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General Cat Care

The best gift that you can give your cat is a happy, healthy life. Just as humans go to the doctor once a year for a physical, you should take your cat for yearly visits.  Educate yourself on your cat and possible problems that could arise. Get to know your cats behavior, normal bathroom habits, grooming habits, eating and drinking habits and give your kitty a lot of massages so that you can feel for any changes in skin or if lumps and bumps appear. Get a baby scale and weigh your kitty about once a month.  Sometimes we do not notice weight loss until the weight loss is dramatic. Weight loss is a sign that something is wrong and you should take your kitty to the Vet.

Signs Your Cat Need To Go To The Vet

1. Refuses to eat for more than one day.
2. Vomits for more than one day.
3. Uncontrolled diarrhea.
4. Breathing difficulties (for more than a     few seconds).
5. Unable to hold down water.
6. Excessive drooling.
7. A wound won’t heal.
8. Limping that won’t go away.
9. Eats but doesn’t gain weight.
10.Kitten fails to thrive. Shows changes in activity level.

Vaccination Schedule

Disease 1st Vaccination 2nd Vaccination Boosters Feline Panleukopenia 6-10 weeks 12-16 weeks 12 months Feline Rhinotracheitis 8-10 weeks 12-16 weeks 12 months Feline Calicivirus 6-10 weeks 12-16 weeks 12 months Rabies 12-16 weeks   12 or 36 months Feline Leukemia Virus 10 weeks 12 and 24 weeks 12 months Feline Chlamydiosis 6-10 weeks 12-16 weeks 12 months

Rabies Vaccine Schedule may vary depending on local laws and which type of vaccine is used.

Feline Leukemia Virus vaccination protocols may vary.  Ask your veterinarian.

FCP = feline calicivirus
FHV = feline herpes virus (formaly called feline rhinotracheitis virus)
FPV = feline panleukopenia (distemper)
FeLV = feline leukemia virus

Your veterinarian is your best source of information for a happy, healthy cat. Ask questions when you don’t understand something. Your vet will be happy to answer your questions.

What Your Vet Should Check

On a standard annual physical/examination, your vet should check:

 Teeth for tarter/gum swelling    Ears for ear mites or other fungus problems

 Body for ringworms              Standard blood work

 Fecal exam for worms            Booster shots 

 Eyes for normal pupils response Weight, heart rate, temperature

This is just a general guideline.  Your vet make check more areas.
 

Household Hazards      

There are many hazards in your home for your feline friends. If is your responsibility to make sure your kitty does not come in contact or swallow any of these hazards.

Over the Counter Drugs Signs of Toxicity Aspirin Acetaminophen Ibuprofen Pain Relievers Cold Medications Decongestants Sleeping Pills Diet Pills Heart Medications Vitamins Wintergreen Methyl salicylate Depression, vomiting,anorexia, diarrhea, gastric hemorrhage, anemia, hyperventilation, difficulty breathing, swelling of face and paws, blood in urin, weakness, coma, loss of balance and death. Household Cleaners and Chemicals Signs of Toxicity Bleach Boric acid Pine oils, cleaners Toilet bowl cleaners Dishwashing detergents Drain cleaners Commercial colvents Phenol Vomiting, depression, anorexia, CNS depression, muscle weakness, ataxia, anorexia, hyperactivity, salivation, seizures Lead and Chemicals Signs of Toxicity Cosmetics Essential oils Rubber products Batteries Soaps Aromatherapy products Printing ink Mercuric oxide Lithium Cadmium Zinc Fireworks Matches Arsenic Strychnine Metaldehyde Snail an Slug bait Ant Poisons Weed Killers Insecticides Zinc pennies Linoleum Commercial Paints Fertilizer Gastrointestinal signs, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, CNS stimulation or depression, lethargy, weight loss, tremors, convulsions, blindness, coma, death

           

The above list may seem to consist of products you may think are common sense precautions, but may people don’t think of removing these hazards.

Parasite Control

Fleas and ticks need to be controlled. Even inside kittys get fleas and ticks. You may bring them in on your clothes or when you open your doors they will come in.  Fleas and ticks can be controlled by injection, orally or with topical treatments.  Please check with your Vet before you use any over the counter products.  Some over the counter products may harm your kitty. Fleas live my feeding on blood.  Fleas can cause mild itching: but an infestation of fleas may cause anemia or even the death of the kitty. Fleas are an intermediate host of the cat tapeworm.

Ticks are rarely found on cats.  Cats keep their coats well groomed.

Ear Mites: One of the most common problems you may encounter with your kitty, are ear mites. Ear mites live in the ear canals and feed on skin and debris. The most frequent sign of ear mite is scratching and violent head shaking.  There will be a dark brown, dry crumbly waxy discharge when you look into the ears. The discharge may be fowl smelling. You kittys constant scratching can cause raw, scabby areas with hair loss around the ears. The initial problem may be complicated by a bacterial infection. I suggest that you have your Vet verify that your kitty has ear mites. Your Vet will suggest the best treatment.  If you have more than one cat, all of your cats will need to be treated for ear mites.

