Cat & Kitten Care
A cat’s lifespan can average 15-20 years making them a long-term commitment. However, they are extremely independent in nature and don’t need a lot of space for exercise. Cats are affectionate, clean and easily entertained making them a fantastic pet.
Any further enquiries regarding feline health can be directed to our clinic staff who are happy to help.
Early training and socialisation is essential to have a happy, well-adjusted pet. Cats require environmental enrichment to keep them stimulated and happy, which also helps to keep them entertained and out of trouble. Cat trees, perches, and scratching poles are great for climbing, stretching, stress relief, and keeping their claws in good condition. All cats need exercise, so these are particularly great for indoor cats.
In some circumstances behavioural problems can be caused by an underlying medical issue. If you feel this is the case with your pet we encourage you to speak with your vet.
Whilst cats tend to groom themselves, they do require human intervention to remove any excess fur. If done regularly, this will reduce matting of the fur, and hairballs. Long haired cats in particular will require daily brushing.
Like most pets, cats require annual health and vaccinations to prevent illness. Kittens typically require four rounds of vaccinations at 6-8 weeks, 10-12 weeks, 16 weeks, 10 months. After this your cat will require a booster vaccine every 12 months.
Routine vaccinations will protect your kitten or cat against Calicivirus, Herpes Virus and Panleucopaenia virus. Additionally, if your cat spends a lot of time outdoors they need to be vaccinated against Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) which causes Feline AIDS.
Kittens and cats also need to be protected against fleas and intestinal worms. Flea protection should be administered every month, and worming every 3 months for adult cats, and every 2-4 weeks for kittens.
Adequate diet and nutrition is vital to a cats development and wellbeing. Cats are carnivores which means there diet should come predominantly from animal products, particularly with high amounts of protein and moderate fat. We recommend a balanced commercial grade cat food distributed in small frequent amounts across the day, allowing them to graze.
Ensure your pets have access to water 24/7 and avoid giving them cow’s milk. This can cause an upset stomach in cats who suffer with lactose intolerance.
Please consult your vet to discuss individual dietary needs.
It is an unfortunate reality that each year thousands of animals are euthanised simply because they have no home. Sadly, many of these animals are puppies and kittens less than 6 months old. You can help to stop this needless loss of life by desexing your pet and preventing unwanted litters.
Desexing is a safe, routine procedure carried out by our caring and professional staff. Ideally, your kitten should be desexed around 5 months old, however this procedure can be undertaken at any age. There are many health and social benefits to desexing your cat, including prevention of unwanted litters, mammary cancer, uterine infections, and prostate problems. It can also reduce behavioural problems such as, roaming, aggression, urine marking, and false pregnancies.