i always feel happy when i bring my cats to the vet for their checkups because it feels like i'm showing them off or something :\ i am a proud dad i guess
I feel like I aced this test, and am so glad because I feel strongly about most of those ten tips. Reading between the lines, weight is mentioned multiple times, and food is the biggest determining factor in my humble, uneducated opinion. High protein, minimal plants. It’s expensive but if it staves off obesity and arthritis I think it’s worth it.
My sixteen year old cat wasn't overweight. I used to rub his lower spine & he'd make contented sounds. I have four ferals/rescues. I don't know about medical coverage. We may pay regularly & they'll not help, when the time comes. Your channel is helpful.
As always, really informative and helpful. I've had my cats for years and have never addressed some of these issues, because I didn't know about them. I've made a list for my baby on next Vet visit.
This is possibly the most important cat video on RUclips and should be compulsive viewing for anyone with a new kitten. Nothing annoys me more than someone getting a kitten off Great Aunt Ethel. Her cat has never seen a vet and she’s desperate to get rid of an unwanted litter. They take that kitten home and pass it clumsily from person to person like a rag doll. All the poor kitten wants to do is investigate and feel safe in this strange place away from its mother. The kitten is then put straight onto dry adult food, no check up or vaccinations. After getting bored of passing it around it’s totally ignored. Its litter tray is only cleaned out when someone says their home stinks and the cat gets the blame. Suddenly at 12 it stops eating so it has its first trip to the vet and most it’s teeth need removing and there’s probably kidney disease. Then they find out cats need money spending on them. So they decide no one really cares about the cat so might as well have it put down. They claim it’s dirty not using its litter tray no matter how much they discipline it and it’s bad tempered anyway. It doesn’t matter that the cat would probably be able to live a decent quality of life for the next ten years if it lived with someone who cared. With every kitten comes a free bag of responsibility. They are amazing creatures in many ways more so than dogs. These days they are likely to be great companions for 20 years or so and as much as you give them they’ll give back ten fold in affection. They deserve to be treated with respect.
My 12 yr old male cat has pancreatitis! Put him on hills prescription diet I/d chicken and vegetable stew canned! He’s doing fantastic! Also giving him Phytomaxx CBD oil & Uromaxx! Now he has kidney disease so I’m giving him Nordic Naturals fish oil! All these combinations really helped him! Greetings from Australia 🇦🇺
our older cat loves her vet. she gets so much pets and attention! we are working on the main source of stress right now: the ride to the office. she hates the car.
I wish I had known about insurance before my dog got sick, she had kidney disease and I was spending $500-600 a month on her medical bills and medication. And, when she did eventually pass away, it was a two day dramatic ordeal between the ER and her normal vet and ended up costing me $3000 plus after-death care like her cremation. My two little kittens and my new rescue dog all have insurance now and they’ll never go without it. I was so incredibly fortunate to be able to pay my dogs medical bills when they were that bad, it was hard on my finances and I went without but it was absolutely worth it for her. I just never want to be in the position of choosing between my pet’s health and money. I was also forced into CareCredit and honestly am just so freakin happy with it, it’s so amazing knowing that I have $X available in case of an emergency or while waiting for my insurance to process a claim.
I've had Care Credit in the past as an emergency resource. Care Credit will close the account if it's not used, so just had to plan ahead and have other cash or credit resources available.
Can you please do a video on explaining the cat poop chart and going into detail when to be concerned about our cats poop and what is normal. Also if there’s any way to distinguish a food problem from an infection problem regarding diarrhea. Thanks so much!
Hello Dr. Sarah- Another helpful video, thank you. I have always loved and owned cats. My cat passed away at the age of 18, this December. I missed some of the signs, the vet missed some of the signs. I took her to the vet every 4-5 weeks for have her nails clipped, weighed and a general check up. Turns out she had stomach cancer. I had a battery of tests run a while back to the tune of $500.00, not revealing anything. I am retired. I would like another female kitten, but after watching this video and many others, according to your recommendations, I may not be able to afford one. I am going to call my vet next week to go over this. I am a retired Buyer, so I know how to do the homework. I am going to start a 3-ring binder and document what the first year owing a kitten may look like in general, including pet insurance. I will entitle it ZEN & THE ART OF RAISING A CAT. Will also see if my librarian can locate recently published books on basic cat care. Today's economy is a challenge, especially if you are on social security. I am looking into New Hampshire state programs that may be able to assist with spaying costs. I will also speak with NH adoption agencies to see if there are other initial cost savings available. I would like to give ONE female kitten a loving home without bankrupting myself in the process. My question would be where to find that middle ground that is fair to the cat and fair to the owner. Perhaps that would be a helpful book to write in today's economy. All the best ~ Diane
OMG, Diane! You and I were in the same position. I was always Independent & living on my own. No family. Living with chronic pain & on disability, I really didn't want to start up any friendships. I just bought a new home 2005. My agent called several months after asking me if I wanted to adopt her kitty, Tigger. I got a quick lesson in the cost of being a good cat guardian. Tigger was less than 2yo, being a Siamese, he had mild periodontal disease & would require yearly cleanings. It was shocking to find just cleanings alone ranged from $450+. If Tigger would have needed one tooth extracted, that would add $300 to the bill!! My one asset is my home & fortunately I was able to refinance to get any finances to care for Tigger. He, like your kitty, had small abdominal tumors at the age of 16 & I had to put him to sleep. The vet I took Tigger to for years, charged me $500 to just do blood work as Tigger was chronically vomiting. I never got any answer. The test didn't find anything & this vet never bothered to pursue finding the issue. He did say that if I needed more testing done, I would have to take Tigger 187 miles one way!! to see the experts at UCDavis for more help. The cost, the time, it was so beyond my expectations! I was so unprepared for ALL of it. But, in the end, I managed to give Tigger the best life I could for him. I refuse to adopt knowing what I know now! Too expensive & so I can only donate to feline care organizations. It's very difficult cause I miss the loving companionship of having a kitty--a lot & more than loving any human. Interesting that we went though this similar situation. Good luck.
Yes! I didn't realize this! I have a 7 month old kitten that I just adopted who is being tested for tooth resorption. It looks like all their teeth are affected and may have to have them all pulled.