Roundworms:  These are the most common parasites in cats.  They occur in nearly all kittens and around 25 to 75 percent of adults. Adult roundworms live in the stomach and intestines and can grow up to five inches in length.  Eggs are protected by a hard shell. Cats get roundworms through eating an abnormal host as a rodent or beetle and through eating infected dirt.  The larvae is released in the cats digestive tract. Eggs, entering orally, hatch in the intestines, carried to the lungs through the bloodstream, crawl up the windpipe and are swallowed. This could cause coughing and vomiting. They will return to the intestines and turn into adults. Heavy infestation is not common in adults.  Heavy infestation in kittens can result in serious illness or even death.  Symptoms include: appear thin, potbellied look, coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, anemia and may come down with pneumonia. These worms may be observed in the cats vomit and stool. They look like a white earthworm or strand of spaghetti. As bad as this sounds, there is treatment. Take your kitty to the Vet for diagnosis.   Kittens should be dewormed at three weeks of age and again two to three weeks later.

Whipworms: These are slender parasites about two to three inches long that live in the first part of the intestines.  They give the appearance of a whip due to they are thicker at one end.. These are not know to cause diseases in cats and are usually found incidentally.  No treatment is necessary.

Ringworm:  This is not a worm. It is a plant like growth that will invade the hair and hair follicles.  Most cases are caused by the fungus Microsporum canis.  The disease is transmitted by contact with spores in the soil.  It can spread to others (including humans) by brushes, combs, toys and furniture.  Cats may carry the fungus without showing any symptoms.  Diagnosis should be made by your Vet. If your cat has itchy conditions, scabs or crusts form or hair loss, take him/her to the Vet.  You will be given an anti fungal cream to apply to area and surrounding area.

Dental Care

Good oral hygiene is very important to the health of your kitty. Not only will it help prevent tooth loss but will also help divert serious life-threatening illness’. Bacteria from the mouth and gums can make its way through the bloodstream to major organs. This could cause infections in the lungs, heart, kidneys, liver and central nervous system.  Dental problems will effect your cats eating habits and could lead to nutritional problems.  Peridontal disease is very common in cats. It begins with gingivitis. The gums become irritated, red and swollen.  Inflamed gums may pull away from the teeth and pockets may open which bacteria can gather. Many of these problems can be avoided by a good dental hygiene plan.
PLAN: 1. Have you veterinarian examine the teeth and clean the teeth.
       2. Have a home dental plan. Brushing and nutritional diet.
       3. Routine follow up veterinary care.
Once a year veterinary cleaning is a good routine. This cleaning includes a disinfectant rinse, tarter scraping, ultrasonic scaler to clean teeth and a handheld instrument to clean under the gum line and tooth polishing. This is done under anesthesia and your vet will probably run blood test beforehand.  This insures that your kitty is in good health.

Age Comparison Chart

CATS AGE HUMAN AGE 3  Months 5  Years 6  Months 10 Years 8  Months 13 Years 10 Months 14 Years 12 Months 15 Years 18 Months 20 Years 2  Years 24 Years 4  Years 32 Years 6  Years 40 Years 8  Years 48 Years 10 Years 56 Years 12 Years 64 Years 14 Years 72 Years 16 Years 80 Years 18 Years 88 Years 20 Years 100 Years

This chart is based on tooth and bone growth and sexual maturity.

Senior Years:

Improved veterinary care and nutrition have given us the ability to help lengthen our cats live. Inside cats are living to be an average age of 15. Many cats live even longer. As with humans, changes will occur in your older cat.  They will slow down their activity, sleep a little more, they may develop age related conditions as kidney disease and arthritis.  Regular vet visits (twice a year) will help with early detection of age related health problems.  Your vet will conduct a geriatric exam.  This include blood work, urine checks, blood pressure, possible radiographs to check for problems with kidneys, hyperthyroidism or arthritis.  Your senior kitty may require diet. To make your senior kitty happy and comfortable provide plenty of fresh water (older kittys are prone to dehydration). Make sure litter boxes are clean and easy for your kitty to get in and out of.  Groom your kitty daily.  It may have trouble doing it .  Keep household stress down.  Play with your kitty so it will get exercise (moderate play).  Pamper your kitty.  It may be difficult for your kitty to jump on furniture. Place a little ramp up to its favorite perch or perches. Provide warm bedding since your kittys hair may be thinning and it may be cold. Most important of all just love your kitty and may him/her feel special everyday.

Poisonous Plants

The following is a detailed list of plants that are poisonous to your kitty. Listed are household plants, wild plants, shrubs, leafy fruit, trees and other outdoor greenery.  Not all are leathally toxic, but if you feel that your kitty has injested, eaten or simply has come in contact with theses plants, please have your kitty seen by a vet or take your kitty to an emergency vet immediately.

Recommended Reading

There are hundreds of books on caring for cats.  Arm youself with knowledge, give your love freely, and you will have a happy, healthy cat.