63% of cat owners mistakenly believe that if their cat behaves normally, it doesn’t need to see the vet
NS. CHARLES, Mon., August 16, 2021 / PRNewswire / – Cat lover and actress Kat Dennings is partnering with Royal Canin, a global leader in cat nutrition, to encourage cat owners everywhere The United States commit to taking their cats to the vet every year. Veterinarian and reality TV star Dr. Diarra blue, and kitten rescuers and humane educators, Hannah Shaw (Kitten Lady), join Dennings for the campaign and public service announcement to get the message across to all cat owners that while cats may appear healthy, they need regular visits to their veterinarian.
Bring your cat to the Royal Canin Vet campaign
While more than forty-two million households have at least one cat, there are more than 90 million cats1 around the world The United States, few of these cats receive adequate medical care. In fact, more than half of cats do not receive regular veterinary care2 – 83% of cats go to the vet before their first birthday, but over 50% do not return until they become sick or in pain.
Royal Canin’s annual Take Your Cat to the Vet initiative is now in its sixth year working to raise awareness of this important cat health issue and to break down the barriers that keep cats from going to the vet more often.
According to a new Royal Canin survey, 63% of cat owners mistakenly believe that if their cat is behaving normally (including playing, eating, drinking, using the litter box) they don’t need to see the vet. 66% of respondents also agree that if their cat is behaving healthily, they are not paying attention to the signs of aging, but 60% are unsure of what signs to look out for as their cat ages. All of this means that cat owners don’t take their cats to the vet every year, which is why Royal Canin has made it a priority to make the Take Your Cat to the Vet initiative an annual campaign.
“Cats are great at hiding their problems, which is why Royal Canin’s Take Your Cat to the Vet initiative is so important,” said Kat Dennings. “Our job is to stand up for all cats and to improve their general well-being. To that end, since less than 50% of cats are groomed on a regular basis, if we can get even one more cat owner to promise their cat annual spa visits, we will have made a difference. “
The story goes on
Further results of the survey are:
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Only 33% of cat owners are familiar with signs of kidney disease in cats, and only 28% are familiar with urinary blocks or crystals
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52% do not begin to take preventive health measures for their cat until they reach a certain age
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83% of cat owners believe that “age doesn’t define my cat”; 78% believe that regardless of their cat’s age, their cat will still act like a kitten, and 73% believe that their cat will act younger than it really is
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72% of cat owners do not pay attention to the signs of aging of their cat because their cat behaves younger than it is
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84% of cat owners want to know more about possible diseases / health problems their cat may experience as it ages
“Although each annual appointment can look similar, your vet will monitor for different health issues depending on your cat’s life cycle,” said Dr. Catherine Lenox, Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionist and Regulatory Veterinary Manager at Royal Canin North America. “Cats are private pets, so it can be difficult to tell when they’re not doing well. Even as adult cats, many cats can still look youthful and remain playful.”
In addition, Royal Canin is partnering with the Orphan Kitten Club’s Mightycat grant program – the world’s first grant program to rescue newborn kittens. Every kitten season, thousands of motherless kittens are threatened with death on the streets and in animal shelters. Without a mother to look after them, kittens face incredible difficulties and cannot survive without special care. The Orphan Kitten Club is committed to saving the lives of these little cats by rescuing them in its state-of-the-art kitten daycare, ending the cycle with sterilization, and caring for every kitten possible.
“We need to protect and care for cats of all ages,” says Hannah Shaw. “The Orphan Kitten Club is focused on kittens in need most, but the journey doesn’t end there. I encourage every cat owner to take the pledge and join us in improving the overall health of the cat.”
Visit RoyalCanin.com/CatHealth to accept the promise to get your cat to the vet and learn more about the Get Your Cat To The Vet Initiative.
1 American Pet Products Association National Pet Owners Survey 2017-2018
2 Veterinary Practice News, 2020, “Only half of all cats receive veterinary care”
About Royal Canin USA
Royal dog USA is a leader in science-based nutrition for cats and dogs. Royal Canin was founded in 1968 by a veterinarian and has over 50 years of experience in providing customized nutritional solutions. In collaboration with a team of experts made up of nutritionists, breeders and veterinarians from around the world, Royal Canin puts cats and dogs at the center of the innovation process. Royal Canin’s line of products offers a range of diets based on size, age, race, lifestyle and therapeutic needs. Royal Canin diets are available at veterinary clinics and pet stores nationwide. Royal Canin is a subsidiary of Mars, Incorporated. To learn more about Royal Canin, visit www.royalcanin.com and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/royalcanin.us.
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SOURCE Royal Canin