I did that with my cats after years of finding resorptive lesions every time they had teeth cleanings. My only regret is that I didn't do it earlier and saved them from some pain. They are almost 20 years old now and have happily lived without painful teeth for many years now. While they CAN eat dry food, wet food is much better for them so it's a non-issue.
My 9 year old girl only has about 14 teeth left because of forl (and my 7 year old has never needed a cleaning!! They both go to our vet every year and they eat the same food). It’s expensive to get dentals every other year, but eventually they’ll all be gone and her vet visits will be less expensive :) I hope your kitty will be ok.
How often should a geriatric cat go to the vet? Mine is going to be 16 in May and he has only ever gone once a year. Luckily he has been a healthy cat, never been overweight. Eats and drinks like a champ. Thanks for your videos, I really enjoy them.
My vet said once a year is enough if they're healthy but blood work should be done annually to get a baseline while they're healthy and then to see any changes over time because that can give them an early clue to problems that are developing. Once my geriatric cat started taking medication for arthritis at 17, they recommended twice a year for blood work because the medication often causes kidney disease and it's better if that's caught early. So far so good. She's almost 20.
Hello my dear Cathy. How are you doing today. Actually I was looking for a song then I saw your sweet comment, then decided to send a text. If you don't mind can you send me your email address so I can add you with your email to my list on Google chat so that we can share more ideas between ourselves if you don't mind.?
I vaguely recall hearing that statistics from drug manufacturers for heartworm prevention often combine cat prevalence statistics with dogs so as to give the impression that it occurs just as commonly for cats, when it's actually rarer in cats due to them having a degree of immune response to heart worms.
I don't know why but my cats love our veterinarian! They jump out of their carrier and then immediately rub on him like he's made of catnip. I don't know if it's just because my vet is awesome (he is but idk if it's the only reason), if it's because my cats are unique, or if it's because of something else. I just take this as a sign I can never change vets, lol
@@jennie9 Maybe! Honestly, I'm just relieved that they're both so comfortable with him. They don't like wearing their collars, the ride over, hearing/smelling dogs in the kennels or other exam room, but both are so open around him that it's a relief.
Another very informative video Dr Wooten, thank you. My family wants the best for our two girls so I’ll be having their teeth checked at their next appointment. 😊
Hello my dear Stephanie. How are you doing today. Actually I was looking for a song then I saw your sweet comment, then decided to send a text. If you don't mind can you send me your email address so I can add you with your email to my list on Google chat so that we can share more ideas between ourselves if you don't mind.?
dr, sarah wooten, i just wanted to thank you so much for all your wonderful and best advises you give us for our kitties , thanks so much ,,, i am learning more and more of what to do with my cat and vet 😂
Adopted 15yo long hair tortishell cat 10 months ago Dru a sweet loving very trusting girl, she's in great health - that's according to the multiple blood and urine samples at our last 3 vet visits since December. Yes, 3 visits in 4 months, plus one video call vet consultation because I am absolutely frightened of her age constantly combing the internet has been useful, but this is my very first pet in my life and I still have a ton of questiions and the vets mostly shrug and speculate cos they're largely behavioral Qs. I spend a lot of time watching top 10s, science based tips, owner clips, vet videos like this one, even ecology based articles. I want to understand everything I can observe from her and I work from home and don't have a social life and she's an indoor cat, she almost never leaves my sight so I observe literally all her moments. But I need more answers, whatever her life was like before the rest of her life I want comfort and happiness and love. And I cry many nights in pursuit with my ever expanding list of Qs.
You seem very anxious. Which your cat will pick up on. If she's eating & sleeping well, not overweight & playing , she's good. Vet once a year for check ups. Not solely dried food as they need moisture as well as drinking water. They usually prefer chin scratches to belly rubs. And scratching their back at the base of their tail is very appreciated too. Tail swishing means they're annoyed. They like to be up high & snooze or window gaze for hours. Feather toy's & anything that you dangle & make swooping moves with so she can stalk or chase is great for play exercise too. Don't stress, enjoy her, pets are great company .😁
Sarah makes an excellent point-Dru is a happy, healthy girl. While your concern is understandable given that she's your first cat and a bit older, it's counterproductive for both you and her. I talk a bit about my own experience with anxiety around my cat's health here: ruclips.net/video/dKmzbrIJ1mA/видео.html
Forgot: for behavioural stuff & everything else, look up the You Tube channel of 'The Cat Daddy', Jackson Galaxy, from the TV show 'My Cat from Hell'. He's fantastic.
@@AllAboutCatsYT Yes it's just tough for me to just put my feelings aside, but I understand what you're saying. We chose Dru because of her age and what would happen otherwise and that has stuck to me like an unshakeable discomfort. I've been obsessing on it and yeah I need to sort that side of things out because I tend to forget she is actually happy and healthy.
@@samuelm.5752 You have to get them used to you touching their mouth. There are demos to teach you on RUclips. More expensive way is to pay vet to clean plaque that develops.
Our vet sends our two cats post cards telling them to get the human to make an appointment for different test and shots they need, I don't piddle around I'm on the phone making that appointment. Our cats are indoor only, so we don't worry about heartworm, but we use flea treatments. I'm kind of anal about the litter box, I scoop at least 4 times a day, usually every time I walk by it. We had a cat that would only eat dry food, so we got him a drinking fountain, after he passed away, I put it up, but we have two cats now who eat only canned food, I put the drinking fountain out for them anyway. The only thing I don't understand about these two, Bert and Maggie, is the purring, it's almost none stop. They purr all the time, I love it.
Hello my dear Nancy. How are you doing today. Actually I was looking for a song then I saw your sweet comment, then decided to send a text. If you don't mind can you send me your email address so I can add you with your email to my list on Google chat so that we can share more ideas between ourselves if you don't mind.?
One of our cats died from the anesthesia on her first dental cleaning. We're trying to figure out a different way to do dental care for the others. Our friends use T/D food for dental cleaning, but it's grain based so we don't want to feed them grain.
T/D doesn’t have to be their full diet! My cat eats mostly wet food but I give her about 6 pieces of t/d a day. It doubles as exercise because they are so tasty she’ll chase them down the hall
I feel better knowing about these. I adopted my cat older. And I was thinking of getting pet health insurance. But I am too late. They won't insure cats over 8y/o. But at least I have an idea of how much I should put aside for my pets. I also feel proud because the vet always tells me that all my cats are so gentle. They don't move when they have to take bloods or eye swab or anything they need to do. I don't know why they are very easy. Maybe because I always insist on brushing their teeth, cutting their nails, and giving medications.
