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Pet Medication Home -> Your Cat's Health
"How to Ensure that
Your Cat is Healthy and Lives a Long and Happy Life"
Incredible advances in veterinary medicine are making
it possible for cats to live longer, healthier lives than ever before.
The quality of your cat's health is the result of a partnership
between you and your veterinarian. You must be confident that the
vet you have chosen will take good care of your cats.
When you first get your cat, be sure to have your
veterinarian examine her within 10 days. In addition to getting
baseline weights and measurements on her, your vet will want to
check her blood and stools for illness and parasites. If you have
never had a cat before, the first visit is a good time to get a
demonstration in cleaning your pet's ears and clipping her toenails
properly.
A proper diet and sufficient exercise are key factors
in keeping your cat healthy. You must make sure the food you give
your cat is of good quality to provide her with the correct amounts
of nutrients to keep her systems running. If you are confused by
the variety of brands of cat food
available, ask your veterinarian for some help. Don't be embarrassed
to tell him how much you are able/willing to spend for pet food.
There are some excellent brands that are not very expensive, and
some expensive brands that are not very good.
Exercise not only keeps your cat's weight under control,
it strengthens her muscles and enhances her immune system. Some
cats are naturally active. Others need anywhere from a little to
a lot of encouragement from you to get moving. Set aside some dedicated
playtime each day with your cat, and she'll be more inclined
to get physical.
Yearly "well-cat" appointments with your
veterinarian help track your cat's health. A thorough going-over
under the vet's expert eye can catch early skin or eye conditions
and other physical changes that you might not notice on a day-to-day
basis. Blood and stool samples allows your vet to diagnose and treat
disease and parasites before they
reach a critical state.
The yearly vet visit is also a good time to mention
any "strange habits" your cat may have developed over
the last year. Often, these have simple explanations, but some behaviors,
such as licking paint or eating strange substances can indicate
a medical condition.
One of the most important aspects of the yearly vet
visit is updating your cat's vaccinations. Even if you keep your
cat strictly indoors, it is important to have her vaccinated against
diseases such as rabies, panleukopenia, calcivirus, Chlamydia and
feline leukemia virus. If your cat were to get out of the house
and wander, she has protection against some of the diseases that
cost less fortunate cats their lives.
How Do You Find a Veterinarian?
- Get recommendations from other cat owners in your area.
- Ask cat groomers or emergency clinics for recommendations.
- Neighbors or your local pet supply store may be able to make
suggestions.
- If you’ve just moved to the area, ask your former veterinarian
if he/she could recommend a veterinarian in your new hometown
The process for selecting a veterinarian is very much
like choosing your own personal physician. You want to find a doctor
that you feel comfortable talking with, someone who encourages all
of your questions and supports you in all the health care choices
you make on your cat's behalf.
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