19 Ryde Road, Pymble, NSW 2073
Congratulations on the new addition to your family, a bundle of joy, love and companionship! This handout will simplify what you need to do as a cat owner.
VACCINATION
Vaccinations are a means of protecting your kitten against the potentially fatal viral diseases of cats. We find the following schedule to be the most effective:
6-8 weeks Feline Enteritis and Cat Flu (F3)
12 weeks Feline Enteritis, Cat Flu (F3)
16 weeks Feline Enteritis, Cat Flu (F3)
Annual vaccinations are then continued for life. Reminders will be sent to you each year.
INTESTINAL WORMS
Worming is extremely important for hygiene as certain intestinal worms can be transmitted to humans and cause disease. Worms in high numbers can be fatal for kittens and cats. Kittens should be wormed according to the following regime: Every 2 weeks until 12 weeks of age, then monthly until 6 months, then every 3 months for life. We recommend MILPRO, although REVOLUTION PLUS is a monthly spot-on application that is suitable for some cats. Speak to your veterinarian to find out if revolution plus is suitable for your cat. Heartworm disease is rare in cats so we do not routinely recommend feline heartworm prevention.
DESEXING
We recommend both male and female cats be desexed at 6 months of age. It is considered responsible pet ownership, unless breeding your cat. It prevents undesirable hormonal and behavioural problems including spraying (urine marking), fighting and also unwanted pregnancies. Owning undesexed (entire) cats can increase the feral cat population which affects our native wildlife ecology. It also predisposes cats to tumours in the testes, ovaries, uterus and mammary glands and behavioural problems.
DIET
During the growth stage in the first 12 months of a cat’s life, it is important to feed a high quality diet, such as Hills Science Diet. The advantage of premium pet foods is that they provide all the nutrients for your kitten in the correct balance. In comparison, cheaper supermarket brands often have poor nutritional value. While some cats can be greedy, the majority of cats prefer to “graze” throughout the day. Regardless of your cats eating patterns please make sure you are giving a measured amount according to packet or veterinary recommendations twice to three times daily. Some household items are poisonous to cats including lilies, paracetamol and aspirin. For more information on toxins in pets click here.
FLEAS AND TICKS
In this area, fleas and ticks are a problem all year round which is why we recommend year round prevention. To help prevent tick paralysis and fleas in cats we recommend:
- BRAVECTO spot-on applied every 3 months (protects against fleas and ticks for 3 months)
- REVOLUTION PLUS spot-on applied monthly (protects against fleas, ticks and intestinal worms for 1 month)
- SERESTO COLLARS replaced every 8 months (protects against fleas for 8 months and ticks for 4 months)*
- FRONTLINE SPRAY applied every 3 weeks (protects against ticks for 3 weeks and fleas for 6 weeks)*
- A daily search of your cat
If your cat will not tolerate being sprayed or collars, then Bravecto spot-on can be from 11 weeks of age or Revolution Plus spot-on from 8 weeks of age, once they reach at least 1.2kg in weight.
*Seresto Collars and Frontline Spray are better suited to cats at low risk of tick paralysis such as those living indoors or cats that cannot tolerate Bravecto or Revolution Plus
ADVANTIX CANNOT BE USED IN CATS
It is important to treat all cats and dogs in the household. If your cat is found to have a flea infestation and signs of scratching please call 94983000.
If you find a tick on your cat please call 94983000 immediately as tick paralysis can be deadly in cats.
HEALTH INSURANCE
To insure your cat against unexpected veterinary costs is wise. If you are considering insurance, it is best to start when your cat is young as insurance companies rarely insure a condition that is considered “pre-existing”, meaning occurring prior the policy start date. We advise you research the most suitable policy for you. For more information we encourage you to read the Australian Veterinary Association Recommendations regarding pet insurance.
Please do not hesitate to call us on 9498 3000 if you need advice on your cat’s health or care. We are here to help you.