Not true. Different companies have different requirements, many don’t have age limits. You should check out Nationwide pet insurance. Ive had my cats policy with them a few years and its been a positive experience.
Hi, my cat only has dry food should i put a small amount of cold or warm water in with it? Great channel always want to make sure i'm doing good or if i can do an better. Next goal is getting a vet visit asap
I would love a video regarding cats that eat very little. I go through a 3oz can about every 3 days and she has kibble available now all day but treats don’t even excite her. I’ve taken to vet and she was hyperthyroid and has high blood pressure. She’s on medication for that but her appetite is still the same. The vet hasnt really given me an answer about her appetite and she’s actually gained weight assuming because of the kibble. She’s about 5.6 lbs. Something the vet was intrigued is that I gave her gabepetin for her vet appointment because she gets really stressed and she was eating like I’ve never seen her eat before as soon as she got out of the carrier. Would love this as a topic. It’s very stressful to find the right food she will eat too without upsetting her stomach.
Our Vet prescribes a dose of gabapentin to ease our cat’s anxiety when it’s time for a Vet check & when we need to do her nails. She was feral for 3 years, has become the sweetest, cuddliest cat, except for these situations. How did you know to give gabapentin, the correct dose & how did you get it without a prescription? No judgement, just curious. Thanks.
Our cat had trouble with her digestive track & we tried many brands. Since switching to Merck, a one ingredient wet food, she’s enjoying her food without problems. We give her a bit of dental dry every day but are so grateful we’ve been able to give her wet food as so recommended for cats well being.
Only recently found you. loving it. You don't by any chance know much or have pointers on all natural, chemical free stuff for our beautiful furry familiar Zenday. A grey tuckseedo boy cat age 4. we have a fair understading but always open to other perspectives to facilitate our growth & learning. understanding fleas & natural ways of repelling, internal health, skin care like the chin & application???? Also is it possible eventually with a gradual transition & making their meals from fresh ingredients by hand to make sure all nurtirents are there for our cat to go on a plant based diet? Have heard it done. Thanks for all you do and sharing. we loved the bonding vids & answered yes to all but 1 which wasn't relevant and belly rubs with our face Zen loves. We are so connected. but we are Autistic & get on better with nature & animals than humans! lol xxx
I would like your opinion Dr. Wooten, if u have one, about which medicine you prefer for cats? Of the 2, which do u prefer, Advantage Plus or Revolution or one of the other meds listed in the CAPC guidelines for Florida cats? I live in Florida and have seen the price of Revolution increase significantly over the last year! Hoping for something more affordable that covers multiple issues like Revolution does.
Hello Dr. Wooten. I'm trying to assess caloric content in my cat's food but I'm having a rough time decoding the Nutrient info on the side of the can. What the heck is KCAL?
One way to add moisture to your cat's diet is to stop feeding them commercial KIBBLE! Kibble is the worst thing you can feed your cat and for more reasons than the moisture issue. The worst wet food is better than the "best' kibble. If u love your cat you will stop feeding them kibble. Same goes for dogs but i'm a cat person so..
Dr. Wooten has said several times that she recommends a combination of wet and kibble. I am on the fence on this one. I only feed my cat wet and am currently trying to find out as much as I can about the issue.
I've had 5 cats, I always feed both and keep fresh water in the area, but never next to the food. I've never had major health issues with my kitties. All but one has lived to their teens. None have been overweight.
I usually just buy a big bag of dry food so I don't have to buy food as often, but I didn't know about cats needing moisture from their food.. could I just put a little water in his food bowl? Not enough to make it soggy but just enough to absorb into the food and hydrate it?
Why do more cats in the US have dental disease? Our of 5 cats I have had over my lifetime, only one did not have dental disease. Why is that? They have eaten the same food and have been cared for the same. What is going on? My current vet wanted to do "another" dental on my 17 year old cat and I said "no". They wanted $1400.00 and the last time they did a dental, they had her under anesthesia for 5 hours and removed 9 teeth. She was never quite the same after that experience. She's too old and I won't do it. Another cat that had dental had problems under anesthesia. Her blood pressure was going way high and way low and she bled from her nose. Who wants to subject their cat to that? I always get the feeling that vets nowadays are trying to get as much money out of you with unneeded tests and procedures. In the old days, I could go to a vet and get basic care to keep my cats healthy that wouldn't break the bank. Now they want you to spend several thousand dollars a year on each animal. Most people can't afford that. And vet insurance is not cheap and I feel that we are being pushed into buying vet insurance so vets can charge more. Oh, you have vet insurance, let's do more procedures on all animals. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate you for providing all of us vet information. Thank you. But I don't think you understand that the average person in the world cannot afford several thousand dollars a year per pet for healthcare. We rescue animals off the streets but may not be able to anymore because of the high cost of vet care.
I have a 16 year old cat who is scheduled to have teeth removed as well. What do you mean by never quite the same? Im afraid for him but I think his teeth must be painful.
@@yousosilly9817 You'll make the right decision for your cat, I'm sure. My cat was never quite the same because she was shell-shocked after the surgery. She drooled after the surgery. It seemed harder for her to eat. And she aged quite a bit after the surgery. It took a lot out of her. Currently, she does not seem to be in any pain. She has kidney disease, and she just had a check up and we've added a heart murmur and thyroid disease to her list of maladies. But she seems happy and content. She still gets around, but she mostly stays in the bedroom and rests. She can still jump on the bed with no trouble when she wants to be there. My goal is to just keep her happy and content and when I see her life force isn't in her eyes anymore, I'll know I'll have to make the tough decision. But the vet told me last week at her check up that she actually looks much better than she expected her to. She told me that 17 years of age is like 95 years in human years. The thyroid diagnosis is new. I'm taking her back to the vet in 4 months and they will recheck her thyroid levels one more time and then they will probably start giving her thyroid medication. She is currently on Prednisolone and has been for a year. Anyway, she's a happy little cat at 17, I love her very much, and I intend to let her live out the rest of her life that way. My best to you and your cat whatever your decision is.
thanks, my 2 8 months kittens are on dry food, and i would say the last month, i do give them a small portion of wet food as a treat and they love it, is it ok? They also drink from a water fountain, they drink more since.
