Cat Offers 3 Tips On How To Avoid: Take Your Cat To The Vet Day #Cat2VetDay

FROM CAT CHAT WITH CAREN AND CODY: Portions of this post appeared in 2016 on Take Your Cat To The Vet Day. We liked it so much are so lazy, we wanted to repeat it this year with some modifications.  And...don't listen to Cody TOO MUCH. My husband and I are HUGE advocates for pet wellness visits and we make sure that we are not strangers at the Vet's office!! Since Cody is a senior kitty we have wellness visits TWICE a year and any other time we deem necessary. We are  blessed that we go to:

 DePorre Veterinary Hospital

here in Michigan

 which is a:

 (For a list of Cat Friendly Practices in YOUR area, click here)

Now that we made everyone feel better, read on and enjoy!!! Take it away Cody!!

================================================================

Hi my furiends!!! It's Cody and as many of you already know, today is *******(Bring or Take) Your Cat to the (dreaded) Vet Day better known as Mom, Dad,  "Dr.Smiley" and his evil assistant get a good laugh day at MY expense!

******* (According to Days of the Year it is "Take Your Cat To The Vet Day",  catvets.com  is referring to it as "Bring Your Cat To the Vet Day" the message is the same!)

This photo is from a previous visit to Dr.Smiley's Evil Laboratory
Just for the record, Dr.Smiley and Gabby
are really NOT evil!!! 

Well, this is ONE CAT who is NOT going to the Vet today,  (Don't get nervous!! I AM going in September for my Wellness exam and my annual Rabies shot!!! )

Anyway kitties, if YOU want to avoid a trip to the Vet, let me tell you what I have done in the past to delay that dreaded trip! You can take these tips and apply them to your own house, or come up with better ones of your own!

TIP #1 BE OBSERVANT!!!

One day I was minding my own business, resting on a chair during the dark and quiet wee hours of the morning trying to drown out the relentless droning of Big Brother After Dark that Mom is obsessed with. My PTU (Personal Transport Unit for those who haven't been blogging long), is always kept in the living room with BOTH doors open. I will often slink into it's cozy, furry, blanket padded depths to get some much needed slumber. That night/morning something unusual happened. The rotund one actually moved off of the couch and closed one of the doors on my PTU. I WAS ON HIGH ALERT!!!! KITTIES! THAT IS A WARNING!! THAT MEANS YOU ARE GOING TO THE VET AND THEY ARE LEAVING ONE DOOR OPEN AT THE TOP SO THEY CAN PUT THROW YOU INTO YOUR PTU AND LOCK YOU IN FOR WHAT FEELS LIKE FOREVER!!!!!! I was beginning to formulate a plan, but didn't want to act prematurely. I  decided to see what else would happen that was out of the ordinary, and if strange things continued, I would spring into action!!

TIP #2 WATCH FOR A CHANGE  IN ROUTINE!!!

Normally, every morning I am on the couch getting some  much-needed rest, (I am already fed because Dad gets up early to feed Sheltie boy and I while Mom snores away.) Mom usually says good morning to Sheltie Boy and then forgets that I exist. Well, that day, after her usual morning greeting, Mom walked over to me and started petting me and cooing. Then, I heard her start telling Dad, "I hope he stays there, this will be MUCH EASIER." ONCE AGAIN, I WAS ON HIGH ALERT!!!  "THIS WILL BE MUCH EASIER?" I KNEW WHAT THAT MEANT!!!! I strolled into the kitchen and figured if I showed Mom and Dad my ample belleh, (which they LOVE to pet), they would be so overcome with my adorableness that they would be distracted.

 More talk followed...Mom said "Oh no!! He's off of the couch! He will soon disappear and I won't find him!!" I WAS OUTTA THERE!!!!!

TIP #3 BEGIN TO PUT YOUR PLAN INTO ACTION

Find the MESSIEST closet or room in the house and GET THERE FAST!!!!!!

