Kittens

Cats are ideal pets in many ways. They are easy to care for, provide excellent company and are very entertaining, especially when young. Cats are less time-consuming than dogs, being quite happy with their own company for long periods. Many cats will sleep for up to 20 hours a day. Feel free to ask us for advice on getting a cat. We can suggest sources of kittens, from breeders to rescue centres. If you would like to own a pedigree cat, it may be helpful to ask our advice on breed characteristics. Not all cats are the same, and some require much more care than others.

When you first get your kitten

We will usually be happy to offer a free check up for kittens before they start their vaccinations. If you are buying a pedigree kitten it will have already have completed a vaccination course and will therefore have undergone an examination by a veterinary surgeon. We would still advise that the kitten is checked within 24 hours of purchase. A definite plus point of cat ownership is the fact that kittens will almost invariably be litter trained when they come to you. A kittens stools should be firm. Loose stools or diarrhoea are common when kittens change home. Contact the clinic for advice if your kitten is affected.

Vaccinations

The health and lifespan of pet cats has been greatly enhanced since the widespread introduction of vaccination. We routinely vaccinate against 3 diseases. They are:

We can also vaccinate against the following:

Worming

An important part of your cat's preventative health care is regular worming. Kittens become infected with roundworms from their mother's milk. They should be wormed from 2 weeks of age, and treated frequently until they are six month's old. Adult cats will pick up roundworms and especially tapeworms form hunting. They can also catch a type of tapeworm from fleas. Roundworm infestations will not usually be obvious, since only the microscopic eggs are passed. Tapeworm infestations may show up when worm segments, which are in effect small bags of eggs, become stuck to the fur around a cat's bottom. They appear like flat grains of rice. Even if you don't see evidence of worms, it is best to worm cats at least every three months to ensure that they are worm free. Many cat owners find it hard to reliably give worm tablets to their pets. We are happy to give instruction in giving tablets, and we have a hand out which gives an illustrated guide. If you bring your cat to the clinic we will administer the tablet for you free of charge. We even have a spot on worming preparation, so there really is no excuse for leaving your cat with a worm burden.

External Parasites

It is never too soon to start a flea control problem, and fleas are far easier to prevent than to eliminate. These days fleas are a year round problem, as they appreciate centrally heated houses. Female fleas can 15 to 20 eggs a day, and up to 600 in a lifetime. You can see that a couple of untreated female will soon cause an epidemic. The easiest method of flea control is by spot on preparations, applied to the skin of the back of the neck. We have a choice of safe, easy to use and effective products. One will even treat worms and mites as well.

Neutering

Cats can teach rabbits a thing or two in the breeding department! A female cat, or queen, can breed several times in a year, though this will take its toll on her health. Normally a queen will first come into season in the spring of the year following its birth. This can be alarming for those who haven't witnessed it. When a queen is in season she is said to be Ôcalling', and for good reason. Bloodcurdling wails and apparently agonised rolling on the ground lead to many calls to the clinic from alarmed cat owners who think their pet must have been involved in a serious accident. All this activity will attract the attention of un-neutered tom cats. Toms are smelly and prone to wandering and fighting, with all the attendant injuries, abscesses and infections which this involves. They also have a habit of spraying to mark their territory, which will include your house as often as not. To avoid such antisocial behaviour, cats are usually spayed or castrated at about six months of age. The operations are relatively quick, and cats recover very rapidly.

Microchip Identification

We implant microchip identification in many pets now. A small device about the size of a large grain of rice is implanted under the skin of the neck. This has a unique code detected by a scanner. The pet's details and your contact information are stored on a central computer for life. This provides a long lasting, unique and tamper proof method of identification. For pets undergoing the Pet's Passport scheme, it is a prerequisite to have had a microchip implanted.

Feeding

Nutrition is an important part of a cat's healthcare. A correct diet will ensure a good rate of growth, a strong skeleton and teeth and an efficient immune system. A good start in life will pay dividends later in your pet's life. Our vets and nurses are qualified to advise you on the correct diet for your cat. Remember that much advice you will hear elsewhere has more to do with tradition and folklore than with actual science. We will be happy to give common sense advise.

Insurance

Veterinary medicine has advanced at an almost unbelievable rate in recent years. Our clinic is similar in many ways to a small hospital. We can conduct laboratory work, xray and ultrasound investigations, heart work ups, cancer investigation and treatment, a full range of dental procedures and a wide array of surgical procedures including orthopaedic and ophthalmological procedures. We rarely have to refer cases to outside experts, but when we do, we have access to leading specialists in their fields.   Pets now have a much increased lifespan and enjoy better health during their lives.

Such a comprehensive service is expensive to provide, and this will inevitably be reflected in veterinary bills for unusual or complicate cases. We believe that the cost of veterinary treatment reflects very good value for money, but it may well place a strain on the pocket. Since there is no NHS for pets, we recommend that you look upon veterinary care as a form of private medicine and consider health insurance.

Pet health insurance is available from an increasing number of providers, but we would recommend that you talk to staff before committing yourself. any cheaper policies may look like good value, but you should look at the small print and ask if the insurance will provide good enough cover.

Many people think of pet health insurance as a back up for serious accidents or major illnesses. The list shows the top ten conditions which Pet Plan, the largest pet insurers, settle claims for. Conditions such as arthritis or heart disease may well need monitoring and treatment for many years. Be sure that your policy won't leave you in the lurch.

We now only keep brochures for Pet Plan because we are familiar with them and feel that they provide a good service. We are able to offer 6 weeks free insurance with puppy and kitten vaccinations, and also have cover notes should you wish to take out a policy while at the clinic. We are happy to advise on other companies, and will give honest impartial advice, as we do not receive a commission from pet insurance companies.