What I do is feed a quality dry kibble to everyone in the morning, and a quality canned food in the evening. This may help ease the economic issue with expensive wet food.
@@whiteknightcat i do give them Go dry food and for a treat half of Go wet food box. You are right wet food is really expensive and in Canada i pay 3$ for each little box, no way will a pay more then 140$ a month for 2 cats!
Funny that VET's will always tell you to plan ahead yet the VET's themselves don't. Being an importer of VET and hospital medical equipment for 35+yrs I have seen this every year. They haggle our prices ask if any in house financing argue we are to expensive, yet cry if a customer does this. Maybe one day us major importers should tell our stories about this. Trust me it isn't because Phillips is over charging.
Random question. My cat is short hair in front part of her body and medium to long on rear part of her body. She’s 4. In the last 2 years she grew a beard (like Main Coones have) It’s beautiful but gives her issues when she eats. Should I get the groomer to shave it down?
Thank you for the feedback. I want to note that Dr. Sarah did originally go into tons of detail on each of these topics but it was cut down for brevity; maybe we can release an extended cut or something! Apologies for the overly-aggressive edit.
I know that annual exams are important, but what do they do specifically that's different from a checkup for other purposes? For example I skipped the "annual", but have been to the vet every 6 months or so for other issues. That would be fine right?
If you're seeing the vet more than once per year I would think that should suffice. In fact, vets may suggest visits every six months for senior cats due to conditions that may develop too quickly to be caught with annual visits. As different vets have different preferences, this is something you should bring up with your vet at the next visit so you can both work out something that's both convenient for you as well as adequate for your cat.
Brushing your cat's teeth is NOT hard. I purchased a test tube cleaner (a very small one) and I put the toothpaste on it with a crushed treat and they just munch on the bristles while I rotate the brush. I just got an older cat and did not have to train her, she just munched on it right away.
I’m a member of Banfield wellness program and cats my 3 senior get their dental blood work urinalysis on a regular basis, they are microchip and we prevent their illnesses pet health policy this is best for poor people. I usually manage to heal them myself by watching channel like yours DoctorAndrewJones.
Bring my furry baby home. 10/10/2022 ❤️ I'm feeling so anxious 😭😭😭it wasn't a implosive decision but still i feel like i won't be good parent 😭yess i bring her cause i had no one to love but i promise i won't treat her awfully or neglect her 😭😭im so scared right now. I'm reading article, watching video, making notes 😭😭but but I'm scared thinking I might hurt my baby.😭I'm worried what if by mistake i might do something to my baby. One of my caregiver is abusive and they had said a lot of bad things about cat and my whole life almost i was scared from cats 😭
Sounds like you're doing just fine. You're clearly very worried, but cats are pretty resilient, and if you're watching videos like this, you're on the right track.
I understand your thoughts on the savings for emergency vet bills but your amount $2000 to $5000 in an account for most people is not doable. If it comes down to paying mortgage or rent or a savings its not going to happen. I totally agree with a savings idea but that much is not always doable.
I don't have insurance/ money for my own medical bills. Sad but many people love their cats but 3,000 to 5,000 savings. Really? Got the care card when my 2cats were poisoned. Yup, love 38% intersst. Be reall
I love how the only topic that she went into great depth with was how to make sure you have enough money to pay the vet; get insurance for your cat, savings, credit card, make sure you have at least 2000-5000 dollars. Most of the rest of the topics she just made you aware that there was a danger, but not enough information to do anything about, except see her about it and give her more money. Even though at least a few of the topics would have only taken a very short explanation like maybe dental care. I clicked on this video hoping for useful information, but that’s not what I got.
Yikes. Editor here; that was my mistake. Dr. Sarah went into 23 minutes of detail with tons of amazing tips, and it was cut down for length. This is really valuable feedback.
i always feel happy when i bring my cats to the vet for their checkups because it feels like i'm showing them off or something :\ i am a proud dad i guess
Lol, 👍
Not gonna lie, I’m kinda wxcited for my first vet visit
@@Anthroid9 was it good ? :)
I feel like I aced this test, and am so glad because I feel strongly about most of those ten tips. Reading between the lines, weight is mentioned multiple times, and food is the biggest determining factor in my humble, uneducated opinion. High protein, minimal plants. It’s expensive but if it staves off obesity and arthritis I think it’s worth it.
Care Credit is great for veterinary care. I really appreciate them.
Never heard of them before video.
I’m a new cat guardian and this was really helpful. Thank you!
Just adopted a 5 year old cat, am glad I found this channel.
My sixteen year old cat wasn't overweight. I used to rub his lower spine & he'd make contented sounds. I have four ferals/rescues. I don't know about medical coverage. We may pay regularly & they'll not help, when the time comes. Your channel is helpful.
Thank you Ma’am for making this.
As always, really informative and helpful. I've had my cats for years and have never addressed some of these issues, because I didn't know about them. I've made a list for my baby on next Vet visit.
This is possibly the most important cat video on RUclips and should be compulsive viewing for anyone with a new kitten.
Nothing annoys me more than someone getting a kitten off Great Aunt Ethel. Her cat has never seen a vet and she’s desperate to get rid of an unwanted litter. They take that kitten home and pass it clumsily from person to person like a rag doll. All the poor kitten wants to do is investigate and feel safe in this strange place away from its mother. The kitten is then put straight onto dry adult food, no check up or vaccinations. After getting bored of passing it around it’s totally ignored. Its litter tray is only cleaned out when someone says their home stinks and the cat gets the blame. Suddenly at 12 it stops eating so it has its first trip to the vet and most it’s teeth need removing and there’s probably kidney disease. Then they find out cats need money spending on them. So they decide no one really cares about the cat so might as well have it put down. They claim it’s dirty not using its litter tray no matter how much they discipline it and it’s bad tempered anyway. It doesn’t matter that the cat would probably be able to live a decent quality of life for the next ten years if it lived with someone who cared.
With every kitten comes a free bag of responsibility. They are amazing creatures in many ways more so than dogs. These days they are likely to be great companions for 20 years or so and as much as you give them they’ll give back ten fold in affection. They deserve to be treated with respect.
