CARING FOR CATS

If you are about to or have recently taken on a kitten or adult cat you may find the information below very helpful.

LOTS more information about cat conditions including behavioural problems can be found on our LIFELEARN Link.

VACCINATION

Vaccines work by exposing the body’s immune system to a particular infectious agent. The body reacts to fight this infectious agent by producing antibodies which are able to bind and neutralise it. After infectious agent exposure the body ‘remembers’ the particular antigens so that when they are encountered again it can mount a very rapid and strong immune response preventing an animal from showing clinical signs of disease.

We strongly recommend vaccinating cats kittens against feline infectious enteritis (feline panleucopaenia virus), and feline influenza (feline herpesvirus and feline calicivirus) which are very common viruses that cause very severe diseases which can affect the cat for the rest of their lives. These vaccines are advised for even indoor cats as the virus is very easily brought into their environment by us, for example, on our clothes and shoes.

For any cat that will spend time outdoors we will advise vaccination against feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) too.  FeLV can induce cancers and other fatal conditions.

Cats/Kittens require a primary course of vaccinations the first time they are vaccinated.  Two sets of injections are required spaced 3 to 4 weeks apart.  Cats and kittens will be fully protected approximately 7-10 days after the second vaccination so can be allowed outside at this stage. We recommend keeping animals indoors until this time.

ALL cats should be given annual boosters.  This includes older cats because as they age their immune system becomes less efficient.  Older cats may be lower risk for FeLV as they tend to stay near home and be less likely to come into contact with infected cats that spread the disease.

WORMING AND FLEA CONTROL

The most common worms that cats get are called tapeworms and roundworms. Both of these types of worm live in the intestinal tract. Many infected cats do not show any signs of infestation but heavy burdens of worms can cause weight loss, vomiting or diarrhoea, irritation and failure to thrive, especially in young animals.

Roundworms are very prevalent in kittens therefore we recommend that kittens are wormed every month until 6 months old. After this stage they should be treated at least every 3 to 6 months, depending on the lifestyle of the cat.

Roundworms can infect humans most commonly whilst in their larval stage. Every year some children are affected by picking up worm eggs from the pet whilst playing with them. In rare cases, if they ingest the eggs,  larvae may migrate to the eyes and can affect sight causing blindness. 

It is very common for cats to pick up fleas. While many adult cats live with fleas and show minimal signs of infestation, control is advisable for a number of reasons. Cat fleas carry the larval stage of the tapeworm Dipylidium caninum and can also transmit other infectious agents. Adult fleas feed on cats blood and in young kittens this can cause anaemia which is life threatening if severe. Some animals develop an allergy to flea bites and of course they can cause itchy bites on us too! We recommend regular flea control to prevent infestations occurring.

There are many different flea and worming products available on the market some of which can be obtained from supermarkets and pet shops.  Unfortunately, most products available through these routes are not very effective at removing the worm or flea burden completely.  The majority of stronger (yet actually safer to you and your pet) flea or worm treatment products are only available as prescription medicines. 

It can be confusing selecting the correct veterinary preparation of wormer and flea control suitable for your pet from the wide variety available.  We are happy to offer advice on selecting the best one for your situation.

FEEDING

It is important to feed your kitten on the same food it has been used to in the first few days that you have her. A sudden change of diet combined with the stress of moving to a new home can cause stomach upsets and diarrhoea.

Choosing a good quality kitten food from the hundreds available can be difficult. There are foods which have been specifically formulated for kittens as they have different nutritional needs to the adult cat.

Although some manufacturers make very good products, unless you are familiar with a specific manufacturer it is best to choose a major brand name. More expensive foods tend to have higher quality ingredients, (you get what you pay for!).  There are legal regulations that mean that the cheapest pet foods must contain sufficient nutrients to meet the animals requirements.

If you do want to change the diet, do so gradually by mixing it with the kitten’s usual food.

Kittens should be fed little and often at a young age as it doesn’t take much food to fill their very tiny stomachs. At about 8 weeks old they need 4-5 meals a day, 3-6 months old 3 meals, and kittens over 6 months old 2 meals a day.

Cats do not need to drink milk. In fact the sugar (lactose) in milk often leads to diarrhoea because after weaning kittens lose their ability to digest it. They should be provided with plenty of fresh water at all times instead.

NEUTERING

We advise neutering of cats at 5-6 months of age. Kittens reach sexual maturity at 5-8 months of age and are very successful at breeding and producing their own little kittens at this age! Unless you want kittens, we recommend spaying female cats at 5 or 6 months old.  We also recommend neutering male cats at this age to reduce undesirable behaviour such as urine spraying, fighting and straying associated with sexual maturity.  By reducing the risk of cat fights, the risk of catching certain diseases (such as FeLV and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) decreases.  By preventing straying, cats are less likely to be involved in road traffic accidents. 

INSURANCE

The aim of pet health insurance is to provide for that unexpected expense; the road traffic accident; the poisoning episode or the sudden onset debilitating disease. Procedures and techniques unheard of a few years ago are now common place in veterinary medicine. Unfortunately few of us are aware of the true cost of medical or surgical procedures. Pet health insurance is designed to cover such situations. The insurance company that we recommend is Pet Plan as their policies cover the animal for their lifetime.  They are one of the more expensive companies but as usual...you get what you pay for.  Whatever company you choose, we strongly recommend buying a policy that covers each medical condition for the pet's entire life, not just for the first year of a new illness starting.

MICROCHIPPING

We recommend identichipping/microchipping your pet as it is the most effective and secure way of permanently identifying him/her. The microchip is the size of a grain of rice and it is inserted into the loose skin on the back of the neck using a specially designed implanting device. Each microchip carries a unique number that is logged onto a national database. Against this number key information is stored, your dog’s name, your name and address. The cost is minimal and it will ensure peace of mind should your beloved pet ever go missing.