{"id":5217,"date":"2019-04-01T00:00:43","date_gmt":"2019-04-01T07:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/todaysveterinarybusiness.com\/?p=5217"},"modified":"2023-10-16T23:01:56","modified_gmt":"2023-10-16T23:01:56","slug":"the-forgotten-feline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarybusiness.com\/the-forgotten-feline\/","title":{"rendered":"The Forgotten Feline"},"content":{"rendered":"

The relationships we form with animals are something of a spiritual experience. The way they sense our emotions, or how we read their moods just by looking at their eyes, hint at an extraordinary connection.<\/p>\n

Despite our love of animals and pets, and their constant representation on websites and social media channels, I\u2019ve found that veterinary practices rarely post about cats on social media and across their marketing efforts as a whole.<\/p>\n

When I consult with veterinary practices around the world, I comb through everything I see to get a holistic impression. This includes marketing materials in waiting rooms, the website, the Facebook page and brochures. I\u2019ve noticed that kittens are sometimes used in picturesque settings \u2014 a photo of a basket of kittens in a sun-drenched field is oh, so realistic \u2014 but cats are mostly neglected.<\/p>\n

While this presents an issue, it also is an opportunity.<\/p>\n

Starting From Scratch<\/h3>\n

To take a comprehensive look at the topic, let\u2019s begin with impactful data directly from the American Association of Feline Practitioners<\/a>. AAFP found that 50 percent of cat owners reported they didn\u2019t seek to own a cat but instead a cat \u201cfound them.\u201d Nearly 70 percent of those responding to the survey stated that they paid nothing for their cats.<\/p>\n

I believe that many cat owners can relate. One day you\u2019re leaving food outside for an occasional visitor and soon enough you\u2019ve bonded and are a proud cat owner.<\/p>\n

That being said, how do first-time cat owners learn about the best way to care for their new feline friend? Well, of course they turn to the internet<\/a>. While this fact used to make me cringe a bit, considering the number of unvetted blogs and forums, I\u2019m happy to report that an increasing number of online search results tends to endorse quality information that the majority of veterinarians would recommend.<\/p>\n

This is thrilling for somebody like me, who loves when proud pet owners have access to the information they need. This being said \u2014 I won\u2019t call out any social media network by name except YouTube \u2014 the Internet is ripe with horrible advice on cat care.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s All About Dogs<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s up to us as veterinary professionals to represent all sorts of pets and to provide equal representation. This goal is also effective for marketing to more people and for showcasing our commitment to all the species we care for. I challenge you to become more proactive about sharing the stories of cats in your practice to ensure that they are properly represented.<\/p>\n

You can start off small by sharing a few photos or an anecdote. During my routine social media audits, a process that helps me quickly home in on the strengths and weaknesses of a social media strategy, I look to see the last time a practice shared content about a cat.<\/p>\n

Content I routinely audit looks a lot like this:<\/p>\n