Thanks for these valuable information tips. I love being a pet parent 😌. You rock. Yes good 10 rule tips. I always want the best for my cats.
Live long, happy, and healthy lives!!
My 12 yr old male cat has pancreatitis! Put him on hills prescription diet I/d chicken and vegetable stew canned! He’s doing fantastic! Also giving him Phytomaxx CBD oil & Uromaxx! Now he has kidney disease so I’m giving him Nordic Naturals fish oil! All these combinations really helped him! Greetings from Australia 🇦🇺
So happy to hear that these changes are helping your cat!
Wise information, some not often reviewed. Go to the full article for more depth & succinct tips on each topic.
Watching from the Philippines 🇵🇭 thank you for sharing ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you so much.
our older cat loves her vet. she gets so much pets and attention! we are working on the main source of stress right now: the ride to the office. she hates the car.
I wish I had known about insurance before my dog got sick, she had kidney disease and I was spending $500-600 a month on her medical bills and medication. And, when she did eventually pass away, it was a two day dramatic ordeal between the ER and her normal vet and ended up costing me $3000 plus after-death care like her cremation. My two little kittens and my new rescue dog all have insurance now and they’ll never go without it. I was so incredibly fortunate to be able to pay my dogs medical bills when they were that bad, it was hard on my finances and I went without but it was absolutely worth it for her. I just never want to be in the position of choosing between my pet’s health and money. I was also forced into CareCredit and honestly am just so freakin happy with it, it’s so amazing knowing that I have $X available in case of an emergency or while waiting for my insurance to process a claim.
I've had Care Credit in the past as an emergency resource. Care Credit will close the account if it's not used, so just had to plan ahead and have other cash or credit resources available.
absolutely incredible video, probably the best 10 minutes of info about cats EVER!
thank you! Good advice.
Thanks.
Can you please do a video on explaining the cat poop chart and going into detail when to be concerned about our cats poop and what is normal. Also if there’s any way to distinguish a food problem from an infection problem regarding diarrhea. Thanks so much!
Hello Dr. Sarah- Another helpful video, thank you. I have always loved and owned cats. My cat passed away at the age of 18, this December. I missed some of the signs, the vet missed some of the signs. I took her to the vet every 4-5 weeks for have her nails clipped, weighed and a general check up. Turns out she had stomach cancer. I had a battery of tests run a while back to the tune of $500.00, not revealing anything. I am retired. I would like another female kitten, but after watching this video and many others, according to your recommendations, I may not be able to afford one.
I am going to call my vet next week to go over this. I am a retired Buyer, so I know how to do the homework. I am going to start a 3-ring binder and document what the first year owing a kitten may look like in general, including pet insurance. I will entitle it ZEN & THE ART OF RAISING A CAT.
Will also see if my librarian can locate recently published books on basic cat care. Today's economy is a challenge, especially if you are on social security. I am looking into New Hampshire state programs that may be able to assist with spaying costs. I will also speak with NH adoption agencies to see if there are other initial cost savings available. I would like to give ONE female kitten a loving home without bankrupting myself in the process. My question would be where to find that middle ground that is fair to the cat and fair to the owner. Perhaps that would be a helpful book to write in today's economy. All the best ~ Diane
OMG, Diane! You and I were in the same position. I was always Independent & living on my own. No family. Living with chronic pain & on disability, I really didn't want to start up any friendships.
I just bought a new home 2005. My agent called several months after asking me if I wanted to adopt her kitty, Tigger. I got a quick lesson in the cost of being a good cat guardian. Tigger was less than 2yo, being a Siamese, he had mild periodontal disease & would require yearly cleanings. It was shocking to find just cleanings alone ranged from $450+. If Tigger would have needed one tooth extracted, that would add $300 to the bill!!
My one asset is my home & fortunately I was able to refinance to get any finances to care for Tigger.
He, like your kitty, had small abdominal tumors at the age of 16 & I had to put him to sleep.
The vet I took Tigger to for years, charged me $500 to just do blood work as Tigger was chronically vomiting. I never got any answer. The test didn't find anything & this vet never bothered to pursue finding the issue. He did say that if I needed more testing done, I would have to take Tigger 187 miles one way!! to see the experts at UCDavis for more help.
The cost, the time, it was so beyond my expectations! I was so unprepared for ALL of it. But, in the end, I managed to give Tigger the best life I could for him.
I refuse to adopt knowing what I know now! Too expensive & so I can only donate to feline care organizations. It's very difficult cause I miss the loving companionship of having a kitty--a lot & more than loving any human.
Interesting that we went though this similar situation.
Good luck.
Yes! I didn't realize this! I have a 7 month old kitten that I just adopted who is being tested for tooth resorption. It looks like all their teeth are affected and may have to have them all pulled.
I did that with my cats after years of finding resorptive lesions every time they had teeth cleanings. My only regret is that I didn't do it earlier and saved them from some pain. They are almost 20 years old now and have happily lived without painful teeth for many years now. While they CAN eat dry food, wet food is much better for them so it's a non-issue.
My 9 year old girl only has about 14 teeth left because of forl (and my 7 year old has never needed a cleaning!! They both go to our vet every year and they eat the same food). It’s expensive to get dentals every other year, but eventually they’ll all be gone and her vet visits will be less expensive :) I hope your kitty will be ok.
How often should a geriatric cat go to the vet? Mine is going to be 16 in May and he has only ever gone once a year. Luckily he has been a healthy cat, never been overweight. Eats and drinks like a champ. Thanks for your videos, I really enjoy them.
My vet said once a year is enough if they're healthy but blood work should be done annually to get a baseline while they're healthy and then to see any changes over time because that can give them an early clue to problems that are developing. Once my geriatric cat started taking medication for arthritis at 17, they recommended twice a year for blood work because the medication often causes kidney disease and it's better if that's caught early. So far so good. She's almost 20.
Hello my dear Cathy. How are you doing today. Actually I was looking for a song then I saw your sweet comment, then decided to send a text. If you don't mind can you send me your email address so I can add you with your email to my list on Google chat so that we can share more ideas between ourselves if you don't mind.?
I vaguely recall hearing that statistics from drug manufacturers for heartworm prevention often combine cat prevalence statistics with dogs so as to give the impression that it occurs just as commonly for cats, when it's actually rarer in cats due to them having a degree of immune response to heart worms.
