitty live with other kitties? Your veterinarian needs to know if you have a multi-cat household. If it's a strict house cat, he needs to know that. He's going to want to know what you're feeding your kitty and if there have been any changes in his behavior and routines. You could make a list of things that you need to tell your veterinarian.

Yes, you need to be able to get your kitty in front of the veterinarian. You just need to be able to bring your cat out to our van. If you don't have a secure carrier, we have one that you can use. It's easy to put your cat in the carrier. Otherwise, you just need to have your cat in a place where you can get them, wrap them up in a towel or put them in a carrier, and bring them out to our van.