Cat owners should make sure to visit the veterinarian at least once a year for an annual examination and shots. If a cat becomes sick or injured, it is advisable to visit the veterinarian or animal hospital immediately. Your kitten will need a series of vaccines when it is very young. This series of shots is commonly referred to as a ?3 in 1?. When your kitten is 2,3 and 4 months of age it will receive a combination vaccine that protects your cat from panleukopenia (also referred to as feline distemper), calicivirus and rhinotracheitis. If your cat has not been vaccinated and is four months or older, it will be necessary to administer a series of two vaccinations 2 to 3 weeks apart, followed up with annual vaccinations.
There are two immune system viruses (retroviruses) that can infect your cat or kitten; Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). There is a vaccination available for feline leukemia but not FIV. It is possible that your cat can be infected and show no symptoms for months or years with either of these deadly viruses and the owner should make sure their cats are tested when visiting the veterinarian. Its mother can spread these viruses to a kitten at birth or through a bite of another infected cat. Outdoor and stray cats often carry these infections but neither is transmissible to humans. To ensure that your cat does not become infected with these viruses, it is advisable to keep them indoors. If you do allow your cat to be an outdoor cat, you must vaccinate the animal against the feline leukemia virus. No vaccine is 100% effective but it is an excellent preventative measure to safeguard your cat from ill health.
Aside from FeLV and FIV, there are some other ills that can befall your cuddly companion. Tiny parasites in the form of ear mites are a common problem that is easily transmitted between cats. You may notice your cat scratching its ears or shaking its head, which are two symptoms of ear mites. Take your cat to the vet if this occurs, he or she will clean the ears of your feline friend and administer proper medication. Worms are another problematic medical condition to look out for when caring for your cat or kitten.
Tapeworms and roundworms are common parasites that can infect your companion. Your vet can properly diagnose this nasty bug and prescribe medication to treat your cat. Fleas can transmit tapeworms as well as irritate your cat's skin. Check your cat weekly for fleas and ticks. Fleas are ubiquitous and will be all over your house if found on your cat and flea bombing your living space will be in order in addition to cat-safe flea shampoo or powder. Be sure to treat all domestic animals if you find one flea. Your vet can advise the best treatment program. Male and female cats can develop feline urological syndrome (FUS), which is an infection of the lower urinary tract. As in humans, if your cat is repeatedly visiting the litter box, you see blood in the urine or your cat is making loud cries or straining while urinating you must take your cat to the vet for medication. FUS is more common in male cats and this infection can be fatal if your cat does not receive rapid treatment.
The more fully you educate yourself about the ins and outs of cat care, the more able you will be to create an ideal care regimen for your pet. The better your cat care, the longer your cat will live, and the higher the quality of life it will have. In case that isn't reason enough for you to invest a bit of time and energy in learning to offer your feline pet the best possible cat care, here is a quick breakdown of a few of the many benefits to outstanding cat care.
Great cat care means that when your cat needs medical treatment, you will recognize the signs early, possibly even long before invasive or costly procedures or drugs are necessary. Conscientious cat care will help you notice any health problems as soon as they manifest in even minor symptoms. This can help you catch issues early, when they are at their most easily treatable. By providing great cat care, you are helping to stop diseases and other health problems in their tracks by getting your cat the medical attention he or she needs as early as possible.
Regular, excellent cat care means that you will be able to be more efficient and save time in your cat care regimen. If you take a bit of time each day to complete a few simple cat care tasks, you will be sure that nothing builds up until it gets out of hand. In fact, you can spend less time overall by making efficient cat care a part of every day. Habitual and thorough cat care can actually be less work than taking care of a cat who you have ignored even a little bit. After all, grooming a slightly scruffy cat once every week is easier overall than grooming an utterly filthy cat once a month.
When you fully understand the different aspects of cat care, you can be sure that you aren't neglecting any part of the cat care equation. Cat care is a multifaceted process that includes everything from stern training to playful snuggling, and an inexperienced or uneducated cat owner may not be aware of all of these different sides to having a cat. When a cat doesn't have all of its needs fulfilled, it can develop behavior or health problems that could have been avoided through simple, responsible care on the part of the owner.
Last but not least, one great reason to improve your cat care is simply that there is no good reason not to. Learning how to care for your cat more fully and completely is easy, so you might as well give it a try. Even if you think that you already know everything under the sun about cat care, it never hurts to double check. Take some time to skim a book or a few websites on the subject, and you just may discover your own reasons to improve the way you care for your pet.
Both Eric Hartwell & Gail Metcalf are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Eric Hartwell has sinced written about articles on various topics from Marriage, Wedding Speeches and Wedding Reception. Eric Hartwell oversees "The World's Best Homepage" - Visit to read or share opinions on and visit our associated site. Eric Hartwell's top article generates over 22200 views. to your Favourites.
Gail Metcalf has sinced written about articles on various topics from Online Marketing, Home Appliances and Home. Gail Metcalf writes about cat issues on her blog. Visit . Gail Metcalf's top article generates over 12100 views. to your Favourites.