I don't know why but my cats love our veterinarian! They jump out of their carrier and then immediately rub on him like he's made of catnip. I don't know if it's just because my vet is awesome (he is but idk if it's the only reason), if it's because my cats are unique, or if it's because of something else. I just take this as a sign I can never change vets, lol
He also allows patients to set up payment plans for procedures. The practice is tiny, and the building has been a vet's office since the 1800s.
@@briannawhite9307 Maybe he does rub a little catnip or something else wonderful on his clothes. Anything to help a cat feel more comfortable.
@@jennie9 Maybe! Honestly, I'm just relieved that they're both so comfortable with him. They don't like wearing their collars, the ride over, hearing/smelling dogs in the kennels or other exam room, but both are so open around him that it's a relief.
Another very informative video Dr Wooten, thank you. My family wants the best for our two girls so I’ll be having their teeth checked at their next appointment. 😊
Hello my dear Stephanie. How are you doing today. Actually I was looking for a song then I saw your sweet comment, then decided to send a text. If you don't mind can you send me your email address so I can add you with your email to my list on Google chat so that we can share more ideas between ourselves if you don't mind.?
Outstanding video and great info thank you
Pet insurance - so important. I have it now, wish I had known before. Thanks for all the info!
How much are you paying for it?
@@Samuelfish2k my cat's insurance is about $16 per month. She is about 1.5 yrs old
@@sharonl4821 Thx
dr, sarah wooten, i just wanted to thank you so much for all your wonderful and best advises you give us for our kitties , thanks so much ,,, i am learning more and more of what to do with my cat and vet 😂
Adopted 15yo long hair tortishell cat 10 months ago Dru a sweet loving very trusting girl, she's in great health - that's according to the multiple blood and urine samples at our last 3 vet visits since December. Yes, 3 visits in 4 months, plus one video call vet consultation because I am absolutely frightened of her age constantly combing the internet has been useful, but this is my very first pet in my life and I still have a ton of questiions and the vets mostly shrug and speculate cos they're largely behavioral Qs. I spend a lot of time watching top 10s, science based tips, owner clips, vet videos like this one, even ecology based articles. I want to understand everything I can observe from her and I work from home and don't have a social life and she's an indoor cat, she almost never leaves my sight so I observe literally all her moments. But I need more answers, whatever her life was like before the rest of her life I want comfort and happiness and love. And I cry many nights in pursuit with my ever expanding list of Qs.
You seem very anxious. Which your cat will pick up on. If she's eating & sleeping well, not overweight & playing , she's good. Vet once a year for check ups. Not solely dried food as they need moisture as well as drinking water. They usually prefer chin scratches to belly rubs. And scratching their back at the base of their tail is very appreciated too. Tail swishing means they're annoyed. They like to be up high & snooze or window gaze for hours. Feather toy's & anything that you dangle & make swooping moves with so she can stalk or chase is great for play exercise too. Don't stress, enjoy her, pets are great company .😁
Sarah makes an excellent point-Dru is a happy, healthy girl. While your concern is understandable given that she's your first cat and a bit older, it's counterproductive for both you and her. I talk a bit about my own experience with anxiety around my cat's health here: ruclips.net/video/dKmzbrIJ1mA/видео.html
Forgot: for behavioural stuff & everything else, look up the You Tube channel of 'The Cat Daddy', Jackson Galaxy, from the TV show 'My Cat from Hell'. He's fantastic.
@@AllAboutCatsYT Yes it's just tough for me to just put my feelings aside, but I understand what you're saying. We chose Dru because of her age and what would happen otherwise and that has stuck to me like an unshakeable discomfort. I've been obsessing on it and yeah I need to sort that side of things out because I tend to forget she is actually happy and healthy.
@@sarahholland2600 Thank u for those tips I believe I've watched cat daddy on a number of top tip type videos and yes he was good
I would love to hear more about how to prevent dental desease.
You can brush your cats teeth and also give them dental treats like greenies
Yes, I would like to know more too.
@@samuelm.5752 You have to get them used to you touching their mouth. There are demos to teach you on RUclips. More expensive way is to pay vet to clean plaque that develops.
Good advice.
Well done!
Our vet sends our two cats post cards telling them to get the human to make an appointment for different test and shots they need, I don't piddle around I'm on the phone making that appointment. Our cats are indoor only, so we don't worry about heartworm, but we use flea treatments. I'm kind of anal about the litter box, I scoop at least 4 times a day, usually every time I walk by it. We had a cat that would only eat dry food, so we got him a drinking fountain, after he passed away, I put it up, but we have two cats now who eat only canned food, I put the drinking fountain out for them anyway. The only thing I don't understand about these two, Bert and Maggie, is the purring, it's almost none stop. They purr all the time, I love it.
Hello my dear Nancy. How are you doing today. Actually I was looking for a song then I saw your sweet comment, then decided to send a text. If you don't mind can you send me your email address so I can add you with your email to my list on Google chat so that we can share more ideas between ourselves if you don't mind.?
One of our cats died from the anesthesia on her first dental cleaning. We're trying to figure out a different way to do dental care for the others. Our friends use T/D food for dental cleaning, but it's grain based so we don't want to feed them grain.
Omg so sorry to hear this !! Awful....🙏
T/D doesn’t have to be their full diet! My cat eats mostly wet food but I give her about 6 pieces of t/d a day. It doubles as exercise because they are so tasty she’ll chase them down the hall
I feel better knowing about these. I adopted my cat older. And I was thinking of getting pet health insurance. But I am too late. They won't insure cats over 8y/o. But at least I have an idea of how much I should put aside for my pets. I also feel proud because the vet always tells me that all my cats are so gentle. They don't move when they have to take bloods or eye swab or anything they need to do. I don't know why they are very easy. Maybe because I always insist on brushing their teeth, cutting their nails, and giving medications.
Not true. Different companies have different requirements, many don’t have age limits. You should check out Nationwide pet insurance. Ive had my cats policy with them a few years and its been a positive experience.
@@melilu2845 I think we both are from different countries. When I compare pet insurances online it says until 9y/o for us here.
Hi, my cat only has dry food should i put a small amount of cold or warm water in with it? Great channel always want to make sure i'm doing good or if i can do an better. Next goal is getting a vet visit asap
Yes, a bit of warm water can definitely help!
