Feline

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Essential Care

Congratulations on the furry, four-pawed addition to your family! As a first-time pet owner, you may be scratching your head, wondering what’s next. Take charge of your pet’s well-being and learn how his most essential needs, eating, playing and staying healthy, are crucial for his quality of life.

Cats and Kittens:

	Water and food bowls		Litter boxes and sifter
	Vaccinations		Cat bed
	Heartworm, flea and tick control		Nail Trimmers
	Tagged collar		Soft brush
	Toys and scratching posts		First Aid Kit
	Cat carrier		Insurance

Where’s Waldo?
Help your pet avoid an unwanted trip to the pound. In addition to a comfortable collar with ID tags attached, pets—whether living indoors or out—should receive a microchip from your veterinarian. An open door, unsupervised back yard or even a natural disaster can part pets from owners. If lost, your pet’s microchip can be scanned, creating a greater chance you will be reunited and avoid heartbreak, pound fees or, worse, the high cost of treating an injured pet.

Your Veterinarian Knows Best!
Whatever the situation, if you suspect your pet is ill or injured, don't hesitate to take him to your veterinarian. The earlier the problem is identified and the appropriate treatment is started, the better the outcome will be.

Feline Vaccination Scedule:

Indoor Lifestyle Outdoor Lifestyle Undecided Lifestyle

Indoor LifestyleOutdoor LifestyleUndecided Lifestyle

8 Weeks

FIV/FELV Blood test

FVRCCP #1

Deworming

Exam

FIV/FELV Blood Test

FVRCCP #1

Deworming

Exam

FIV/FELV Blood Test

FVRCCP #1

Deworming

Exam

12 Weeks

FVRCCP #2

Exam

FVRCCP #2

FELV #1

Exam

FVRCCP #2

FEVL #1

Exam

16 Weeks

Rabies Vaccine

Exam

FELV #2

Rabies Vaccine

Exam

FELV #2

Rabies Vaccine

Exam

This is the usual schedule for Kitten vaccines (The ages are approximate depending on the age and health of the patient when it is first brought in for vaccines)

FIV/FELV Blood Test - This is a required blood test for all new felines (regardless of age), unless the feline has already been tested at another facility. This is a one time test, not required yearly, however if a outdoor cat does become involved with another cat in a fight, we recommend this blood work again after a time period of 6 months has passed. When a new feline of unknown FIV/FELV status is brought into a home with existing cats, it is strongly recommended that a blood test is done on the new cat before introducing it to the other cat(s)

FVRCCP (Feline Distemper Vaccine) – This vaccine protects against feline upper respiratory disease and feline panleukopenia. Upper repertory diseases are easily passed from cat to cat, via droplets, through the air. Feline panleukompenia affects many systems of the cats body, it can cause vomiting, tremors, fever, poor coordination. We recommend that all cats be vaccinated with the FVRCCP vaccine yearly, although it is not required by law.

FELV (Feline Leukemia Virus Vaccine) – This vaccine protects against the feline leukemia virus which suppresses the cats immune system leaving it unable to fight off other infections. This disease is passed thought the direct contact with and infected cat. We recommend that all outdoor cats and cats that show an interest in trying to go outdoors unsupervised be vaccinated yearly.

Rabies – This vaccine protects against rabies which attacks nervous tissue. It develops slowly, anywhere from 10 days to several months. Rabies is spread through direct contact with an infected animal. Infected animals may become withdrawn or unusually aggressive. It is especially important to vaccinate cats against rabies, since most cases of rabies in domestic animals, is seen in cats. The hospital is required by law to vaccinate (or verify the rabies status) of any animal that is seen in our hospital for any reason. Our rabies vaccine protocol is mandated by Massachusetts state law for all animals with no exceptions, indoor or outdoor and regardless of lifestyle.

Examination – All vaccines for kittens are given with an examination. These examinations are critical to monitor for proper growth and development of the kitten through-out the important stages of development. Also these examinations build a relationship with you and your animal enabling our doctors and staff to better personalize care for your animal.

Cat Care

Cat Flea Collars

Cat Flea Collars Many people put a cat flea collar on their cat and assume that’s all they need. In fact, many cats are allergic to the pesticides in flea collars and break out in a rash or lose the hair around their neck near the collar. Flea collars generally don't kill fleas anywhere but around the neck.

Most flea collars are not break-away collars. If your cat gets caught underneath furniture or on something in your home, it may choke if it can't break free of the collar.

