By Dr. I. Elizabeth Borgamnn. In this article we will tie up the loose end of basic kitten care. We have introduced you to kitten behaviour and the need for appropriate play spaces. We have talked about scratching. We have discussed the all important and frustrating litter box issue. We have reviewed information you need to know about feeding your growing cat. We have talked about the pros and cons of indoor versus indoor/outdoor cats. What else do you need to know about kitten care? As with most pets, the first year is the most involved and complicated with respect to care. Then you get to rest easy until they become seniors!

New Pet Health Exams:

As soon as you receive your new kitten, have a veterinarian perform a health check. Simple issues like fleas, ear mites, and ringworm can escalate into larger issues, especially if you have other pets at home.

Vaccinations:

Many people assume their indoor cats do not need vaccinations. Yes, your kitten is at a lower risk of picking up infectious disease. But can you guarantee you will not track something back into your home? Are you absolutely positive that your cat will remain indoors? Vaccines protect against potentially fatal infectious illness. What risks are you willing to take? Your veterinarian will review the risk for your pet and provide advice on which vaccines your kitten should have. Risk factors also vary by areas.

Cats that go outside, are being boarded at kennels, or are in contact with other cats that go outside need to be vaccinated.
When do you start vaccinating? Most initial vaccines are given around 8 weeks of age for cats. They can be given earlier to high risk cats. Kittens need at least 2 vaccines 3-4 weeks apart.

Flea Control:

Which cat needs to be on flea control? Any cat that goes outside or lives with other pets that go outdoors should have a flea prevention product on board. Cats are harder to control than dogs and do wander more. They are much more likely to pick up fleas. Other pets in the household can bring in fleas as well.

Does that mean that indoor cats do not need flea prevention? Not necessarily. In fact, you can bring in flea eggs and larvae on your clothes if you have been in contact with a pet that has fleas or if you have been in a home that has fleas. Warehouse carpets and furniture are another source of infection. Some warehouses keep cats to control mice and rats but may not treat those cats with a flea preventive. Those warehouse cats become flea breeding centres.
Flea infestations are easier to prevent than correct. Personally, I prefer the easier way and my pets are on flea prevention.

Deworming:

By deworming we mean control of intestinal parasites. How often do you need to treat your pet with an anti-parasitical product? Again, it depends. One answer does not fit all.
All kittens should receive an absolute minimum of two dewormings. Cats that go outside need more frequent deworming. Cats that hunt need a broader spectrum dewormer than cats that just use the back yard for a litter box and then come back in. Most cats that venture outside should be dewormed at least every 3-4 months. Strictly indoor cats can probably get by with a deworming every 6 months.

If you have young children (less than 5 years of age) or any immune-compromised individuals in your home you must deworm more frequently. Want more information on people and parasites? Check out the Companion Animal Parasite Council recommendations at www.PetsandParasites.org. It is a very enlightening site! And the recommendations are independent of any pharmaceutical company. The council is made up of veterinarians, human physicians, and parasitologists. It’s definitely worth a read!

Spaying and Neutering:

All cats should be spayed and neutered by 6 months of age. Simple. Most people understand this! Population control problems are huge with cats. And an in-heat cat can drive an owner to the brink of psychoses. And who wants to smell the urine of a spraying Tom Cat?

Routine Physical Examinations:

Your cat should have ongoing physical exams at least every year. The greatest health issues for cats are obesity and dental problems. Dental issues can be very painful. How can you tell your cat is in pain? You usually can’t! They hide their pain.
As your cat gets older, you may want to seek physical exams every 6 months. And you will want to start blood and urine tests too.
Why do you need to be so proactive with your pet? Because cats hide illness until they are very ill! Many of the aging illnesses can be detected early on and when we do that we can start to treat and delay progression of illness. In the long run, this is less expensive than crisis intervention!

One very important point that should not be forgotten: trust yourself. If your gut feeling is that your pet is not feeling well, get it checked out. It is better to be cautious than regret not acting on a hunch. Many times I have seen owners come in feeling guilty about being overly protective only to find their cat has a fever or some other disease. Your cat cannot talk. It cannot tell you how it is feeling. Be his/her advocate!

Dr. I Elizabeth Borgmann

Dr. Borgmann has been practicing in the Fraser Valley for over 8 years and can be reached at the Whatcom Road Veterinary Clinic