58% of owners say they do not visit the vet as much as they would like to. What does this mean for cats and how can we change that?
The charity Cats Protection recently published their fifth annual Cats and Their Stats (CATS) Report. This report is one of the largest of its kind; with over 10,000 people responding to a nationwide survey to examine attitudes towards cats and how we care for them.
This year’s report found that there are around 10.6 million pet cats living across the UK. And their owners tend to be younger on average than the general population. There have been some positive trends for cats over the years, with cats increasingly being microchipped and insured. Many of these positive trends are being driven by these younger owners, who are also more likely to vaccinate their cat and are actively looking for advice on how to give their cat a happier life.
Increasingly, owners want to access good quality care for their cat. And where better to get this, than from their vet? Sadly, many owners say that they do not visit the vet as much as they would like to. In fact, over half (58%) are deterred from making a visit.
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There are two main reasons why owners are putting off a visit to their vet
The first is cost.
In this year’s CATS Report, 28% of cat owners said that the cost of a vet visit is the number one reason why they do not go as often as they would like to. Cost has remained the biggest barrier to accessing veterinary care for cat owners for the last few years, and naturally, this affects cat owners in the least affluent demographic the most. As we’ve seen, cat owners tend to be younger. It’s not hard to see how the cost of veterinary care might impact them, when they are just starting out in life on lower wages, potentially with student debt and high rents. Female owners are also more likely to cite cost as the main reason they don’t visit the vet as frequently as they may like.
The second reason owners don’t see their vet so often is how stressful they find making the visit.
This is because the process is too stressful for their cat. And many owners say that a visit to the vet makes them feel stressed and anxious, too. Around 26% of owners say that visiting the vet is simply too stressful. And even if they’d like to see their vet, they do not go.
But it’s not all bad news
More owners are prioritising annual or routine visits to the vet; perhaps to ensure that their cat receives their regular booster vaccination and yearly check-up. About 62% of owners take their cat to the vet routinely each year, up from 57% in 2020.
While this is great news for cats, it still means that around four million are missing out on routine veterinary care. And we still have those owners who might like (or need) to take their cat to the vets more often but are deterred from doing so.
What might this mean for cat welfare in the UK?
Well, it may mean that many cats are living with illness, injury or pain, enduring a poorer quality of life. They may be experiencing less than optimal care because their owners are not able to access the veterinary advice they need. In addition to this, it is well known that our domestic cats are notoriously difficult to read. They do not express pain or emotions in a way that is easily recognised by their caregivers. They also have a bit of a reputation for being self-sufficient and may spend a lot of time outdoors away from our watchful gaze. All of this combined, means their medical complaints can easily go overlooked. And many cats that need veterinary care may not receive it.
It’s desirable to catch an illness or injury early, not only to prevent any suffering for your cat, but also because it’s usually more cost-effective to get on top of a problem sooner rather than later. Once an issue has been brewing for a while, it can be much more complicated to treat effectively and might take more time (and money) to resolve.
That’s why many experts advocate that cats should visit the vet more than just once a year
More frequent check-ups allow us to catch some of these hidden problems early. International Cat Care recommends that cats under two years of age should see the vet twice a year. And more often if they are under the age of six months. That’s because this period is one of rapid change and reduced immunity. And during this time owners will need to consider a lot of basic care like neutering, microchipping, vaccination and parasite control.
Once cats reach eleven years, they should see their vet at least twice a year, if they are otherwise healthy. Again, this is a period of time in a cat’s life where there will be changes in how the body is coping with age. There is likely to be some wear and tear that can easily go unnoticed at home. Older cats are more likely to develop medical conditions like kidney disease, thyroid disease and dental disease. It’s important to catch these illnesses early to be in the best position to treat them effectively.
But what can be done about the barriers to visiting the vet?
Cost looks set to continue to be a barrier for many owners.
With high inflation and increasing pressure on household incomes, it’s understandable that economies have to be made. However, it’s worth bearing in mind that by deferring a visit to the vet, you might be storing up a bigger, and more costly, issue for later on. A problem might not always be as big as you think, too. Having a frank and open discussion with your vet about your budget means you can work together to find a treatment option that is best for both you and your cat. There is rarely a ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution to a problem. And vets are well-versed in finding tailored treatments for all types of clients and pets. Your vet might also allow you to spread the cost of the treatment as well.
There can also be help from charities to consider too. A few charities provide financial assistance with vet bills for eligible owners. The PDSA, Blue Cross and RSPCA may be able to assist. Cats Protection offers help for some owners with the cost of neutering your cat.
It’s definitely worth thinking about getting your cat insured, so that any unexpected large vet bills can be more easily managed. To help with the cost of preventative healthcare (often not covered by insurance), many practices have ‘pay monthly’ schemes that allow you to spread the cost over the course of a year.
It’s now also possible to compare prices for veterinary services across practices in your area as well. Take a look at VetHelpDirect’s price comparison tool.
If anxiety around visiting the vet stems from how stressed your cat can get, there are ways to reduce the stress of a vet visit.
The charity International Cat Care has a very helpful leaflet to help you make your cat’s (and by proxy, your) visit to the vet less stressful. Quite often, the cat carrier is a huge source of stress for cats and choosing the right one, and getting your cat properly accustomed to it, plays a big role in managing your cat’s stress. You can find more advice on how to choose and use a cat carrier here.
Many veterinary practices also hold official ‘cat friendly clinic’ status. These clinics have been designated ‘cat friendly’ because they may have a cat-only waiting room, cat-only appointment times, and additional staff training in cat handling, to name but a few features. You can search for a cat friendly clinic near you by searching here.
Once a cat person, always a cat person, is what I’ve found!
Today’s young cat owners may very well end up owning cats throughout their lives. That’s why it’s essential that these owners are able to access veterinary care and advice. The knowledge and education given to them by a veterinary expert will stay with them for a lifetime and will make them better cat owners for many years to come. Knowledge gained is also something that younger owners might share, through social media and to their peers, to affect the lives of many more cats indirectly too. Engaging young pet owners and getting more cats to the vet is certainly something that the veterinary and animal welfare industries will be keen to address as a priority issue going forwards.
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