Observe the photo above. My hiding spot of choice is in the messy closet that is in Mom's our office, (that she never uses). That white closet door doesn't open properly for humans, which is PURRFECT for me! That pink PTU was Angel Bobo's, (why she got a pink PTU for a male cat is beyond me, but I digress....) and I love to sleep there. When I go there, I feel Angel Bobo's spirit, and I know that  I am SAFE! Mom can't fit her fat-filled arms into that tiny space to get me because the door on the PTU opens TOWARDS her. I can get in, but SHE CAN'T!!!

I waited til I heard Mom say, "I don't feel like, stressing Cody or myself out today, I can't reach him when he is in Bobo's carrier, it's much too hard.   I am going to reschedule his appointment. It's just a shot and it can wait." 

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!

Once I heard Mom on the phone with Dr.Smiley's evil assistants saying something about "being stupid because she forgot to barricade the closet", and I heard something about  rescheduling, I waited til I noticed that  the chauffeur,  Dad,  had left to run errands. Once he was out of the house I knew I was safe!!!! That day Mom re-scheduled the appointment for the end of August, thankfully, TOTALLY forgetting that August 22nd is (Take or)  Bring Your Cat to the Vet Day! At about 8:30 am (which would have been more than enough time to stuff me into my PTU had Mom not already canceled the appointment), I   nonchalantly strolled out of the closet and went back....WHERE? Why the COUCH of course!!!

YAY FOR ME!!!

FROM THE MOM: While Cody DID successfully sabotage a trip to the Vet that day, he was by NO MEANS out of the woods! He ended up  going to the Vet at the end of that month!!! In our house we are firm believers in "wellness visits", (going to the Vet for check-ups when all is fine, and not waiting for an illness or a crisis to present itself), and keeping up with NECESSARY vaccines, (if applicable!)

Infographic courtesy of   Cat2VetDay

Wellness visits are important because they can often detect problems that could be cropping up. By catching a potential problem EARLY it can help avoid some costly vet bills! Preventative care is important for humans and it is equally as important for our cats (and dogs!!!) 

FROM CODY: Ok, so Dr.Smiley isn't really so bad, he is quite nice really, but I am not thrilled with being called overweight and getting poked, prodded and having a shot, even if I DO know how important it is. So kitties, what have YOU done to escape going to the Vet? Share YOUR tips because I can always use a few new ones!!

Oh and my FINAL tip for today?

KITTIES....WATCH YOUR BACK!!!!!!!!!!

Love, Cody

AAHA (the American Animal Hospital Association) - The League of Champions (Guest Post)

FROM CAT CHAT WITH CAREN AND CODY: In honor of National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day  (which is Wednesday, August 22nd),  Cody and I are pleased to present  to you a wonderful guest post about the AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association). I am proud that the Veterinary practice I have been going to for approximately 16 years is AAHA accredited. From the DePorre Veterinary website: 

"DePorre Veterinary Hospital is AAHA Accredited!"
We've chosen to voluntarily go through the process of becoming accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association because we understand your pet holds a valued place in your heart.  Only 15% of animal hospitals in the United States and Canada are AAHA accredited, and we're one of them! ​We have been accredited since 2013."

"AAHA Accreditation is a Very Big Deal"

Cody and I received no compensation for this post. We love sharing information that is of interest to our readers.  Becoming AAHA accredited is not an easy process.  Finding an AAHA accredited Veterinary practice should be of the utmost importance for anyone with pets.   it is our pleasure to share this guest post with you.

Courtesy of Consumers Advocate.org

AAHA (the American Animal Hospital Association)

The League of Champions

In 1933, the United States was reeling. It was the fourth year of the Great Depression. Unemployment stood at 25%. A new and untested president had recently moved into the White House. It was a turbulent and uncertain time.

But amazingly, during America's darkest hours, seven leaders of the veterinary profession came together to form one of the country's greatest organizations: the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). It was and remains the only institution that accredits companion veterinary hospitals in the U.S. and Canada. It was built on the premise that pets deserve nothing less than the very best veterinary care.

 Fast-forward to 2018. In 85 years, the country has changed in ways that were unimaginable in 1933. But AAHA has endured. Thrived. And today it is the most esteemed veterinary association in the country.

