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Preventive Health Care Recommendations for
Cats
Kittens - should be
vaccinated according to the following schedule:
9 weeks - Feline 4 way, Feline Leukemia
12 weeks - Feline 4 way, Feline Leukemia
16 weeks - Feline Infectious Peritonitis,
Rabies
19 weeks - Feline Infectious Peritonitis
Adult Cats - 4
months or older and never before vaccinated:
Test for leukemia,If negative, they should
be vaccinated as follows:
First Visit - Feline 4 way, Feline
Leukemia, and Feline Infectious Peritonitis
3 Weeks Later - Feline 4 way, Feline
Leukemia, Feline Infectious Peritonitis, and Rabies
Feline 4 way Yearly
Feline Leukemia Yearly
Feline Infectious Peritonitis Yearly
Rabies vaccine 1 year after the first dose
then every 3 years
Vaccination has been shown to be effective
in developing immunity in healthy cats. However, if a cat is already developing disease,
is malnourished, parasitized, or stressed due to adverse environmental conditions, it may
not be able to develop an adequate immune response following vaccination. For this reason,
your cat will be examined by a veterinarian prior to vaccination. A general physical
examination will be given by the veterinarian on the initial visit of any series of
vaccinations. Briefer examinations are given on the following visits.
Panleukopenia is a widespread and highly
contagious disease of cats that results in loss of appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea. It is
often fatal in both adults cats and kittens.
Feline Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus and
Chlamydia Pneumonitis are respiratory infections that effect the eyes and respiratory
lining. This leaves the cat more susceptible to a variety of serious secondary infections.
The Feline 4 way vaccine protects against
the above four diseases. People often call this the "Cat Distemper Shot". The
Feline 4 way vaccine should not be given to pregnant cats.
Feline Leukemia is an incurable,
contagious disease and is usually fatal. Feline Leukemia destroys the cats ability to
fight off infections or protect against tumors. The vaccine is only preventive if you
vaccinate before your cat is exposed.
Feline Infectious Peritonitis is a viral
disease that causes the bodies immune system to attack the cats own tissues. The disease
is incurable and usually fatal. The vaccine is dripped into the nose where it stimulates a
protective response.
Rabies is a fatal viral infection of the
central nervous system that can affect all mammals including man. The virus is transmitted
primarily through the bite of an infected animal. Routine vaccination is the key to
controlling this dreaded disease.
Poor dental hygiene can cause gingivitis,
pain, and bad breath. It can also cause systemic diseases that damage other areas of the
body such as the heart and kidneys. Preventative dental care for your cat should begin as
soon as possible after weaning. This should include regular at home teeth brushing or
application of a product like maxiguard gel (at least twice a week) and periodic
examinations by a veterinarian. If dental problems are detected and treated early, major
problems can usually be entirely avoided.
Feeding crunchy food will help maintain a
healthy mouth by chipping off some of the disease causing tartar, but crunchy food alone
won't keep teeth clean enough to prevent dental disease. Even adult cats can get use to
home dental care, but the earlier you start in the cat's life, the better.
Because of the fact that roundworms are a
health hazard for small children, we routinely worm all new cats two times for roundworms.
Remember to bring in a fresh stool sample on the first or second office visit and we will
run a fecal exam to check for other intestinal parasites. Fecals may also be recommended
by the veterinarian for cats with health problems.
We recommend all female cats be wormed for
roundworms prior to breeding. Kittens should be wormed at 3, 5, and 7 weeks of age. We
will worm any kitten starting vaccinations that has not been previously wormed.
Tapeworms are commonly missed on fecal
exams as they are only shed periodically. Cats should be wormed for tapeworms whenever
tape segments are detected in the stool or on the rear of the cat.
We recommend that all cats that are not
being kept for use in controlled breeding programs be spayed or neutered. Spaying or
neutering your pet is loving, responsible pet care. If your pet remains intact and is
given the chance to wander, you may be responsible for unwanted litters. Uncontrolled pet
breeding is the number one reason why millions of cats and dogs are euthanized in this
country each year. Spaying and neutering can help control pet overpopulation and reduce
the numbers of cats and dogs that are abandoned or must be destroyed.
There are also health benefits to spaying
and neutering. Early spaying will dramatically reduce the incidence of mammary cancer, and
can prevent other health problems, such as accidental pregnancy, pyometra (uterine
infections) and dystocia which can require expensive surgical and medical care.
Neutering male cats will reduce or
eliminate fighting and the resulting wounds and abscesses. It will also reduce the
tendency to spray (urine).
Either surgery can be done any time after
5 months of age. Cats gain no benefit from going through a heat cycle or having a litter
prior to surgery. Mammary cancer is extremely rare in cats spayed prior to their first
heat. If you have a young animal, call our office today to arrange for a spay or neuter
operation. We'll make sure your pet is safe and comfortable, but neutered.