Most owners recognize that proper vet care is an essential part of owning a cat. But when exactly should you take your cat to the vet? And what should you expect when you are there?
You can read through this page or jump to a particular section:Initial Vet Visit
Whenever you adopt an animal, no matter where you adopt it from, you should schedule a vet appointment for within the first week that you own the cat. A vet may notice problems during an initial exam that an owner did not or could not notice. If you have any questions about cat care, this vet appointment is a great time to ask. And setting up an appointment at this point in time lets you and your new cat establish a relationship with the vet so if the cat gets sick in the future, it is easier for the vet to make an assessment at that time.
The vet will check your cat over thoroughly. He will look at your cat's eyes and ears, listen to its heart and lungs, and feel its belly. The vet will check for ear mites and for fleas and recommend appropriate treatments if necessary.
It is becoming a standard part of the initial vet visit to perform a test for Feline Leukemia and the Feline AIDS Virus. If you adopt from Rescue Farm, these tests have already been done. Both of these diseases are fatal and can be spread among cats. We highly recommend that all cats be tested. If it is not part of your vet's routine exam, you may want to request that the test be done.
Your vet may ask you to bring in a fecal sample to be tested for parasites. If you have noticed diarrhea, ask about bringing in a sample even if it is not a routine part of your vet's initial visit.
All kittens are typically dewormed. Even the healthiest of kittens is likely to have worms and the dewormer is a routine part of kitten health care.
If your cat is going to be have access to the outdoors, make sure your vet knows this. The vet will be able to recommend appropriate precautions to take to guard against diseases and parasites that your cat will be exposed to. You can also talk to your vet about microchipping so that your pet will be more easily returned to you if it gets lost.
If your cat needs vaccinations and/or neutered, the schedule for the follow-up appointments can be set during this initial visit.
Vaccinations
Basic vet care for all cats includes vaccinations.
Rabies Vaccinations: Many states, including Indiana, legally require annual rabies vaccinations.
Upper Respiratory and Distemper Vaccinations: This usually comes all together in one shot, commonly referred to as either a three-way or four-way vaccination. The three-way vaccination protects against Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia. The four-way also protects against Chlamydiosis. This vaccination is typically given to all cats. It is very effective and the diseases it protects against can be fatal and highly contagious. This vaccine typically must be given as a series of two or three shots each given three to four weeks apart. After the initial series, a booster vaccine is administered every one to three years.
Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) Vaccinations: FeLV is a deadly virus spread through fluid contact. There is controversy among vets as to whether all cats should be vaccinated against FeLV because the vaccination carries a greater risk than the others commonly administered. Because fluid contact is required to transmit FelV, many vets recommend that all cats who are going to have access to the outdoors be vaccinated and cats who are going to be indoor only not be vaccinated against FeLV. Talk to your vet about the benefits and risks of this vaccine.
Spay/Neuter
If you adopt from Rescue Farm, your new animal will already be spayed/neutered. It is highly recommended that all cats be spayed (for females) or neutered (for males) before they reach adulthood. In addition to stopping the overpopulation of cats, altering offers many health and behavior advantages over the course of an animal's life.
The surgery can be done as early as six weeks of age. Some vets are more comfortable than others with early age spay/neuter. Even if your vet is not comfortable with early age altering, this surgery should be done no later than six months of age. At five or six months old, female cats have their first heat cycle and male cats are able to produce sperm - the surgery should be done before this age!
The night before the surgery, you should remove all food. Cats can continue to have water to drink, just nothing to eat. Typically, you will drop off your cat in the morning and then pick up the cat at the end of that day or the next day, depending on your vet's practices. Male cats need no follow-up to the surgery. Female cats will likely need to return in 10-14 days to have the stitches removed. Some vets will prescribe pain medication for the cat for a couple of days after the surgery. Most cats are back to running around and being their normal rambunctious selves within a couple of days after the surgery.
When A Cat Is Sick
If your cat has obvious signs of illness (such as vomiting) or has unexplained behavior changes (hiding, not using the litter box), you should make a vet appointment as soon as possible. Also remember that while an adult cat can usually fight off minor infections, young kittens have no reserves to fight an infection and must receive vet care immediately if they become ill. Your vet will be the best person to advise you on diagnosis and treatment.
Vomiting - Cats, especially long-haired cats, will occasionally vomit a hairball. As long as this is not happening very frequently, it is nothing to worry about. You may want to start brushing your cat more often in order to remove loose hair so that your cat does not swallow much of it. On the same note, cats may vomit food when they have eaten too much or too quickly. If this is an isolated incident, do not worry. Just clean up the mess and move on. But if a cat is regularly vomiting food or liquid, they need to be seen by a vet. It is a good idea to document the vomiting. Just keep a piece of paper that lists when the cat vomited, if it had eaten recently, how much it had eaten and what type of food. This information may help the vet with a diagnosis, though it is likely that further testing will need to be done. If a cat ever vomits blood, it needs to be taken to a vet as soon as possible - no waiting!
Diarrhea - Diarrhea can result in dehydration very quickly and can be a symptom of a wide variety of illnesses ranging from simple parasites to life-threatening illnesses. Remember that if you are switching your cat to a new type of food, you should mix the old and new foods for one week before making a full switch; sudden changes in diet can cause diarrhea. If your cat has diarrhea for more than 48 hours, you should schedule a vet appointment. Make sure to bring a fresh poop sample with you to the vet so that it can be tested.
Eliminating Outside the Litter Box - As long as the litter box is clean, any healthy cat should choose to use it. If the litter box is clean and the cat is urinating or defecating outside the box, something is very wrong and the cat needs to be seen by a vet immediately. It is a myth that cats "punish" their owners by refusing to use the litter box. One of the most common reasons that cats refuse to use the litter box is that they have an ailment that makes it painful to urinate or defecate; they then connect that pain with the litter box and stop using it. A full vet examination including stool sample and/or bloodwork is typically needed to determine the cause of this ailment. You may want to keep a log of times the cat does not use the box - include if it was poop or pee or both, where the cat chose to go, when it was, if the litter box was clean at the time, and anything else that you think may be of importance.
Unexplained Weight Loss or Gain - Both sudden weight loss and gain can be a symptom of larger problems. If your cat is refusing to eat, schedule a vet appointment and also ask for ways to induce the cat to eat while you are waiting for the appointment.
Excessive Scratching or Itching - Cats do scratch at times. Only worry if the scratching seems to be consistent. The itchiness can be caused by skin infections, parasites (such as fleas), or allergies. Your vet can make a determination and prescribe a treatment for any of these problems.
Panting, Wheezing, Coughing, Sneezing, Runny Nose, Runny or Swollen Eyes - All of these can be signs of infections. Cats get upper respiratory infections that have symptoms similar to that of a human's cold. Some of these infections will run their own course if left untreated and no harm is done. But it is always a good idea to have a vet check it out and determine if the cat needs medication.
Other Changes in Appearance or Behavior - As the owner, you know your cat best. If your cat has always been an outgoing cat and is suddenly hiding, something is wrong. If your cat has always been friendly and is suddenly growly and on edge, something is wrong. Cats can not use words to tell us when they are feeling bad, so they usually use their actions. If your cat seems to be having problems, it is reasonable to ask your vet if there may be a medical reason for these problems. Your cat is depending on you to take good care of it!