Dr. Heather Loenser-Courtesy of Consumers Advocate.org original article

 As Dr. Heather Loenser, AAHA’s Senior Veterinary Officer, put it recently, “Veterinary medicine is always evolving and improving. And AAHA has to remain flexible, ready to challenge previous protocols and upgrade them to the latest recommendations."

 It is that flexibility that has maintained AAHA as the standard of veterinary excellence in a rapidly-changing world.

AAHA Accreditation is a Very Big Deal
Being accredited is about operating at a higher level. And when it comes to health, that's the only level to play on. The process of accreditation is challenging and rigorous. It is also voluntary and not guaranteed. When a veterinary facility steps up to become accredited, it means they are making a proclamation they are committed to excellence.

Since 1933, AAHA has charted a course to accreditation for approximately 3,700 practices. Currently, only 12 to 15 percent of animal hospitals are accredited. AAHA invites all veterinarians to take the accreditation challenge and go at their own pace. This allows prospective practices to know exactly what lies in front of them. 

Dr. Mike Cavanaugh, the CEO of AAHA, believes that accreditation “means they care enough to be their very best on behalf of their patients, their clients and their staff. I often hear about the wonderful outcome of a hospital team working together to achieve accreditation and the bonding and team-building that results when they successfully achieve their shared goal of accreditation.”

At its core, accreditation has two functions. First, it recognizes and objectively certifies great veterinary practices. This is valuable to pet parents as they search for the best possible care for their nonhuman family members. Second, it helps good veterinary hospitals become great ones by coaching their personnel and helping practices live up to their potential. Many practices are poised to take the step from good to great, but need the counsel and guidance that AAHA provides to fully realize their latent qualities.

The Path to Accreditation
Accreditation involves being measured against over 900 standards of veterinary care across 18 categories. Fifty are mandatory, and then a certain number of additional points must be accumulated across these 18 categories.

Courtesy of Consumers Advocate.org from original article

Being accredited by AAHA doesn’t mean that a veterinary practice is accredited for all time. Instead, accreditation is a continuing process. Accredited practices are re-evaluated every three years. That way, AAHA can continuously guide animal hospitals through the changes in veterinary practice and technology to ensure they can deliver state-of-the-art services.

The current president of AAHA, Dr. Mark McConnell agrees and notes that there are other benefits to accreditation as well. “Some choose to become AAHA-accredited because they want the structure and assistance in running a practice. Others want the best for their patients and AAHA provides resources for the practice team to deliver the best medicine. Some want a recruitment tool to attract skilled and dedicated employees who want to practice with high standards.”

Courtesy of Consumers Advocate.org

The Future of AAHA
Dr. Cavanaugh believes that in the coming years, AAHA will continue to focus on its core function: accreditation. The organization is looking at modernizing the processes of collecting and analyzing member-generated data. Additionally, the way AAHA runs its on-site visits is being reimagined.
 
AAHA also hopes to focus on developing healthy workplace cultures. Practice members experience all kinds of emotions in the course of serving patients with all kinds of ailments. While all practitioners feel depressed at times, coming into a positive work environment makes a big difference.

That kind of forward thinking has characterized AAHA since its inception. Though its goal has remained constant for 85 years, the ways of achieving excellence are constantly changing.

Author Bio: Scott Smith is the lead pet editor for ConsumersAdvocate.org. Scott's Facebook page, Everybody Loves Sammy continues to influence over 149K animal lovers and provide resources for pet adoptions and animal rights activism. Additionally, Scott created the Dr. Harp Seal Community, the "I'm a Pig Man" advocacy message, and the "Drive With Compassion" movement in Puerto Rico. Most notably Scott wrote and recorded "Where is the Geneva Convention for Animals?" which can be heard on SoundCloud by Dr. Harp Seal.

