VCA City Cats Hospital

City Cats is an upscale, full-service, cat-only veterinary clinic servicing the neighborhoods of Arlington, Somerville, Cambridge, Belmont and Medford. Our veterinary hospital  offers checkups, dental and surgical procedures, cat boarding and a full line of cat food and retail products. We are proud to offer specialty services like feline acupuncture and ophthalmology.

We are dedicated to keeping your cat healthy and happy, so you can enjoy his or her company into their golden years. Since we only treat cats, we can concentrate totally on the treatment of and problems specific to cats. We believe cats need a place of their own where they can receive high-quality, uncompromising medical care.

• Stress-free: cats aren't subjected to barking dogs or other threatening animals
• State-of-the-art: cats are assured the latest diagnostic equipment for detecting problems without undue stress
• Comfortable: cats feel safe and at home

Local Medical Issues

Two of the most common problems we see in cats are dental disease and obesity.

Imagine what would happen if you did not take care of your teeth, the same applies to your pets. Regular dental care is as important to them as it is to you! Prevention of dental disease should be included as part of your cat's overall preventive medicine program, just like vaccinations. Periodontal disease is the most common infectious disease in dogs and cats. If left untreated, this means pain, bad breath, and tooth loss for your cat. Chronic infections in the mouth can spread harmful bacteria to the bloodstream and infect the heart, lungs, liver and kidneys. Fortunately, most periodontal disease can be prevented by daily home care and regular veterinary checkups.

Look for these warning signs of periodontal disease in your cat.

• Bad breath is one of the first signs of dental disease
• A yellowish-brown crust of plaque on the teeth near the gum line
• Red and swollen gums
• Pain or bleeding when your cat eats, or when the mouth or gum are touched
• Decreased appetite or difficulty eating
• Loose or missing teeth

Obesity, defined as an excess of body weight of 20% or more, is the most common nutritional disease of domestic cats. On average, up to 40% of all adult cats are overweight or obese. Obesity in cats is a known risk factor for diabetes, heart disease, breathing difficulties, arthritis and lower urinary tract disease. Many factors contribute to obesity in cats, and not all of them are clearly understood. Some are probably genetic, while others are clearly related to diet and environment.

It is important for the cat owner and veterinarian to keep these factors in mind when treating the obese feline patient. Prevention is better than treatment, but this is not always easy. We tailor our dental and dietary recommendations based on each individual cat's needs. Call for an appointment today