Adult Cat Care

The aim of health examinations are to help us identify health problems with your cat as early as possible. Many cats will show only very subtle signs of potentially serious problems but these can often be picked up by the vet during examination.

Regular examinations are recommended, annually for adult cats up to 8 years of age, twice yearly for older cats and every 3 months for any cat on long term medication or with an ongoing condition which needs to be closely monitored.

The diseases which we vaccinate against are very serious and some can potentially be fatal. Vaccination minimises the risk, and incidence, of these disease.

Proof of vaccination is also a requirement of any reputable cattery.

Cats require an initial course of two injections and these are given 3 weeks apart

ANNUAL BOOSTERS ARE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN IMMUNITY

Adult cats who have not had a booster within the preceding 15 months will need to restart their vaccinations with the course of two injections.

We recommend neutering of pets that you do not intend to breed from. This is for a number of reasons including avoiding unwanted pregnancies, preventing some behavioral tendencies and reducing the risk of developing certain types of cancers in later life.

WE RECOMMEND THIS FROM 6 MONTHS OF AGE

Micro-chipping is a safe and permanent means of identifying your pet. A microchip is a small implant slightly larger than a grain of rice, which is injected under the skin of the animal. The microchip does not cause any pain or harm to your pet once implanted and the animal is totally unaware of its presence. The microchip number is specific to that chip and once registered with the national database it is registered for life. Most vets and animal welfare organisations have microchip scanners to assist the reunion of you and your pet.

Fleas are small, dark brown insects which live and breed mainly in the environment – 95% of the flea population will be in carpets, bedding, under skirting boards, jumping onto your pet, or you, to feed. Warning signs include black specks of flea dirt in the coat or bedding, frequent scratching or nibbling the fur and even small insect bites on your own body. An effective flea control program involves not only killing the adult flea but eradicating other stages of the flea cycle. In cats that have a skin hypersensitivity one bite from a flea could cause a major skin problem. It is also essential that the environment is treated if there is already a heavy burden.

We recommend strategic worming for your pet. Strategic worming makes the assumption that your pet has been exposed to parasites thus causing a health risk to your pet, your family and the environment. We suggest that cats are wormed every 3 months, however, if the cat is in contact with children or is a hunter then we recommend monthly worming.

We recommend feeding your cat a good quality diet based on their age and lifestyle. Many manufacturers now produce a good range of diets made from high quality ingredients. Please be aware that ‘budget’ pet foods often contain low quality ingredients and even some of the ‘luxury’ foods are not recommended as they contain very high levels of salt.

We strongly recommend insuring your pet against disease, accident and third party damage. When looking at insurance policies please read the small print. Cheaper policies do not always provide the best value in the long term. It is also important to get a policy which covers your pet for each condition for a lifetime, not just the first 12 months.

We know you care about your pet, and it would be difficult for you if treatment decisions had to be made just because you couldn’t afford to pay.

Although we recommend regular home cleaning of your pets teeth with an enzymatic toothpaste, regular check ups are also important. Like humans, the development of periodontal disease will depend on the individual, the diet and the frequency of cleaning. We recommend an annual dental inspection at our surgery to assess for signs of disease. Early detection means that we can address it before extractions are necessary, and before the bacteria from a diseased mouth leads to major organs being affected. This can be done at the same time as the annual vaccinations.

DESCALE AND PERIODONTAL TREATMENT: A dental de-scale and periodontal treatment is an important part of general health care and we recommend that this procedure is performed every 3 years.

DENTAL BRUSHING: Brushing your pets teeth is just as important as brushing your own. Start by rubbing your finger gently around the gums to get your kitten used to the idea of having its mouth opened and played with. You can then move on to a pet toothbrush. Try to brush your kitten’s teeth on a daily basis. There are toothpastes and gels which can help reduce plaque and deposits and fights infection. You should not use human toothpaste as it froths and often causes vomiting in animals.

We recommend that you groom your cat on a daily basis, especially if it is a long haired. Daily grooming at an early age ensures that it becomes a part of their life and not something for them to get upset about. We recommend a Zoom Groom for most pets. They are available in different sizes and most animals enjoy them because it feels as if they are being stroked.

A blood test is a window into the body to determine the internal function of the organs that cannot be seen or felt during a physical examination. This test is recommended in healthy pets to help us identify any disease process that may be occurring at an early stage before clinical signs appear making the problem then harder to treat. In addition the routine blood test is recommended prior to any anaesthetic procedure.

WE RECOMMEND THIS ONCE A YEAR

The biochemical properties of the urine are tested by urinalysis, and can help determine the cause of a urinary tract disorder.

WE RECOMMEND THIS ONCE A YEAR

Elevated blood pressure is a very serious complication of heart and kidney disease. Blood pressure measurement is easy with new, high technology Doppler equipment and can be completed with no discomfort to your pet. Heart disease, kidney disease, anaesthesia, fluid administration and fluid losses can all affect your pet’s blood pressure.

WE RECOMMEND THIS ONCE A YEAR

This is an ultrasonic evaluation of the heart function. This is now the “gold standard” for determining the presence and severity of heart dysfunction by allowing us to see the valves and internal structure of the heart in motion. Measurements are taken and compared to normal values to help determine the degree of abnormality present, if any.

Cardiac ultrasound will be recommended if a heart murmur is detected on examination or for monitoring of cats previously diagnosed with a heart condition.

We are also able to perform a cardiac ultrasound, even without clinical signs of heart problems, as an additional part to the annual health check, this procedure is non invasive and does not require a general anesthetic, it would require your cat to be with us for the day.