VACCINATIONS



Cats require vaccination against Enteritis, Cat Flu (Herpesvirus and Calicivirus) and Feline Leukaemia.

As with the case with distemper in dogs, Feline enteritis is now rare. However, despite widespread vaccination, cat flu is still very common in cats. It has been estimated that 100% of cats are exposed to Feline Herpesvirus by one year of age. Apart from the major causes of cat flu (Herpes virus and Calici virus), there are several other mild viruses that can sometimes cause mild flu-like signs in cats. This means that cat flu vaccination is not guaranteed to protect your cat from all respiratory disease.

Ist kitten shot 9 weeks of age
2nd kitten shot 12 weeks of age

As with dogs, annual boosters are recommended. In the case of the Feline Leukaemia vaccine, it is likely that protection only just lasts the year.

 

IDENTIFYING YOUR PET

This is very important for cats as they are very prone to wandering off. Unfortunately, cats often lose collars. Microchipping can be done at the time of second vaccination or at any time thereafter and ensures that your pet can always be returned to you. Microchips are placed by a simple injection under the skin, and cannot be easily lost or removed, thus ensuring your pet is permanently identified.

 

WORMING

All kittens are born carrying roundworm larvae that develop in the gut up until about 12 weeks of age. We recommend worming kittens with Panacur liquid, which is a gentle wormer that is mixed with the food daily for 3 days.

We recommend worming at 2, 5, 8 and 10 weeks of age with monthly worming thereafter until 6 months of age.  After this time, we recommend worming four times yearly in accordance with guidelines laid down by the British Small Animal Veterinary Association. An additional problem with cats is that they often pick up tapeworm infections when they start hunting - they contract the worms through eating small mammals. Cats and dogs can also get tapeworm infections transmitted by fleas. For this reason, some cats need tapeworm tablets very frequently - as often as once a month in summer. Modern prescription wormers are very effective. Beware of Pet Shop/supermarket wormers - the commonly used cat tapeworm remedies contain dichlorophen, a substance that is rarely fully effective and which can cause significant toxicity problems in some cats.

Worm identification tip - if a cat or dog is sick and a worm is seen in the vomit, this is a roundworm. If worms are seen in the faeces, these are usually tapeworms.

For more information  on worms, see the  section in  advanced healthcare

 

TOOTHCARE

Cat's are often fed moist, sticky foods that promote plaque and tartar build. Dried biscuit feeds are not a lot better, unfortunately. Tooth brushing is possible in cats, but it is best to start while your cat is young. If you cannot brush your cat's teeth, they are now a range of dental chews and dental diets that do lessen tooth problems in cats. Please contact Heathlands if you are having problems looking after your cat's teeth.


 
NEUTERING

At Heathlands, we recommend that all cats are neutered.

Male cats quickly grow up from tiny kittens to smelly old toms. Tom cats often fight, which results in bacterial infections or, even worse, infection with feline leukaemia virus. Neutering tom cats (castration) is a simple and safe procedure that can be done at any time from 5 months of age. Castration involves removing both the testicles that produce male hormone.

Female cats require neutering (spaying) or they will have seasons and produce litters of kittens several times a year. Spaying is a very simple and safe procedure in cats and without any major side-effects. Normally. Female kittens are spayed form 6 months of age.


 
FLEA CONTROL FOR CATS

All cats will bring fleas into the house at some time - the more animals you have, the more likely this is to happen.The life cycle of the flea is dependant on temperature. Flea eggs can develop into adults in as little as 14 days in very warm conditions. In cold climates the life cycle may be ten times as long. Fleas are much more of a problem in the warmer southern areas of the country. Eggs are laid and fall from the animal, mainly during the night. The bed and other chosen  areas of the house that the pet (s) sleep in become contaminated by flea eggs. Each flea that feeds produces enormous numbers of eggs - 50 eggs are laid per day with each adult producing up to a thousand eggs in its lifetime of 20 days. When the eggs hatch, the larvae feed on flea dirts (flea faeces) that drop from the pet into the bedding. Fleas larvae avoid light and burrow deep into the carpets and bedding to feed. Flea larvae rarely survive outdoor, but survive well in the protected environment of the home.

SIGNS OF FLEA INFESTATION

Usually the cat will  groom excessively and gnaw the hair on the inside of the thighs  and on the lower back. The skin along the back may become covered with small, crusty inflammed spots (miliary eczema). This last sign is diagnostic of flea allergy. Often no fleas will be seen, as the cat  eats them when they nibble their fur in the affected area.

WHY FLEA CONTROL MEASURES FAIL

It would seem that use of an appropriate insecticide on the household pet would completely control fleas by killing each flea as they feed. However adult fleas may feed within a few seconds of climbing on a pet. No currently available insecticide can stop all fleas from feeding. Some fleas will feed and some flea eggs will be laid. Flea eggs and larvae are much more resistant to insecticides than adult fleas and, because adult fleas lay so many eggs, flea eggs and larvae represent by far the biggest flea population in the house. It has been said that fleas are a parasite of houses, not pets! Flea populations develop resistance to insecticides quite rapidly and older flea treatments are noticeably less effective at controlling fleas. In particular, pyrethoid (permethrin) or organophosphorus flea treatments are rarely effective against adult fleas and are, in addition, much more toxic than modern flea treatments.



THE ANSWER - INTEGRATED FLEA CONTROL =  INSECTICIDE ON PET + FLEA GROWTH REGULATOR FOR THE ENVIRONMENT


MODERN INSECTICIDES - ADVOCATE.

Advocate is an exceptionally safe product that is very effective against fleas and lasts a long time. Advocate also contains a compound that penetrates through the skin and also controls intestinal worms. In fact, Advocate controls the following infections
Fleas
Ear Mites
Mange- both Fox Mange (Sarcops) and Demodectic mange
Heartworm disease
Intestinal round and Hookworms and Whipworms

Advocate should not be used in kittens off less than 9 weeks  of age or in animals under one kilo bodyweight.


FLEA GROWTH REGULATORS

Integrated flea control requires the use of an insecticide preparation on all pets in the household and the use of flea growth regulators to limit the development of the eggs and larvae. Integrated flea control has been found to be the absolutely best way of controlling fleas in the house.

FRONTLINE COMBO/ACCLAIM AEROSOL
Both contain the flea growth regulator methoprene. Frontline Combo should be used monthly on  all pets all year round. If fleas have been allowed to build up to high levels, the Acclaim aerosol should be used every 3 months after vacuuming the carpet. Please note: vacuuming alone is poorly effective as pupated flea larvae glue themselves to the carpet fibres. 

PROGRAM
Contains the flea growth regulator luferunon. This can be used as a twice yearly injection and this  alone can provide very good flea control in some cases. For integrated flea control it should be combined with the use of Frontline or Advantage.l


OTHER METHODS

PYRETHROID SPOT-ONS (over-the-counter spot ons). These are products are responsible for more poisonings in cats than any other substance, often with fatal consequences. Problems occur if the cat can turn round and lick off the application before it has dried into the coat. Fleas are now largely resistant to this class of product - avoid at all costs
Flea powders - last for only a very short time and are ineffective
Flea comb - Of use in very mild infestations. Simple!
Herbal Collars - in our experience, are completely ineffective.