All pets, even strictly indoor cats, should have microchips and ideally collars and ID tags. What happens if your pet sneaks out an open door or window, or worse yet, gets lost during an earthquake, hurricane or tornado? Collars and tags allow a neighbor to return your pet directly to you, but unfortunately, collars can break or fall off. Microchips provide a more reliable means of identification. Of course, for them to work, make sure you register and keep your contact information up-to-date. The fact is accidents happen and it is always better to be safe than sorry. Making sure that your pet has proper identification (collar, tag and microchips) will improve the odds that your pet will be returned home if they ever get lost.

Remember for information or questions about your pets and their healthcare speak to your veterinarian. They are a great resource and know your pet best!

Besides buying supplies and making your home pet-safe, it is important to bring your new pet to your veterinarian for a complete check-up. Your veterinarian will perform a complete examination to ensure that your cat or dog is healthy and determine if they need any vaccines, diagnostic testing and or preventatives. They will also look for external parasites, like fleas and ticks, and check for internal parasites, like roundworms, and tapeworms. Checking your new pet for medical issues and parasites before you bring them home can save you a big headache in long run. Getting a new pet is exciting. Be sure you get your new friend off to a good start by taking them to your veterinarian right away.

Regular examinations are the best way to detect medical problems early and to insure that your cat is protected against preventable illnesses. Your cat can’t tell you when something is wrong, ant they are masters at hiding illness. So never skip a check-up because your cat looks healthy. Just like us, cats can develop diseases like kidney disease, thyroid disease, diabetes, dental disease, cardiac disease and cancer. During a routine visit, your veterinarian will examine your cat from head to tail. Veterinarians have the tools and training to detect subtle signs of diseases. Remember the goal of annual examinations is to not only prevent disease, but also to catch any illnesses early. The earlier diseases are discovered the better the odds are that your cat can be treated successfully. So remember whether your cat appears healthy or not, all cats should see their veterinarian at least once a year.