Basic Routine Care Guidelines Adult Cats

Main Street Pet Care, Inc.

Experience gained over time requires that we periodically update our basic care guidelines for the pets we see. Sometimes we add things that we have found over time are very important for basic care and early detection of disease. Sometimes we drop things that over time just do not seem to provide enough benefit to be worthwhile.

Before adding recommendations, we carefully consider cost versus benefit, and decisions are made that ultimately reflect the best possible care for your pet. If you have any questions about our recommendations, please do not hesitate to discuss them with us. Following are our basic care guidelines for adult cats:

1. Annual Complete Physical A complete and careful physical examination is essential for detection of both potential and existing, but hidden, health problems. The most common problems we find early when proper yearly physical are performed are heart disease, hypertension, hyperthyroidism, dental disease, cancers, eye problems, urinary stones, arthritis and ear infections. Older animals require an examination every six months (see "Aging in Pets"), which is determined on an individual basis.
2. Wellness Blood Screening Complete Wellness Blood Screening is recommended before six months of age, then every year of life through the middle age years. When signs of aging become apparent, Dr. Leavens or a staff veterinarian will recommend that Senior Blood Screening be advanced to every six months depending on how your pet appears to be aging.
3. Feline Leukemia and Feline "AIDS" (FIV) Testing (Combo Test) Every cat should receive this test early in life. New kitten should be tested when they come into your household if you have other cats, or after 60 days if you do not. After that, outdoor and indoor/outdoor kitties should be tested yearly. Indoor kitties need no further testing unless they become at risk for some reason. We routinely see these diseases in our clinic and the importance of testing cannot be overemphasized.
4. Parasite Control Because every cat is at risk for parasites, and many parasites can be passed on to humans (especially children), we recommend that every cat be on monthly parasite control. Whether your cat is indoor or outdoor, parasite control is essential because every cat is exposed to parasites, whether from the grass or soil, or off your shoes when you enter your home. In addition to monthly control, every cat also needs complete de-worming every six months. Cats that are not on monthly control, should receive complete de-worming every three months. For further information about parasites visit our library or www.capcvet.org
5. Rabies Rabies vaccine should be administered yearly to all pets.
6. RCCP and FeLV (feline leukemia) Vaccines RCCP and FeLV vaccines should be administered yearly to almost all cats. While some of the individual parts of this vaccine may not be necessary in later years, other parts are, and it varies with each cat. With few exceptions, the safest thing to do is to vaccinate every cat each year. While the internet has spawned horror stories about adverse effects of vaccinations in cats and dogs, the diseases we vaccinate for are rampant in this area. The number one reason an indoor cat darts outside is because it is annoyed with an outdoor cat. It only takes one bite from an infected cat to infect your cat, and the risk simply is not worth it!

Questions also sometimes arise about FIP and FIV vaccines. These vaccines have been fraught with problems and we do not routinely recommend them because of some significant issues surrounding them.