An easy and effective flea solution is a topical treatment and/or shampoo recommended by your veterinarian. It's important to treat your home as well, otherwise any fleas hiding in your couch or your carpet will just hop right back onto your cat. Ask your veterinarian to recommend a safe in-home treatment product that won't threaten your pet's health. Flea treatment products are usually effective within 48 hours of usage as long as they are applied correctly.

Keep in mind: if your cat lives indoors, she will be less likely to attract fleas.

Cat Care Advice

Cat Care Advice Your cat’s health and well-being are your responsibility, and the best care advice you'll get will come from an expert: your veterinarian.

That's why it’s important to build a relationship with your veterinarian.

Always take your cat to the vet at least once a year for a check-up or twice a year if your cat is over 10 years old. Your veterinarian will do a thorough examination of your cat and advise you on anything you need to know about cat care. Be sure to let your vet know if your cat's eating habits or behavior seem unusual or different.

Cat Care vs. Dog Care

Cat Care vs Dog Care If you've never had cats before, you may find they are a little easier to take care of than their canine counterparts. That's because you don't need to walk cats (although they do need exercise), and you can leave them alone for more than a day as long as you leave them enough food and water, something you can't do with a dog.

It's easy to provide your cat's nutritional needs throughout the day. Invest in a drinking fountain and keep a portion of kibble out for him while you're at work. Also, your cat doesn't need to be let outside; a litter box is easily accessible, day or night. Sure, a litter box may be messy to deal with, but you'd have to clean up after a dog too.

Cat Dental Care

Cats’ teeth are one of the main reasons pet owners seek healthcare for their cats. Regular brushing will help your cat live a longer and happier life. Here’s a list of supplies that will ensure your cat's dental health:

Cat toothbrush. Use a brush especially made for cats. A human brush will be far too big for your cat's mouth. The bristles for a cat's brush will be softer, too.
Finger brush. This rubber pad fits over your finger to facilitate brushing your cat's teeth and massaging his gums.
Cat toothpaste. Never use human toothpaste; the ingredients can cause serious harm to your cat's health.
Dental food. This crunchy kibble promotes healthy teeth and can help remove plaque buildup. It's available for purchase at your veterinary clinic and pet retail stores.

Ask your veterinarian for recommendations if you find it difficult to brush your cat's teeth. Also, once your cat reaches the age of 5, have his teeth cleaned by your veterinarian as needed to prevent dental decay associated with soft food and age.

Cat Grooming Supplies

Cats groom themselves every day, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't groom them yourself. Some long-haired cats need to be groomed every day, while short-haired breeds should be groomed at least once a week. Grooming can also be a bonding experience with your cat; most enjoy being touched and receiving as much attention as they can get.

To get started, you'll need a few supplies:

First, a good brush with stiff bristles is a must. The brush will reduce the matting of your cat's fur and the bristles will gently massage the skin, something most cats love.

A grooming mitt fits over your hand like a glove and is much more flexible than a brush.

Nail clippers. Part of grooming your cat is keeping his claws trimmed. Look for clippers with a built-in guard that won't allow you to cut to the quick of your cat’s nails.

A gentle cleansing shampoo. This product is especially important if you have a cat that likes to go outdoors. If your kitty hates the bath, then get a dry product that you can rub or spray into his fur.

The right grooming tools are an essential part of your pet care supplies. Regular grooming can help keep your cat healthier too, because it can eliminate the amount of ingested hair that creates unwanted hairballs.

Geriatric Cat Care

Older cat care isn't difficult, but you need to be more observant and aware of your cat's behavior. Here's what you should pay attention to in older cats:

Is there any behaviorial change such as longer periods of sleeping, avoiding certain sleeping positions or lack of self-grooming?
Is their walking or gait different?
Are they more vocal (or less vocal) than they used to be?
Do they seem to have any breathing problems?
Are they still eating and drinking the same amount as always?
Is there a change in their weight?
Are they still using a litter box without any irregularities?

Some of these symptoms may develop gradually, which is why you need to be especially observant with older cats. If you notice any changes, take your cat to your veterinarian immediately.

Keep Your Cat Indoors

To help your cat stay healthy and happy, keep him indoors. Studies show that not only do indoor cats live longer than outdoor cats, but they also live healthier lives. Indoor cats aren't susceptible to diseases carried by other cats and outdoor critters like rodents. They also won't get into territorial fights with other outdoor cats, or be victims of predators like dogs or coyotes.

Since cat care is easier than dog care, keeping your cat indoors shouldn’t be any harder on you. After all, if you raise your kitten indoors it won’t crave the outdoors.