CARING OF CATS PART 2

Grooming marvellous : 

Cats are very clean animals and like to groom themselves, but sometimes they may need a little help. Long-haired cats should be brushed daily to stop their coat becoming tangled. If they are not regularly groomed fur can become matted and uncomfortable. These mats may need to be removed under anaesthetic by a vet. Short-haired cats will probably only need to be groomed once a week. Older cats may struggle to look after their coats and require gentle grooming to help to keep their skin healthy. Grooming also gives you some valuable bonding time with your cat. If you are struggling to groom your cat, ask your vet for advice as referral to a suitably qualified behaviourist or a competent groomer may be useful to avoid the development of problems.

 Indoor or outdoor?:

 Indoor cats need extra consideration to keep them mentally stimulated. For cats given access outside, consider providing a microchip or magnetic cat flap to allow them the freedom to choose when to go out, while stopping other cats from the neighbourhood entering the home. Cats usually learn how to use cat flaps very readily

 Caring for your kitten.:

 It is recommended that cats are kept indoors at night, when they may be at more risk of being involved in road traffic accidents. Also, their hunting activities are likely to be greater at dawn and dusk. . Either put them in a cattery or get a cat-sitter to come in to feed and play with your cat while you are away. Never leave your cat to fend for themselves. 

Key veterinary care:

 Responsible cat owners should make sure their cat is:
 • neutered 
• vaccinated against disease
 • microchipped
 • regularly treated against parasites
 • seen by a vet for regular health checks and when ill or injured Find a vet You’ll need to register your cat with a vet as soon as possible. A recommendation from a friend or neighbour is a great place to start; otherwise you could phone around or pop in and see them before making your choice. . It is important that you get on with your vet, are able to ask questions and have faith in the care they can offer. 

 Your cat and your vet:. 

Neutering Cats Protection generally recommends that cats are neutered at around four months of age or younger. This is a simple operation which has many health benefits for your cat. It is essential to prevent unwanted kittens and reduce the spread of disease, wandering and territorial behaviour such as scratching, spraying and fighting. All adult cats from Cats Protection will have been neutered prior to being rehomed. 

 Vaccinations :

Kittens and adult cats should be vaccinated to help them stay healthy and help stop the spread of disease. Vaccinations are available against: Feline infectious enteritis (also known as feline parvovirus or panleucopenia) – a severe and potentially fatal gut infection Cat flu – vaccinations are available against several of the microorganisms which cause this common respiratory syndrome which can have severe and lasting effects Feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) – a devastating fatal disease that damages the cat’s immune system and can cause cancer Chlamydophila – a bacteria that causes severe conjunctivitis, along with mild sneezing and nasal discharge Kittens need their first vaccine at around eight to nine weeks old and a second dose at 12 weeks. Your cat should also receive regular booster vaccinations throughout their life to help maintain their protection against these diseases. Consult your vet for more advice

Microchipping : 

Cats Protection recommends microchipping as the safest and simplest means of permanently identifying your cat. A microchip is no bigger than a grain of rice and is inserted under the cat’s skin between their shoulder blades. The microchip carries a unique ID number linked to a database holding your contact details, allowing you to be quickly traced should they stray and be scanned. So, don’t forget to update your details if you move house or change phone numbers. For more information on microchipping see Cats Protection’s Essential Guide: Microchipping. If you do choose to put a collar on your cat, use a ‘quick release’ collar to allow your cat to free themselves should the collar get caught on something. Fit it carefully – two fingers should snugly fit between your cat’s neck and the collar. Sadly, severe injuries resulting from poorly fitted collars or those with no quick release function are not uncommon.

 Fleas:

 Fleas are very common in cats but can be hard to spot. It’s advisable to consider treating your cat regularly for fleas, whether they have them or not, as it is far harder to deal with an infestation than to prevent one. Many different flea treatments are available and the most effective products to treat and prevent fleas are available from your vet, so seek their advice. Never use a dog flea treatment on your cat as some can be rapidly fatal and don’t let your cat come into contact with a dog that has been treated for fleas until the product has dried. If you do have a flea outbreak, you will need to treat all the pets in the home and de-flea your home, too. Treat carpets, the bottoms of curtains, furniture, your cat’s bedding and all their favourite sleeping places.

 Worms:

Cats can become infected with various internal worms. There are many different treatments available and your vet will be able to advise you about how often to de-worm your cat and the most suitable, effective product to use, which may depend on your cat’s lifestyle. For more information on fleas and worms, see Cats Protection’s Veterinary Guide: Fleas and other parasites. Dental care Dental disease is quite common in cats, esp