Ongoing Vetting
One of the most common nuisance problems with cats—and with rescue cats in particular—is the virus that causes upper respiratory tract infections. Almost all cats carry this virus, and it is easily spread. The “kitten colds” it causes are very common after adoptions because the symptoms can be brought on by stressful situations such as a new environment. A cat that does not show any symptoms at the time of an adoption can suddenly develop an upper respiratory tract infection after the adoption without warning.
Similarly, if your cat has loose stools, it may simply be from a change of diet or from stress caused by the transition from one location to another. Watch the problem carefully to make sure it resolves itself quickly. If the cat becomes lethargic, stops eating or stops playing, these are warning signs. If the diarrhea does not resolve itself quickly, you may need to make a visit to your veterinarian. Kittens in particular can quickly become dehydrated and even die from simple diarrhea.
Vaccinations and Parasite Prevention
Here is some information about vaccinations and parasite prevention:
FVRCP Vaccine (also called Feline 3 in 1 Distemper Combo). This vaccine protects against the following diseases:
- FVR (Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis) is an upper respiratory infection. It is very contagious and can cause severe disease, including death from pneumonia in young kittens.
- C (Calicivirus) is a common respiratory disease in cats. The virus attacks the respiratory tract, the mouth, the intestines and the musculoskeletal system.
- P (Panleukopenia or distemper virus) is an often fatal virus that causes severe fever and illness.
Booster shots for this vaccine are recommended every 15-21 days through 16 weeks of age and then yearly.
Feline Leukemia Vaccine. Your veterinarian may also recommend this vaccine, although not all do. After the initial vaccine, boosters are given four weeks later and then yearly after that.
De-worming and Parasite Prevention. It is important to continue to maintain your cat on a de-worming schedule and to use a monthly flea and parasite prevention medicine. It is important to discuss with your vet any periodic parasite preventatives that may need to be administered.
Regular Veterinarian Checks. Consult your veterinarian about the ongoing medical care for your cat. If you do not have a relationship with a vet, we have some suggestions. Check Here.
Robin’s Nest of Indy firmly believes that having a cat’s claws removed is cruel and can causes serious problems for your cat’s future health and behavior. When a cat is declawed, the last bone in each of its 10 toes is being amputated. We believe that this non-reversible surgery is inhumane, and it creates serious problems that you and your cat will live with for its entire life, including these:
- Declawing can cause physical problems. Declawing can alter a cat’s gait, leading to later problems with its hips and other joints. A cat’s claws also play a large and positive role in its muscle tone and agility.
- Declawing robs a cat of its ability to defend itself. If a declawed cat unexpectedly escapes from the house, it will not stand a chance against a large dog, a bigger cat, or a predator. Although it still has teeth, by the time the cat gets in close enough to bite, it may be too late.
- Declawing may lead to litter box problems.
- Declawed cats often associate the pain of digging in litter after surgery with the litter box itself and will avoid it, choosing softer carpeting instead.
- Declawing sometimes leads to biting problems. When cats lose their ability to give a quick warning scratch, they will often resort to their second line of defense: a good, hard bite.
We would encourage you to have your cat micro-chipped. All shelters and veterinary clinics will scan to find a lost pet’s microchip before considering the pet a stray. In most cases, great efforts are made to unite the pet with its family when a microchip is present.
The micro-chipping process is quick, inexpensive, and not painful for your cat. Your vet can provide this service as well as any of the low-cost spay/neuter clinics. At the very least, you are encouraged to use a pet tag on either a stretch collar or a safety collar for quick identification of your found pet.
Even if your cat is kept indoors, there are times when your family pet can sneak out an open door or window. Taking a few early precautions can save much heartache for you and your family.
