National Cat Lover's Month

December brings a lot to celebrate, including National Cat Lover’s Month! Here at Mission Animal Hospital, we love our feline friends and know how loving these sweet companions can be as part of your family! This month is a great time to celebrate the beauty, personality, and love of the kitties in our lives and visiting our hospital.

Cats are the second most popular companion animal in the United States with more than a quarter of US households having at least one. Studies show that cat ownership not only has many mental health benefits, like improved mood and increased socialization, but cats are shown to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease for their owners.

These furry friends, however, often receive less veterinary attention than dogs. This is especially true for indoor cats, as many cat owners believe that they aren’t exposed to disease if they don’t go outside. Veterinary visits are also stressful for cats and cat owners. In fact, 52 percent of U.S. cats haven’t been to see a veterinarian in the last year. However, regular exams can help avoid medical emergencies since veterinarians can often detect conditions or diseases that may affect your cat's health long before they become significant, painful, or more costly to treat.

Because of misconceptions of cats’ needs for veterinary care, along with other barriers, including the high cost of veterinary care, cat lovers can find themselves unable to afford care for these furry family members when they need it. This can lead to unnecessary surrender and even euthanasia.

Mission Animal Hospital works daily to combat these issues by making veterinary care more accessible to families and pets in need, and we’re excited to share that we’re being supported in these efforts thanks to a generous grant from the ASPCA. The funds will go directly towards our work preventing cat surrender and euthanasia, and keeping these furry companions with the healthy and happy, and with the family who loves them.