I would love a video regarding cats that eat very little. I go through a 3oz can about every 3 days and she has kibble available now all day but treats don’t even excite her. I’ve taken to vet and she was hyperthyroid and has high blood pressure. She’s on medication for that but her appetite is still the same. The vet hasnt really given me an answer about her appetite and she’s actually gained weight assuming because of the kibble. She’s about 5.6 lbs. Something the vet was intrigued is that I gave her gabepetin for her vet appointment because she gets really stressed and she was eating like I’ve never seen her eat before as soon as she got out of the carrier. Would love this as a topic. It’s very stressful to find the right food she will eat too without upsetting her stomach.
My cat is mirtazapine to increase her hunger. It works great. Ask vet about it.
@@nunyabznz thank you I’ll check on that!!
Get her mouth checked, it may be painful to eat and the gabapentin gave her relief. Good luck!
Our Vet prescribes a dose of gabapentin to ease our cat’s anxiety when it’s time for a Vet check & when we need to do her nails. She was feral for 3 years, has become the sweetest, cuddliest cat, except for these situations. How did you know to give gabapentin, the correct dose & how did you get it without a prescription? No judgement, just curious. Thanks.
Our cat had trouble with her digestive track & we tried many brands. Since switching to Merck, a one ingredient wet food, she’s enjoying her food without problems. We give her a bit of dental dry every day but are so grateful we’ve been able to give her wet food as so recommended for cats well being.
Only recently found you. loving it. You don't by any chance know much or have pointers on all natural, chemical free stuff for our beautiful furry familiar Zenday. A grey tuckseedo boy cat age 4. we have a fair understading but always open to other perspectives to facilitate our growth & learning. understanding fleas & natural ways of repelling, internal health, skin care like the chin & application????
Also is it possible eventually with a gradual transition & making their meals from fresh ingredients by hand to make sure all nurtirents are there for our cat to go on a plant based diet?
Have heard it done.
Thanks for all you do and sharing. we loved the bonding vids & answered yes to all but 1 which wasn't relevant and belly rubs with our face Zen loves. We are so connected. but we are Autistic & get on better with nature & animals than humans! lol xxx
what i wish vets knew ( would not do declaw)
Boooooom! Liked and shared!
Thanks, Mark! :D
I would like your opinion Dr. Wooten, if u have one, about which medicine you prefer for cats? Of the 2, which do u prefer, Advantage Plus or Revolution or one of the other meds listed in the CAPC guidelines for Florida cats? I live in Florida and have seen the price of Revolution increase significantly over the last year! Hoping for something more affordable that covers multiple issues like Revolution does.
Hello Dr. Wooten. I'm trying to assess caloric content in my cat's food but I'm having a rough time decoding the Nutrient info on the side of the can. What the heck is KCAL?
One way to add moisture to your cat's diet is to stop feeding them commercial KIBBLE! Kibble is the worst thing you can feed your cat and for more reasons than the moisture issue. The worst wet food is better than the "best' kibble. If u love your cat you will stop feeding them kibble. Same goes for dogs but i'm a cat person so..
Dr. Wooten has said several times that she recommends a combination of wet and kibble. I am on the fence on this one. I only feed my cat wet and am currently trying to find out as much as I can about the issue.
I've had 5 cats, I always feed both and keep fresh water in the area, but never next to the food. I've never had major health issues with my kitties. All but one has lived to their teens. None have been overweight.
yes!!!!
Getting my 4 month old mainecoon at the end of the month ^_^ what would be a good time to take her to the vet?
I usually just buy a big bag of dry food so I don't have to buy food as often, but I didn't know about cats needing moisture from their food.. could I just put a little water in his food bowl? Not enough to make it soggy but just enough to absorb into the food and hydrate it?
Are there any specific cat insurance companies you would recommend?
Why do more cats in the US have dental disease? Our of 5 cats I have had over my lifetime, only one did not have dental disease. Why is that? They have eaten the same food and have been cared for the same. What is going on? My current vet wanted to do "another" dental on my 17 year old cat and I said "no". They wanted $1400.00 and the last time they did a dental, they had her under anesthesia for 5 hours and removed 9 teeth. She was never quite the same after that experience. She's too old and I won't do it. Another cat that had dental had problems under anesthesia. Her blood pressure was going way high and way low and she bled from her nose. Who wants to subject their cat to that? I always get the feeling that vets nowadays are trying to get as much money out of you with unneeded tests and procedures. In the old days, I could go to a vet and get basic care to keep my cats healthy that wouldn't break the bank. Now they want you to spend several thousand dollars a year on each animal. Most people can't afford that. And vet insurance is not cheap and I feel that we are being pushed into buying vet insurance so vets can charge more. Oh, you have vet insurance, let's do more procedures on all animals. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate you for providing all of us vet information. Thank you. But I don't think you understand that the average person in the world cannot afford several thousand dollars a year per pet for healthcare. We rescue animals off the streets but may not be able to anymore because of the high cost of vet care.
I have a 16 year old cat who is scheduled to have teeth removed as well. What do you mean by never quite the same? Im afraid for him but I think his teeth must be painful.
@@yousosilly9817 You'll make the right decision for your cat, I'm sure. My cat was never quite the same because she was shell-shocked after the surgery. She drooled after the surgery. It seemed harder for her to eat. And she aged quite a bit after the surgery. It took a lot out of her. Currently, she does not seem to be in any pain. She has kidney disease, and she just had a check up and we've added a heart murmur and thyroid disease to her list of maladies. But she seems happy and content. She still gets around, but she mostly stays in the bedroom and rests. She can still jump on the bed with no trouble when she wants to be there. My goal is to just keep her happy and content and when I see her life force isn't in her eyes anymore, I'll know I'll have to make the tough decision. But the vet told me last week at her check up that she actually looks much better than she expected her to. She told me that 17 years of age is like 95 years in human years. The thyroid diagnosis is new. I'm taking her back to the vet in 4 months and they will recheck her thyroid levels one more time and then they will probably start giving her thyroid medication. She is currently on Prednisolone and has been for a year. Anyway, she's a happy little cat at 17, I love her very much, and I intend to let her live out the rest of her life that way. My best to you and your cat whatever your decision is.
