Preventative care and routine checkups can ensure your cat lives a long and healthy life.
Your cat offers unconditional love, many physical and psychological benefits, emotional support and the entertainment of a furry friend to play, cuddle and grow with. Cats are known to offer love and support to owners when they are sick, injured or lonely in ways other pets cannot. Your cat provides health benefits allowing you to live a long life filled with emotional and physical support. It is our responsibility as pet owners to give our cats the same opportunities for a long, healthy life with proper preventative care and routine veterinary checkups.
Nutrition
A healthy diet, providing proper levels of energy and nutrients, is essential to the health and wellbeing of your cat. Proper diet will allow your kitty to function and grow properly as well as aid in disease prevention. Your cat will need protein-rich food with high quality amino acids, which can be found in most premium cat foods. It is important to consider the age, weight and current health of your cat when beginning any nutrition or feeding program. Nutrition needs vary depending upon your cat’s age; a kitten will need a diet rich in calories and minerals for a more active lifestyle and to ensure healthy, growing bones and muscles. An older cat will need to consume less food on a daily basis as part of a low fat, fiber-rich diet.
Vaccination
Vaccines will protect your cat from many viral diseases, such as feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), giardia, feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and others. It is important to protect your cat from potentially fatal diseases at an early age and follow up with boosters of important vaccinations throughout her life. Your veterinarian will help guide you in choosing which vaccines are appropriate for your cat.
Spaying & Neutering
One of the most important preventative care decisions facing a cat owner is whether to spay or neuter. Aside from preventing unwanted kittens in the future, spaying or neutering your cat can prevent many problems such as uterine infections, cat fights, roaming and spraying.
Spays and neuters are typically performed when a cat reaches 4 to 6 months old. Many experts recommend spaying or neutering before your pet reaches puberty. Your veterinarian will be able to help you choose the right time for your cat and your family.
Spays (technically known as ovariohysterectomies) and neuters are routine and generally safe, but these procedures are major surgeries requiring general anesthesia and a stay at the veterinary hospital for most of the day. It is important to communicate with your veterinarian and be aware of the procedure, medications and any pre or post-procedure at home care required prior to surgery.
Routine Checkups
Regularly scheduled health assessments are one of the most critical factors to maintaining superior health throughout your cat’s life. Twice yearly check ups (once every six months or so) would be optimal for detecting health issues, keeping current on vaccinations and boosters and extending your cat’s life.
The proper pet health care for your cat will depend on many factors and will need to be personalized to fit your family and your cat’s individual needs. We all want healthy, happy, long-living cats!
