Many animal lovers choose to foster, adopt or otherwise bring cats into their homes. Not all of those cats, however, make it to the veterinarian for an annual checkup.

In 2021, 81.8% of the dog population visited a vet, versus only 39.8% of cats, Dr. Casey Locklear, a veterinarian and senior medical lead at Zoetis , told HuffPost. The journey to the veterinarian looks a little different for every pet owner, however, there are some fundamental differences that can drive this disparity.

The phenomenon is complex but not hopeless. HuffPost spoke to Locklear and Dr. Mondrian Contreras, veterinary expert for Pumpkin Pet Insurance , about the reasons cats dont make it to the vet as regularly as dogs do, why this is an issue and how to ensure more felines get the medical care they need.

Cats tend to hide their pain.

Since cats are prey animals, they are more likely to hide their pain than dogs, Locklear explained. This means it can be difficult to detect subtle shifts in your beloved furballs behavior.

This feline instinct to hide pain or distress makes it difficult to know whether your cat is experiencing a medical issue, so an annual vet visit is even more essential.

Partner with your veterinarian for regular checkups to catch pain and illness early, allowing for needed care so your pet can continue to live their best life, Locklear said.

Owners may have a false perception of a cats health needs.

Many pet lovers opt to bring a cat into their home rather than a dog because they believe cat ownership will be easier. While this can generally be true, the reality varies from animal to animal. Even if your cat is low-maintenance, that doesnt mean it will never need additional care.

The biggest reason for the disparity between cat and dog vet visits is due to the perception of cats by their owners, Contreras said. Most cat owners see these pets as low maintenance, and if they dont see anything glaringly abnormal, they feel they are healthy. These owners obviously love animals, but if they are extremely busy, then taking them for yearly checkups is just hard to fit in the busy schedule, especially if nothing seems wrong.

There can be transportation challenges.

While dogs oftentimes feel eager and excited to go on a fun new adventure, cat owners feel trepidation about transporting their cat to the vet, as it can be challenging to get them in a car, Locklear noted.

If your cat is used to simply hanging around inside the house, a change in environment can be daunting. Owners may struggle to calm their cats on the way to the veterinarian and in the office.

Pick the appropriate carrier for your cat and veterinary team to work with bonus points if the lid is removable, Locklear advised. Introduce this carrier to your cat ahead of time and often to acclimate them better.