Most people would have dental disease if they never brushed their teeth
@@juliac3933 Well, cats and other mammals in the wild do not have dental service. They manage to carry on.
@@9liveslisa that doesn’t mean they don’t have dental disease. animals have the instinct to carry on even when in pain
thanks, my 2 8 months kittens are on dry food, and i would say the last month, i do give them a small portion of wet food as a treat and they love it, is it ok? They also drink from a water fountain, they drink more since.
The sooner they get on wet food, the better. Dry food for cats is like cereal for kids
What I do is feed a quality dry kibble to everyone in the morning, and a quality canned food in the evening. This may help ease the economic issue with expensive wet food.
@@whiteknightcat i do give them Go dry food and for a treat half of Go wet food box. You are right wet food is really expensive and in Canada i pay 3$ for each little box, no way will a pay more then 140$ a month for 2 cats!
Funny that VET's will always tell you to plan ahead yet the VET's themselves don't. Being an importer of VET and hospital medical equipment for 35+yrs I have seen this every year. They haggle our prices ask if any in house financing argue we are to expensive, yet cry if a customer does this. Maybe one day us major importers should tell our stories about this. Trust me it isn't because Phillips is over charging.
Random question. My cat is short hair in front part of her body and medium to long on rear part of her body. She’s 4. In the last 2 years she grew a beard (like Main Coones have) It’s beautiful but gives her issues when she eats. Should I get the groomer to shave it down?
LOVE YOUR CONTENT ESPECIALLY WITH ME BECOMING A NEW MAINECOON CAT BREEDER.
This video was super helpful!! I’m a first time cat and pet owner 😆 I love my cat!! 🐱
Can you share your thoughts on the Tiki Cat canned food?
This is great but wow I wish she had gone further in depth and offered examples for each. It's very much just scratching the surface with this one.
Thank you for the feedback. I want to note that Dr. Sarah did originally go into tons of detail on each of these topics but it was cut down for brevity; maybe we can release an extended cut or something! Apologies for the overly-aggressive edit.
Here's a link to her article, which goes into detail on each point: allaboutcats.com/things-your-vet-wishes-you-knew
I truly believe that vets charge more than any doctor charges for humans , it’s unreal..
Mine doesn't, at least not for routine visits / vaccinations.
how often should a cat see the vet? is it six months or a year?
Once a year until they're around 8, and then twice a year during the senior years.
@@AllAboutCatsYT thank you
I know that annual exams are important, but what do they do specifically that's different from a checkup for other purposes? For example I skipped the "annual", but have been to the vet every 6 months or so for other issues. That would be fine right?
If you're seeing the vet more than once per year I would think that should suffice. In fact, vets may suggest visits every six months for senior cats due to conditions that may develop too quickly to be caught with annual visits. As different vets have different preferences, this is something you should bring up with your vet at the next visit so you can both work out something that's both convenient for you as well as adequate for your cat.
Speaking of dental health. Is there any merit to the water additives that are sold for cats dental hygiene?
cheap food = high vet bills
Maybe for the dental disease the vets cud recommend not giving dry food!
Brushing your cat's teeth is NOT hard. I purchased a test tube cleaner (a very small one) and I put the toothpaste on it with a crushed treat and they just munch on the bristles while I rotate the brush. I just got an older cat and did not have to train her, she just munched on it right away.
Niceeeeeeeeeeeeee ❤️💖❤️
I’m a member of Banfield wellness program and cats my 3 senior get their dental blood work urinalysis on a regular basis, they are microchip and we prevent their illnesses pet health policy this is best for poor people. I usually manage to heal them myself by watching channel like yours DoctorAndrewJones.
Bring my furry baby home. 10/10/2022 ❤️
I'm feeling so anxious 😭😭😭it wasn't a implosive decision but still i feel like i won't be good parent 😭yess i bring her cause i had no one to love but i promise i won't treat her awfully or neglect her 😭😭im so scared right now. I'm reading article, watching video, making notes 😭😭but but I'm scared thinking I might hurt my baby.😭I'm worried what if by mistake i might do something to my baby. One of my caregiver is abusive and they had said a lot of bad things about cat and my whole life almost i was scared from cats 😭
Sounds like you're doing just fine. You're clearly very worried, but cats are pretty resilient, and if you're watching videos like this, you're on the right track.
@@AllAboutCatsYT thank you 🙇♀️🙇♀️🙇♀️ trying to calm my anxiety
@@Jivi_Galaxy And you might find that your kitten can help with that in return. :) Wishing you and your new baby all the best.
@@AllAboutCatsYT thank you very much 😭😭❤️❤️❤️❤️😊😊
There are people that don’t clean the litter box daily?? Ewww
I understand your thoughts on the savings for emergency vet bills but your amount $2000 to $5000 in an account for most people is not doable. If it comes down to paying mortgage or rent or a savings its not going to happen. I totally agree with a savings idea but that much is not always doable.
I don't have insurance/ money for my own medical bills. Sad but many people love their cats but 3,000 to 5,000 savings. Really? Got the care card when my 2cats were poisoned. Yup, love 38% intersst. Be reall
How about not charging 300-400 for a basic visit.
I need a good pet insurance company
Is it normal for a cat to drink water when they're waking up? Thank you
I love how this video is not at all about boosting the sales. Lol.
Unfortunately I was being sarcastic
1 I know this 3 agree, 4 agree mine go every 6 months, 5 my cats do not go outside 6 thanks 8 thanks 9 i know 10 agree
I love how the only topic that she went into great depth with was how to make sure you have enough money to pay the vet; get insurance for your cat, savings, credit card, make sure you have at least 2000-5000 dollars. Most of the rest of the topics she just made you aware that there was a danger, but not enough information to do anything about, except see her about it and give her more money. Even though at least a few of the topics would have only taken a very short explanation like maybe dental care. I clicked on this video hoping for useful information, but that’s not what I got.
Yikes. Editor here; that was my mistake. Dr. Sarah went into 23 minutes of detail with tons of amazing tips, and it was cut down for length. This is really valuable feedback.
And do you see a Dr for your ailments?
Here's a link to Dr. Sarah's article, where she goes in-depth on solutions: allaboutcats.com/things-your-vet-wishes-you-knew
How to plan ahead for veterinary bills: Rob a bank. I was hoping this would be advice on how to care for cats not how to care for vets.🙄