Cat Offers 3 Tips On How To Avoid: Take Your Cat To The Vet Day #Cat2VetDay

FROM CAT CHAT WITH CAREN AND CODY: Portions of this post appeared in 2016 on Take Your Cat To The Vet Day. We liked it so much are so lazy, we wanted to repeat it this year with some modifications.  And...don't listen to Cody TOO MUCH. My husband and I are HUGE advocates for pet wellness visits and we make sure that we are not strangers at the Vet's office!! Cody WILL be at the Vet in September for his rabies shot and his wellness exam. Now that Cody is a senior kitty he will have wellness visits TWICE a year. We are  blessed that we go to:

 DePorre Veterinary Hospital

here in Michigan

 which is a:

 (For a list of Cat Friendly Practices in YOUR area, click here)

Now that we made everyone feel better, read on and enjoy!!! Take it away Cody!!

================================================================

Hi my furiends!!! It's Cody and as many of you already know, today is *******(Bring or Take) Your Cat to the (dreaded) Vet Day better known as Mom, Dad,  "Dr.Smiley" and his evil assistant get a good laugh day at MY expense!

******* (According to Days of the Year it is "Take Your Cat To The Vet Day",  catvets.com  is referring to it as "Bring Your Cat To the Vet Day" the message is the same!)

This photo is from a previous visit to Dr.Smiley's Evil Laboratory
Just for the record, Dr.Smiley and Gabby
are really NOT evil!!! 

Well, this is ONE CAT who is NOT going to the Vet today,  (Don't get nervous!! I AM going in September for my Wellness exam and my annual Rabies shot!!! )

Anyway kitties, if YOU want to avoid a trip to the Vet, let me tell you what I have done in the past to delay that dreaded trip! You can take these tips and apply them to your own house, or come up with better ones of your own!

TIP #1 BE OBSERVANT!!!

One day I was minding my own business, resting on a chair during the dark and quiet wee hours of the morning trying to drown out the relentless droning of Big Brother After Dark that Mom is obsessed with. My PTU (Personal Transport Unit for those who haven't been blogging long), is always kept in the living room with BOTH doors open. I will often slink into it's cozy, furry, blanket padded depths to get some much needed slumber. That night/morning something unusual happened. The rotund one actually moved off of the couch and closed one of the doors on my PTU. I WAS ON HIGH ALERT!!!! KITTIES! THAT IS A WARNING!! THAT MEANS YOU ARE GOING TO THE VET AND THEY ARE LEAVING ONE DOOR OPEN AT THE TOP SO THEY CAN PUT THROW YOU INTO YOUR PTU AND LOCK YOU IN FOR WHAT FEELS LIKE FOREVER!!!!!! I was beginning to formulate a plan, but didn't want to act prematurely. I  decided to see what else would happen that was out of the ordinary, and if strange things continued, I would spring into action!!

TIP #2 WATCH FOR A CHANGE  IN ROUTINE!!!

Normally, every morning I am on the couch getting some  much-needed rest, (I am already fed because Dad gets up early to feed Sheltie boy and I while Mom snores away.) Mom usually says good morning to Sheltie Boy and then forgets that I exist. Well, that day, after her usual morning greeting, Mom walked over to me and started petting me and cooing. Then, I heard her start telling Dad, "I hope he stays there, this will be MUCH EASIER." ONCE AGAIN, I WAS ON HIGH ALERT!!!  "THIS WILL BE MUCH EASIER?" I KNEW WHAT THAT MEANT!!!! I strolled into the kitchen and figured if I showed Mom and Dad my ample belleh, (which they LOVE to pet), they would be so overcome with my adorableness that they would be distracted.

 More talk followed...Mom said "Oh no!! He's off of the couch! He will soon disappear and I won't find him!!" I WAS OUTTA THERE!!!!!

TIP #3 BEGIN TO PUT YOUR PLAN INTO ACTION

Find the MESSIEST closet or room in the house and GET THERE FAST!!!!!!

Observe the photo above. My hiding spot of choice is in the messy closet that is in Mom's our office, (that she never uses). That white closet door doesn't open properly for humans, which is PURRFECT for me! That pink PTU was Angel Bobo's, (why she got a pink PTU for a male cat is beyond me, but I digress....) and I love to sleep there. When I go there, I feel Angel Bobo's spirit, and I know that  I am SAFE! Mom can't fit her fat-filled arms into that tiny space to get me because the door on the PTU opens TOWARDS her. I can get in, but SHE CAN'T!!!

