Caring for your Cat
Vaccinations
Vaccinations are essential to protect your kitten from a variety of potentially fatal viral diseases. Kittens should be vaccinated at 8 weeks of age and a booster given 4-6 weeks following this to protect them from Feline enteritis, Feline Chlamydia and Cat flu (F4 vaccination). Thereafter a booster is given annually along with a health check and consultation.
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) is also recommended to vaccinate against. They can contract this from scratches, bites and mating cats which carry FIV. This is not treatable so prevention is highly recommended. Cats require 3 injections 2 weeks apart followed by annual boosters.
These diseases can have lasting harmful effects on your kitten and in some cases, they will cause death. Treatment is often expensive, difficult and the recovery rates are low. Vaccination is the best protection you can offer your pet. Annual health checks are strongly recommended to ensure your cat has a long and healthy life.
Intestinal Worming
Worms are a common problem in cats, with some leaving nasty effects on your pet’s health if left untreated. In kittens, these effects can be fatal. The major intestinal worms affecting cats are roundworm, hookworm and tapeworm. If your cat hunts (example: lizards and geckos) additional tapeworm medication is needed to treat for spirometra. Kittens should be wormed monthly until 3 months of age and then every 3 months thereafter. Hunting cats can need more frequent worming, sometimes every 6 weeks.
Our staff are available by appointment to worm your cat if you have difficulty tableting them at home and a spot- on monthly treatment is also available. Ask our staff about these options by calling 4959 2099 or 4951 3799.
The best worming schedule is.
| AGE | WORMING FREQUENCY |
| 0–12 weeks | Every 4 weeks with Drontal Allwormer |
| After 3 months | Every 3 months with Drontal Allwormer |
Heartworm
Heartworm is a serious parasite which once established causes damage to your cats heart and lungs and it can be fatal. Heartworm is transmitted via a mosquito bite, so all cats are susceptible. Continuous lifelong preventative medication in cats is available in the form of a monthly spot-on (example: Advocate or Revolution). The prevention programs should start as early as eight weeks and its important to continue prevention throughout your cat’s life.
De-sexing
Unless you are serious about breeding, then all cats, both male and female should be de-sexed at 5-6 months of age. De-sexing has many benefits and includes preventing unwanted litters.
Nutrition
Finding the optimum nutritional balance is difficult with home- made diets. To ensure the development of healthy muscles, bones and organs, it is important that your kitten is fed a balanced, nutritional diet. We recommend Advance and Royal Canin premium dry foods, it is a complete food and there is no need to supplement. Please ask your veterinarian/ veterinary nurse for a product to meet the special nutritional requirements of your kitten.
From birth until three – four weeks of age, mother’s milk should satisfy all the nutritional needs for your kitten. After this time however, kittens will begin to take an interest in other foods. Growing kittens have a large demand for nutrients, especially when they are small, so it is important that their first solid foods are highly palatable, easy to eat and supply a complete and balanced nutrition. Cats are true carnivores. They require high levels of animal protein and some animal fats in their diet. Kittens should be fed 3 to 6 times per day, while adult cats need only 1 to 2 meals per day.
You should always make sure your pet has a constant supply of clean drinking water.
Ticks
Ticks are an extremely serious problem in our area. They are carried by native animals, especially possums and bandicoots. The main problem tick is the Paralysis tick.
Paralysis Tick
These ticks can cause paralysis and even death if they attach to your cat. Once attached, the tick sucks blood and secretes saliva that contains toxins, which are absorbed by the cat.
These ticks are usually on your pet for 3-4 days to cause symptoms. The paralysis tick is most accurately identified by the position of its legs. They are seen along the first third of the body forming an arrow shape to the head. They always leave a crater if they have been attached for days.
Fleas
How can a four-letter word cause so many problems? EASY! They can cause irritation, skin allergies and anaemia, just to name a few. Good flea control requires an integrated approach, killing the adult flea and breaking their breeding cycle within the environment.
There are many effective products on the market designed to control fleas on your cat. As your kitten grows, so does the range of products available for flea control. Advocate, Advantage and Revolution have given excellent results but please ask your veterinarian or veterinary nurse for a program to suit you and your kitten needs.
Transport
When your pet travels you may want to consider purchasing a carry cage. Please ask our friendly staff to assist with your needs. We can loan a pet carrier for your cat for a small deposit, once the cage is returned the deposit is refunded. Cardboard cages are available for purchase at our clinic.
Micro-chipping
Micro-chipping is now compulsory for all new puppies and kittens between the age of 8-12 weeks of age. It is also compulsory for any animals that have a change of owners. Microchips are a safe and permanent mode of identification that cannot be removed or lost. They are the size of a grain of rice and are inserted under the skin between the shoulder blades. All council pounds and veterinary surgeries are equipped with a scanner that can detect the microchip number. Your pets details are recorded in a central animal register and can be accessed by councils and surgeries in order to locate you, the owner. In the event your pet leaves home without you for whatever reason, the chances of a safe return are greatly increased.
Insurance
As your pet is an important part of your family, getting the very best treatment for them, should they fall ill or be injured, is vital for them and for you! Having pet Insurance in place will help minimise veterinary expenses and you can get the best treatment your four legged friend deserves. You can tailor your premium to suit your budget and have 75–85% of your vets billed covered. Choose to pay your premiums annually, monthly or fortnightly. There are no additional charges for monthly or fortnightly payments.
Once your pet is covered, you have the peace of mind knowing that should your pet fall ill or be injured, you have the financial support to help you afford the treatment your pet needs.
Veterinary Care Scheduler
| Date | Age | Worming | Heartworm | Vaccination | De-sexing |
| 2–4 weeks |  |
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| 6–8 weeks | |
F4 + FIV | |||
| 10–12 weeks | |
 |
FIV | ||
| 16 weeks | |
F4 + FIV | |||
| 5 months | |
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| 6 months | |
|
 |
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| For life | Every 3 months with Drontal Allwormer | Monthly with Topical Spot-On | Annually |