'Adopt-a-Cat Month' Serves as Reminder to Practice Responsible Cat Ownership
AUSTIN, Texas (PRWEB) June 01, 2019 -- The phrase “Who rescued who?” couldn’t ring more true than for loving cat owners who adopted their feline friends from rescue organizations and shelters. Each year, an estimated three million cats enter shelters, and, unfortunately, approximately 860,000 are euthanized. Choosing to adopt a cat from a shelter or rescue organization means saving a cat’s life. Both the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and the American Humane Association broadcast this message in June through their respective events “Adopt a Shelter Cat Month” and “Adopt-a-Cat Month.”
The Texas Veterinary Medical Association (TVMA) recognizes this month by encouraging potential cat owners to not only adopt a furry friend from a rescue organization or shelter but also to practice responsible cat ownership throughout the pet’s life. Some of the basic tenets of responsible cat ownership include:
- Regular exams with your veterinarian addressing issues including dental health, skin allergies and health issues that arise with age
- Keeping your cat up-to-date with vaccinations, including rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, panleukopenia (FVRCP) and feline leukemia
- Maintaining a healthy weight for your cat by feeding a healthy diet and incorporating exercise into its lifestyle
- Reducing financial stress by putting pet health care in your family’s budget
- Making sure your cat has proper identification, whether it’s by microchip or a collar with your contact information (ideally both)
- Ensuring your cat is kept safe from the elements, making sure it is protected during times of extreme cold or heat and always keeping it properly hydrated
- Establishing natural disaster preparation plans in the event of emergencies, including creating an evacuation kit
- Having spay or neuter procedures performed to curb the pet overpopulation problem
Partnering with your veterinarian is a crucial component of responsible cat ownership. TexVetPets.org allows this collaboration to continue online in between visits to the clinic by offering a reliable source of accurate pet health information that is peer-reviewed and written by TVMA members—the veterinary professionals of Texas. When you’re in need of information on ownership topics such as clinic etiquette, zoonotic diseases, weight-loss plans and caring for senior pets, visit the cat wellness section of TexVetPets.org at https://www.texvetpets.org/article_cat/cats/.
About the Texas Veterinary Medical Association
Founded in 1903, the Texas Veterinary Medical Association is a professional association composed of more than 3,700 veterinarians committed to protecting public health, promoting high educational, ethical and moral standards within the veterinary profession and educating the public about animal health and its relationship to human health. For more information, call 512/452-4224 or visit http://www.tvma.org.
Dena S. Goldstein, Texas Veterinary Medical Association, http://www.tvma.org, 5124524224, [email protected]
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