Basepaws, AAFP launch campaign to raise awareness for feline preventive veterinary care

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To help spread awareness about the importance of preventative feline veterinary visits, digital pet health company Basepaws has teamed up with veterinarians Liz Bales, VMD, and Margie Scherk, DVM, DABVP (feline practice), and the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) to promote the National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day campaign on August 22, 2021. The goal of this campaign is to amplify the volume of feline visits to improve the overall well-being of cats.

Additionally, Basepaws, Bales, and Scherk will be hosting a free, interactive webinar on August 22 at 2 pm EST to help cat parents make the most out of veterinary visits.

“Cats have been there for the people who love them during one of the most difficult times in human history,” said Bales, in a prepared statement. “In the pandemic, when social distancing has taken its toll on mental health, our cats have helped us manage feelings of loneliness and isolation. How can we humans return their kindness and care for them? We can take our cats to the vet!”

The importance of a yearly complete physical exam

Historically, only 50% of cats see the veterinarian every year. To help reduce stress during visits, veterinarians can inform cat parents about the following AAFP-recommended techniques:

• Understand the cat's behavior. The veterinarian's office is unfamiliar and has sights, sounds, and smells that can cause a cat to feel anxious or fearful. The AAFP advises owners to cover the carrier with a towel to help block the sight of other animals and dampen the unfamiliar sounds. Respect the cat's need for time to acclimate to the new environment.
• Help the cat become comfortable with the carrier. Place the carrier in a room at home where the cat spends most of their time and equip it with familiar soft bedding as well as special toys.
• Get the best carrier for the cat. Secure, stable, hard-sided carriers that open from the top and the front, and can also be taken apart in the middle, are best for the cat.
• Take the cat to a Cat Friendly Practice^®. These veterinary practices have made specific changes to decrease the stress and provide a more calming environment for both the owner and their cat.
• Keep peace in a multi-cat household. Leave the returning cat in the carrier for a few minutes to see how (all) the cats react to unfamiliar smells and separate if there are signs of tension.

"Our company's mission is to empower pet parents and veterinarians with a proactive approach to healthcare decisions through in-home predictive screening tests," said Kristin Wuhrman, EVP, Business Development of Basepaws, in a prepared statement.

"Through this campaign, our focus is to spread awareness and inspire cat caregivers to learn about the importance of veterinary wellness visits and checkups for overall cat health,” she added.

Reference

Basepaws encourages cat parents to participate in National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day campaign. News release. Accessed August 11, 2021. [email]