I waited til I heard Mom say, "I don't feel like, stressing Cody or myself out today, I can't reach him when he is in Bobo's carrier, it's much too hard.   I am going to reschedule his appointment. It's just a shot and it can wait." 

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!

Once I heard Mom on the phone with Dr.Smiley's evil assistants saying something about "being stupid because she forgot to barricade the closet", and I heard something about  rescheduling, I waited til I noticed that  the chauffeur,  Dad,  had left to run errands. Once he was out of the house I knew I was safe!!!! That day Mom re-scheduled the appointment for the end of August, thankfully, TOTALLY forgetting that August 22nd is (Take or)  Bring Your Cat to the Vet Day! At about 8:30 am (which would have been more than enough time to stuff me into my PTU had Mom not already canceled the appointment), I   nonchalantly strolled out of the closet and went back....WHERE? Why the COUCH of course!!!

YAY FOR ME!!!

FROM THE MOM: While Cody DID successfully sabotage a trip to the Vet that day, he was by NO MEANS out of the woods! He ended up  going to the Vet at the end of that month!!! In our house we are firm believers in "wellness visits", (going to the Vet for check-ups when all is fine, and not waiting for an illness or a crisis to present itself), and keeping up with NECESSARY vaccines, (if applicable!)

Infographic courtesy of   Cat2VetDay

Wellness visits are important because they can often detect problems that could be cropping up. By catching a potential problem EARLY it can help avoid some costly vet bills! Preventative care is important for humans and it is equally as important for our cats (and dogs!!!) 

FROM CODY: Ok, so Dr.Smiley isn't really so bad, he is quite nice really, but I am not thrilled with being called overweight and getting poked, prodded and having a shot, even if I DO know how important it is. So kitties, what have YOU done to escape going to the Vet? Share YOUR tips because I can always use a few new ones!!

Oh and my FINAL tip for today?

KITTIES....WATCH YOUR BACK!!!!!!!!!!

Love, Cody

My Cat Offers 3 Tips On How To Avoid: Take Your Cat To The Vet Day #Cat2VetDay

Hi my furiends!!! It's Cody and as many of you already know, today is *******(Bring or Take) Your Cat to the (dreaded) Vet Day better known as Mom, Dad,  "Dr.Smiley" and his evil assistant get a good laugh day at MY expense!

******* (According to Days of the Year it is "Take Your Cat To The Vet Day",  catvets.com  is referring to it as "Bring Your Cat To the Vet Day" the message is the same!)

This photo is from a previous visit to Dr.Smiley's Evil Laboratory
Just for the record, Dr.Smiley and Gabby
are really NOT evil!!! 

Well, this is ONE CAT who is NOT going to the Vet today, and who managed to avoid that sordid experience last Wednesday when I was scheduled, (mind you, the operative word here is "scheduled") to go to the Vet for my annual Rabies shot. (Maybe I need to remind them that I am an INDOOR cat, I AM NOT A DOG!!!!! )

Anyway kitties, if YOU want to avoid a trip to the Vet, let me tell you how I got out of my appointment! You can take these tips and apply them to your own house, or come up with better ones of your own!

TIP #1 BE OBSERVANT!!!

It all started last Tuesday night. I was minding my own business, resting on a chair during the dark and quiet wee hours of the morning trying to drown out the relentless droning of Big Brother After Dark that Mom is obsessed with. My PTU (Personal Transport Unit for those who haven't been blogging long), is always kept in the living room with BOTH doors open. I will often slink into it's cozy, furry, blanket padded depths to get some much needed slumber. That night/morning something unusual happened. The rotund one actually moved off of the couch and closed one of the doors on my PTU. I WAS ON HIGH ALERT!!!! KITTIES! THAT IS A WARNING!! THAT MEANS YOU ARE GOING TO THE VET AND THEY ARE LEAVING ONE DOOR OPEN AT THE TOP SO THEY CAN PUT THROW YOU INTO YOUR PTU AND LOCK YOU IN FOR WHAT FEELS LIKE FOREVER!!!!!! I was beginning to formulate a plan, but didn't want to act prematurely. I  decided to see what else would happen that was out of the ordinary, and if strange things continued, I would spring into action!!

