There are over 40 different breeds of cat and many different varieties. Most cats that we see are "moggies", otherwise known as domestic short-haired or domestic long-haired depending on the length of their coat. Apart from their differences in appearance, each breed has a distinct temperament and personality, and it is important not to choose your pet based on looks alone. You need to take into consideration the breed's temperament, activity level and any special requirements eg long-haired cats need daily grooming.

Yahooligans! Eastwood Vets Pets Pointers Eastwood Vets Question and Answers

Vaccinations
Kittens receive their first vaccination at 8 weeks of age, followed by a repeat vaccination 4 weeks later. It is recommended that kittens remain indoors until 10-14 days after receiving their second vaccination to allow a vaccine immunity to develop. Any adult cat being vaccinated for the first time will also need an initial course of two vaccinations, followed by an annual booster. This annual booster not only helps protect your pet against disease but also includes a check up and any potential problems or concerns can be addressed at this time. Cats and kittens are vaccinated against feline enteritis and cat flu. Feline enteritis, also known as feline panleucopenia, is similar to parvovirus in dogs and can be potentially fatal with symptoms of vomiting and diarrhoea. Cat flu, also known as feline respiratory disease, is caused by many different organisms, with the vaccine targeted towards the most common varieties. It is highly contagious and once contracted, it can be difficult to treat with many cats becoming carriers of the disease and experiencing relapses of flu throughout their lives. Following vaccination, some cats may feel off colour for a day or two and may have slight swelling and tenderness around the injection site. If you are concerned about your pet following vaccination - please contact your Vet.

Worming
Cats and kittens may be infected with roundworms, hookworms and tapeworms. These worms can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and in severe cases even death, especially in young kittens. For this reason, it is recommended that kittens be wormed every two weeks until 12 weeks of age, then once a month until 6 months of age. Adult cats should be wormed every 3 months. It is recommended that a broad spectrum wormer be used - these are available in tablet, paste and more recently in a "spot-on" formulation which also controls fleas. Ensure that your cat is dosed according to its weight.

Other Parasites
Cats and kittens may be infected with fleas, which can cause skin irritation and, in large numbers also cause blood loss anaemia. There are a large range of products available from your Vet to treat fleas on cats and it is important that cat-specific products are used as not all products which can be used on dogs are safe to be used on cats. Ensure that the label instructions are read and, in the case of young kittens, that the product used is suitable for the age of your kitten. Cats, and especially kittens, may also be infested with ear mites. These parasites cause irritation in and around the ears, and are often associated with a black discharge in the ear canal. If you suspect ear mites in your pets, please contact your Vet.

Feeding
Mother's milk will provide all of a kitten's nutritional needs up until weaning. After this it is important to feed your kitten a diet which is palatable, easy to eat, and supplies complete and balanced nutrition in a concentrated form which satisfies its high energy requirements. Kittens should be fed kitten food two to three times a day up until around six months of age. After this, the number of meals each day can be reduced to one or two depending on the individual characteristics of your cat. Avoid sudden changes in diet as this can cause intestinal upsets. Make any changes in diet gradual over several days to allow your pet to adapt. Clean, fresh water should be available at all times.

Desexing
It is recommended to desex your cat at 5 to 6 months of age. As well as preventing unwanted pregnancies, desexing can also benefit the health of your cat. Spaying in female cats reduces the risk of mammary cancer and infections in the uterus. Desexed males are less likely to wander and be involved in cat fights, reducing the risk of infections and being injured, and also less likely to mark their territory by spraying urine.

Identification
Your cat should be able to be identified so that if it becomes lost, it can be more readily reunited with you. This may be done with a collar and tag with your pet's name and contact details or more permanently with a microchip which is implanted under the skin by your Vet.


Training
Cats are by nature quite clean animals and most kittens will learn to use a litter tray quite readily. Ensure that the tray is in a private area and that the litter is cleaned quite frequently. Placing your kitten in the tray after it wakes up or after eating will encourage it to use that area. If you catch your kitten "in the act" toileting in areas other that the litter tray or scratching like it needs to - place it in the tray and use positive reinforcement. Punishing your kitten may just cause confusion..

Cats which are already house trained but start to have "accidents" indoors may do so for various reasons including bladder infections, marking their territory and behavioural problems. Please contact your Vet if this occurs as your cat may require a check up.

Cats naturally scratch surfaces to sharpen their nails and mark their territory, by providing indoor cats with a scratching post, the damage to furniture can be reduced.