• DVM360_Conference_Charlotte,NC_banner
  • ACVCACVC
  • DVM 360
  • Fetch DVM 360Fetch DVM 360
DVM 360
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
By Role
AssociatesOwnersPractice ManagerStudentsTechnicians
Subscriptions
dvm360 Newsletterdvm360 Magazine
News
All News
Association
Breaking News
Conference Coverage
Education
Equine
FDA
Law & Ethics
Market Trends
Medical
Politics
Products
Recalls
Regulatory
Digital Media
dvm360 LIVE!™
Expert Interviews
The Vet Blast Podcast
Medical World News
Pet Connections
The Dilemma Live
Vet Perspectives™
Weekly Newscast
dvm360 Insights™
Publications
All Publications
dvm360
Firstline
Supplements
Vetted
Clinical
All Clinical
Anesthesia
Animal Welfare
Behavior
Cardiology
CBD in Pets
Dentistry
Dermatology
Diabetes
Emergency & Critical Care
Endocrinology
Equine Medicine
Exotic Animal Medicine
Feline Medicine
Gastroenterology
Imaging
Infectious Diseases
Integrative Medicine
Nutrition
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedics
Pain Management
Parasitology
Pharmacy
Surgery
Toxicology
Urology & Nephrology
Virtual Care
Business
All Business
Business & Personal Finance
Hospital Design
Personnel Management
Practice Finances
Practice Operations
Wellbeing & Lifestyle
Continuing Education
Conferences
Conference Listing
Conference Proceedings
Resources
CBD in Pets
CE Requirements by State
Contests
Veterinary Heroes
Partners
Spotlight Series
Team Meeting in a Box
Toolkit
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vet to Vet
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Advertisement
By Role
  • Associates
  • Owners
  • Practice Manager
  • Students
  • Technicians
Subscriptions
  • dvm360 Newsletter
  • dvm360 Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us
  • MJHLS Brand Logo

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences™ and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

5 mouser myths debunked

March 1, 2009

Teach clients the facts behind the top feline fables.

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 them.

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.

Advertisement

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.

Related Content:

TechniciansClient Relations & MarketingFeline Medicine
How to discuss finances with clients
How to discuss finances with clients
Chronic feline pain from all perspectives
Chronic feline pain from all perspectives
Q&A with a keynote: Elizabeth Colleran, DVM, DABVP (Feline)
Q&A with a keynote: Elizabeth Colleran, DVM, DABVP (Feline)

Advertisement

Latest News

An update on copper concerns in pet foods

Dental hacks to make every case more manageable

Q&A with a keynote: Walter Brown, RVTg, VTS, ECC

News wrap-up: This week’s headlines, plus dvm360® launches its first CE podcast

View More Latest News
Advertisement