TIP #2 WATCH FOR A CHANGE  IN ROUTINE!!!

Normally, every morning I am on the couch getting MORE much-needed rest, (I am already fed because Dad gets up early to feed Sheltie boy and I while Mom snores away.) Mom usually says good morning to Sheltie Boy and then forgets that I exist. Well, last Wednesday after her usual morning greeting, Mom walked over to me and started petting me and cooing. Then, I heard her start telling Dad, "I hope he stays there, this will be MUCH EASIER." ONCE AGAIN, I WAS ON HIGH ALERT!!!  "THIS WILL BE MUCH EASIER?" I KNEW WHAT THAT MEANT!!!! I strolled into the kitchen and figured if I showed Mom and Dad my ample belleh, (which they LOVE to pet), they would be so overcome with my adorableness that they would be distracted.

 More talk followed...Mom said "Oh no!! He's off of the couch! He will soon disappear and I won't find him!!" I WAS OUTTA THERE!!!!!

TIP #3 BEGIN TO PUT YOUR PLAN INTO ACTION

Find the MESSIEST closet or room in the house and GET THERE FAST!!!!!!

Observe the photo above. My hiding spot of choice is in the messy closet that is in Mom's our office, (that she never uses). That white closet door doesn't open properly for humans, which is PURRFECT for me! That pink PTU was Angel Bobo's, (why she got a pink PTU for a male cat is beyond me, but I digress....) and I love to sleep there. When I go there, I feel Angel Bobo's spirit, and I know that  I am SAFE! Mom can't fit her fat-filled arms into that tiny space to get me because the door on the PTU opens TOWARDS her. I can get in, but SHE CAN'T!!!

I waited til I heard Mom say, "I don't feel like, stressing Cody or myself out today, I can't reach him when he is in Bobo's carrier, it's much too hard.   I am going to reschedule his appointment. It's just a shot and it can wait." 

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!

Once I heard Mom on the phone with Dr.Smiley's evil assistants saying something about "being stupid because she forgot to barricade the closet", and I heard something about  rescheduling, I waited til I noticed that  the chauffeur,  Dad,  had left to run errands. Once he was out of the house I knew I was safe!!!! Mom re-scheduled the appointment for the end of August, thankfully, TOTALLY forgetting that August 22nd is (Take or)  Bring Your Cat to the Vet Day! At about 8:30 am (which would have been more than enough time to stuff me into my PTU had Mom not already canceled the appointment), I   nonchalantly strolled out of the closet and went back....WHERE? Why the COUCH of course!!!

YAY FOR ME!!! I AM "VET-FREE" til the end of August!!! Kitties you MUST try these tips yourself!!!!

FROM THE MOM: While Cody DID successfully sabotage a trip to the Vet he is by NO MEANS out of the woods! He WILL be going to the Vet at the end of the month!!! In our house we are firm believers in "wellness visits", (going to the Vet for check-ups when all is fine, and not waiting for an illness or a crisis to present itself), and keeping up with required vaccines.

Infographic courtesy of   Cat2VetDay

Wellness visits are important because they can often detect problems that could be cropping up. By catching a potential problem EARLY it can help avoid some costly vet bills! Preventative care is important for humans and it is equally as important for our cats (and dogs!!!) 

FROM CODY: Ok, so Dr.Smiley isn't really so bad, he is quite nice really, but I am not thrilled with being called overweight and getting poked, prodded and having a shot, even if I DO know how important it is. So kitties, what have YOU done to escape going to the Vet? Share YOUR tips because I can always use a few new ones!!

Oh and my FINAL tip for today?

KITTIES....WATCH YOUR BACK!!!!!!!!!!

Love, Cody

#Michigan Low Cost Pet Vaccination clinic - Sat. April 20

yes I know this is
flying over the side bar
but it is more important that THIS
is seen, than anything else.

Fast, Low Cost Pet Vaccinations! Veterinary Clinic!

Saturday, July 21st

1pm-2:30pm

At Pet Supplies Plus

2057 Telegraph Rd

Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

248-333-7545