The
ABC’s for a Healthy and Happy Feline Friend
The
ABC’s for a Healthy and Happy Feline Friend
Annual Vaccinations.
Kittens require a series of vaccinations (‘kitten shots’), starting at 6
weeks of age. The vaccinations are given every 2-4 weeks until the kitten is 4
months old. A typical kitten is vaccinated at 6, 9 , 12, and 16 weeks of age.
This series-is vitally important to
protect kittens from potentially deadly infections from diseases such as feline
distemper, feline upper respiratory
complex, and feline leukemia virus (FeLV). A
kitten’s immune system is not fully competent until around 16 weeks of age;
therefore, a full series is given to ensure full protective immunity. Cats 3
months of age or older that have not received any vaccination or that have an
unknown vaccination history (e.g., a stray) receive an initial set of
vaccinations (FVRCP + C, FeLV) and a second booster set 2-4 weeks later.
Rabies is administered at 3 months of age or older, does not require a booster,
and is then administered annually.We also recommend all kittens, or any age new
furry feline friends, be tested for FeLV and feline lmmunodificiency virus (FlV).
ONLY CATS AND OUTSIDE/INSIDE CATS need Rabies,FVRCP+C,and leukemia yearly.
Beware of Intestinal Parasites.
Intestinal parasites can present a severe health risk to young kittens and even
adult cats. The presence of intestinal parasites can be detected by examining a
small amount of the animal’s stool with a microscope. Contrary to popular
opinion, most intestinal parasites cannot be seen with the naked eye (tapeworms
and roundworms are often large enough to see). They attach themselves to the
lining of the intestines and absorb nutrients from the cat or suck blood from
the intestinal lining. This can cause malnutrition and potentially life
threatening anemia. Other symptoms can include vomiting or diarrhea. Intestinal
parasites can be transmitted in a number of ways, including from mother to
kitten, ingestion of eggs, skin contact with contaminated soil, or in the case
of tapeworms, through eating fleas or rodents. Several types of intestinal
parasites are also transmissible to humans, and so eradication of these
parasites is of utmost importance. Therefore, we recommend that-kittens be
dewormed at least twice within a 2 week period.
Pregnant cats should be dewormed during the pregnancy. Adult cats should have a
fecal examination every 6 months and receive an appropriate deworming, if
necessary.
Care Enough to Protect your cat from Heartworm Disease. Yes!
Cats can get heartworms. Heartworms have traditionally been thought of as a
“dog problem”,but they are a cat problem also. In a specific geographic
area, for every 10 dogs infected with heartworms, one cat is likely infected as
well. All it takes is one bite from an infected mosquito to transmit heartworms
to your cat. And, every cat should be considered at risk, even those that never
step one paw outdoors, because the species of mosquito that prefers to bite cats
also prefers to be inside your home! Therefore, we strongly recommend that all
cat owners place their cats on heartworm preventative. Feline heartworm disease
is often fatal, and you may not even be aware your cat has become infected.
Also, symptoms of heartworm infection (difficulty breathing, coughing,
intermittent vomiting) can closely resemble other common feline health problems.
And most importantly, there is no effective or safe treatment available in this
country for cats. Yet, prevention of heartworms is simple! No testing is
required; there are oral and topical preventatives available. Preventatives
should be administered year-round.
Dental Care. Yes! Cats need dental care too Neglect of the
teeth and gums con cause premature tooth and bone loss, abscesses, periodontal
disease, and even damage internal organs such as the heart and kidneys.
Prevention is the key to protect your cat. Get your kitten used to your finger
in his/her mouth along the gum line. This leads to using a toothbrush later. We
recommend all kittens and cats’ teeth be brushed daily. You can also use a
product like Nolvadent solution which can be added to the drinking water. If
your cat already has signs of dental disease (bad breath, plaque and tartar
build upon the teeth), the teeth must be cleaned and polished first. Ask us!
Remember, taking care of your cats teeth now could add as much as five years to
his/her life, and to your special relationship with him/her.
Examination by a licensed
veterinarian. Your cat should be examined yearly as a young adult,
and as he/she ages, every 6 months.
Why so often? Cats age much more quickly then people. If you use the old rule of
1 human year for every 7 cat years, you can see that one annual examination for
most is similar to one physical examination every seven years for a person. We
recommend kittens receive a physical exam early in life to check for any
congenital problems, and discuss behavioral questions (housetraining,
socialization, etc.) and future health maintenance (spay/neuter, vaccinations,
heartworm prevention, dental care, etc.) Cats should receive examinations yearly
to check for problems early, such as ear infections, skin problems, dental
disease, heart disease, etc. If caught early, many potentially life-threatening
health problems can be completely curable, or much more easily managed. We also
recommend older cats have periodic blood work performed to check for internal
problems.
Flea Control. Fleas are
more than unsightly and a nuisance;
they can cause deadly diseases, such as simple anemia from blood loss,
tapeworms, and hemobartonellosis, a blood parasite that destroys red blood cells
in the cat There are several excellent flea products available now, such as
Advantage, Frontline, Revolution, and Capstar, all available through us. They
are very easy to use, extremely effective, and non-toxic to people and children.
We no longer recommend bathing and dipping for flea control due to the
effectiveness and ease of application of these products. We also carry proven
favorites like Program, an oral liquid taken once a month. Program sterilizes
adult fleas, rendering them incapable of producing. Your flea control
program should also spraying your home and yard; many good products are
available at most pet stores end department stores. Please ask us about one of
these great products!
Good Nutrition.
This is actually pretty simple: feed the highest quality pet food you can buy.
We recommend premium brands such as lam., Eukanuba, or Science Diet. Other good
brands include Nutramax and Purina. These products work by supplying high
quality, highly digestible nutrients to your
cat; therefore, your cat will eat less of the food, and have a smaller
stool volume. We also recommend finding a brand you and your cat like, and
sticking to it. Switching brands frequently can cause upset stomach, diarrhea,
and gas. Proper nutrition is essential for optimal health and performance of
your cat. Kittens should be fed a kitten food until 1 year of age, and then
switched to an adult maintenance diet. Cats 6 years of age and older should be
fed a senior diet, one that is restricted in calories, protein and salt. Kittens
and cats on a commercially prepared diet do not need vitamin and mineral
supplementation unless specifically recommended by a veterinarian - some
vitamins and minerals can be toxic, if ingested in too large an amount. If you
feel your cat needs additional supplementation, please feel free to call us!
Healthy cats are spayed and neutered. Spaying kittens
eliminates the possibility of
diseases such as pyometra (a severe bacterial infection of the uterus that can
be deadly) or cancers of the reproductive tract (ovaries and uterus). It also
prevents unwanted “in heat” behaviors (yowling, escaping outside), and keeps
tomcats away from your house. Neutering cats eliminates the chance of testicular
cancer. If done early (6 months of age), neutering is also highly effective at
preventing unwanted behavioral problems, such as urinating in the house,
aggression, and roaming. Spaying and neutering is also a small part you can do
to help reduce the pet overpopulation problem.
