Health Issues

Health Care

Cats are hardy animals but require a few precautions to ensure they remain healthy. When you purchase your cat ask for its vaccination certificate which will be signed by a veterinarian. If your cat or kitten has had no previous vaccinations or if you are unsure whether it has been vaccinated, you should take it to your local veterinarian to receive a health check and vaccinations for feline enteritis, cat flu and Feline Leukemia Virus. Kittens require the first vaccinations between 6 - 9 weeks with the second at 12 - 16 weeks old. All cats require a "booster" vaccination every 12 months.

Cats and kittens need to be wormed regularly to control roundworms, hookworms and tapeworms which live in the intestine. This is easily done by using one of the many available preparations, either as tablets, liquids or pastes.

Fleas and ticks are often a problem during the warmer months. Attempts must be made to kill not only the adult fleas on the cat using either sprays, powders, rinses or flea collars, but also to treat any other pets and the environment, especially the cat's bedding. Cats can be particularly sensitive to flea control products and precautions and directions on the packaging of flea control products must be followed exactly. Only use products which are specifically designed for cats.

Paralysis ticks occur in some areas of Australia and can be fatal to cats. If you live in an area where there are paralysis ticks you should check your cat daily and remove any ticks. If a tick is found consult your veterinarian.

Abscesses are common in cats due to fighting and can show up as a swelling or discharging sore anywhere on the cat. Veterinary attention is required for abscesses.

Cats should be prevented from chewing plants as many common garden or indoor plants are poisonous. Aspirin and paracetamol are also poisonous to cats. Consult your veterinarian if you are concerned.

Flea and Tick Prevention

Fleas

Fleas can be picked up quite easily when your cat comes in contact with other cats or visits areas where they have been. You only need one flea on a cat to make it start scratching, the saliva from a flea bite causes an allergic reaction. Fleas need warmth, moisture and vibration to hatch, so many flea eggs that are laid in cool months do not hatch till spring when the conditions are ideal.

The best way to beat a flea problem is to treat the cat, your yard and your house. It might seem like a lot of work but if you can eradicate the fleas on your property and keep treating the cat for fleas to prevent new ones jumping on him, you will solve the problem.

  • On the cat - There are several good sprays and drops to put on the back of the cat's neck that work well. If you have a kitten under 12 weeks always read the label as some products can not be used on young kittens.
  • In the yard - You will need to treat your whole yard and under the house, if the cat has access to it with an insecticide. Most insecticides do not have a long residual effect so you may need to retreat the yard regularly for a course of time. The insecticide will have its residual time listed on it. Dog Rinses are perfect for this job, they are economical and easy to water or spray on.
  • In the house - Treat the house with a Flea Bomb, use one that has an initial knockdown for adult fleas and an Insect Growth Regulator (IGR) to prevent eggs hatching out.

It is important to note that no insecticide kills flea eggs, you must either use products with Insect Growth Regulators to prevent the eggs hatching out or retreat regularly to control new fleas hatching out.

Ticks

There are many different types of ticks in Australia, but it is the paralysis tick which threaten cats with death. Found primarily in coastal areas on the Australian East Coast, it can easily attach itself to cats as they run through grass or scrub.

Ticks attach themselves to a host and suck blood, while doing this they release a toxin into the host. Cats become ill very quickly and it is important that you seek veterinary assistance as soon as you find a tick or have a cat with any of the following symptoms, unco-ordinated, muscle weakness, trouble standing, breathing or swallowing, a change in voice and vomiting.

The best way to deal with ticks is to use the same method as to control fleas but select products that control paralysis tick aswell. Also examine your cat everyday using the finger-crawl technique. Run your hands over the cat feeling for ticks that have attached themselves rather than relying on sight. Don't forget to check under the collar, between paw pads and in the ears and mouth

With both fleas and ticks prevention is always better.

Dental Hygiene

Clean teeth are important for healthy gums and a fresh breath. Some cats' teeth need more attention than others. Ask your veterinarian for the best approach for your cat. It may be a regular check up and cleaning or feeding raw chicken wings or necks.

Desexing

If you do not plan to breed your cat we strongly recommend desexing, please talk to your vet about the advantages of desexing your cat. Most vets recommend desexing at six months of age.

The facts about desexing

  • There is no reason why your cat needs to have a litter prior to being desexed.
  • Desexing does not make your cat fat.
  • Desexed males are less likely to wander, fight or be territorial.
  • It is the only 100% way to prevent a litter of kittens (they may be cute, but you have to care for and find them all homes)

Worming

Intestinal worms

Internal parasites are common in kittens. Kittens can become infected with parasites before they are born or later through their mother's milk. We recommend worming your kitten at 2 weekly intervals from 2 weeks of age through till 12 weeks old against Roundworm and Hookworm. Then at 4,5 and 6 months of age then every 3 months for the rest of the cat's life against Roundworm, Hookworm, and Tapeworm.(An easy way to remember is the start of every season eg summer, autumn, winter, spring) It is a good idea to worm all other animals at the same time.

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