PVC - Cat Information

Preventive care is the concept of providing proper nutrition, vaccination, deworming and environment in order for your kitten to grow and have a long, healthy life. It begins before your kitten is even born and lasts until well into their senior years. Preventive medicine forms the core of most veterinary practices and is what most veterinarians routinely perform.

The central idea for preventive care is to ensure a long and healthy life, free from disease, and rich in interaction and socialization. Prevention of disease is always cheaper in the end than diagnosing and treating disease.

Please feel free to ask one of our veterinarians to discuss any or all of the aspects of preventive care. We are here to help you help your cat have a long and healthy life.

Animals normally respond and interact with people, other animals and their environment based upon their behavioral characteristics. Ethology is the study of behavior in animals and people. Behaviors can be desirable and adverse depending on ones point-of-view but there are some behaviors that are generally accepted as being undesirable (bad behavior).

To this day there is much about cat behavior that is either not understood or miss-understood. While cats are generally viewed as socially independent, most cats are surprisingly dependent on social contact with people, other cats or other animals. Left alone, some cats become bored, overweight or destructive. Kittens often terrorize the household and this is natural. Many adult cats will quickly lose the desire to play while others will continue to be ‘kittens’ at heart. There are no norms in cat behavior but there are some generalities such as dominance and cat-to cat aggression.

Kittens who are orphaned or who have not interacted well with littermates are at risk for developing bad behaviors. Kittens who are not used to handling become fearful of people and especially of curious children. Dominant cats will often reject new kittens or other animals and may either be directly aggressive, or may seclude themselves away, even from their own routines (including eating).

You should begin to learn just who your cat is and how much attention they need. Also, please recognize that when bringing a new kitten home, you can expect that an already established cat will have their world ‘turned upside-down’ by this. Such stress can contribute to poor appetite and disease in older cats.

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FELINE NUTRITION

As in people, proper nutrition allows the body to maintain itself at optimum performance and enhances longer life. In human nutritional circles there is a saying “junk in, junk out”. This simple ideal holds true for your cat. It is important to recognize that nutritional needs change with time.

Nutrition for the kitten

Access to the first milk or colostrums is critical – it contains valuable nutrients and immune system factors
Adequate nursing will ensure good growth during the first 4 to 6 weeks until weaning
Kittens should then begin to eat solid food, and this should be of good quality
Many cats do well with free-choice feeding, but it is also important to note that bored housecats will eat more and gain weight if food is always available
Clean fresh water should be available at all times and changed as often as needed. Some cats prefer running water from a tap.
Treats and snacks should not be overly fed as they can contain excessive calories
The number one malnutritional disorder in cats is obesity and it can be prevented when your cat is still a kitten

Nutrition for the adult cat

Lifestyle dictates what and how much you should feed: active, outdoor cats may require more calories, although they often ‘supplement’ this through hunting
Know how much your cat is eating daily to prevent overfeeding or wasting of food
Providing a high quality, balanced diet is essential
Treats and snacks and table scraps add calories
Prevention of obesity is very important in the adult cat

Nutrition of the senior cat

As the cat ages so does its stomach and the diet should be easy to digest
Providing a high quality, balanced senior diet is optimal
Monitor appetite closely and provide ready access to clean water
Remember that the metabolism slows down with age and obesity can quickly develop

A word on table scraps, treats and supplements

By feeding a high quality, balanced diet, these are not needed. Remember that when you use these they can become an important source of calories and contribute to obesity. They may also contain substances that could harm your cat.

Please feel free to discuss your cat’s nutrition with one of our veterinarians.

Spaying (ovariohysterectomy) is one of the most commonly performed surgeries in veterinary medicine. Spaying is often referred to as a routine surgery and is usually performed on animals around 6 months of age. Please note that the use of the word ‘routine’ should not be mistaken for ‘quick, easy and free from complications’! Spaying plays a major role in preventing unwanted kittens and helps prevent certain disease conditions later in life.

In the female cat, this surgery, performed at 6 months of age, involves removing most of the reproductive tract. This would include the ovaries, the uterine horns and part of the uterine body. The cervix remains. Since the abdominal cavity is opened this surgery is considered a major surgery. The procedure may involve several staff as follows:

As with any surgery, complications can arise and some of these can be very serious. Major complications are:

Complications by nature are unforeseen and are dealt with as they arise. It is important that we have a way of contacting you on the day of the surgery in case emergencies occur. If we cannot contact you at the indicated number we will automatically begin emergency or corrective procedures that may appear on the bill. The incidence of complications is extremely low due to close monitoring of the patient before, during, and after the procedure. We cannot predict when they will occur and in which animal. As we are not a 24-hour care facility, some complications occur whenever the clinic is closed and the staff no longer present. This should be made clear to you prior to admitting your pet for surgery and will be stated in writing on the consent form. Please read this form carefully and ask questions – we will be glad to address your concerns

Neutering (orchectomy, castration) involves removal of the testicles that are the organs that produce the reproductive cells or sperm. Normally, this surgery does not involve entry into the abdominal cavity and the incisions are very small. Skin sutures are usually not placed. Again the procedure may involve several staff as follows:

As with any surgery, complications can arise and some of these can be very serious. Major complications are:

When one or both testicles fail to descend into the scrotum they are known as cryptorchid. There is a genetic basis to this condition. Neutering these animals is more involved and surgery is longer. As such, normal neutering fees do not apply to these cases. This should be discussed with you prior to admitting your cat for the procedure.

Complications by nature are unforeseen and are dealt with as they arise. It is important that we have a way of contacting you on the day of the surgery incase emergencies occur. If we cannot contact you at the indicated number we will automatically begin emergency or corrective procedures that may appear on the bill. The incidence of complications is extremely low due to close monitoring of the patient before, during, and after the procedure. We cannot predict when they will occur and in which animal. As we are not a 24-hour care facility, some complications occur whenever the clinic is closed and the staff no longer present. This should be made clear to you prior to admitting your pet for surgery and will be stated in writing on the consent form. Please read this form carefully and ask questions – we will be glad to address your concerns

Cats naturally scratch at surfaces. This helps them maintain their claws at the proper length and shape. Some cats are more motivated than others at clawing and can be very destructive to furniture and other materials. Declawing of the front claws is a way to avoid this behavior. Declawed cats have a reduced ability to climb and defend themselves and should be maintained as indoor pets.

The procedure itself consists of removing the last segment of the digit so that nails cannot grow. Removal of the claw occurs at the last joint of each digit (‘finger’). To visualize this, view any finger and trace from the tip of the nail back to the first joint. It should be noted this surgery is very painful and the use of analgesia (pain relief) is strongly recommended. Once the last segment of the digit has been removed the skin is sutured together over the cut end. This suture is absorbable and will disintegrate over time. Declawing is usually performed at the time of spaying and neutering to limit the animal to a single anesthetic period.

The procedure may involve several staff and may include some or all of the following steps:

As with any surgery, complications can arise and some of these can be very serious. Major complications are:

A long-term complication of declawing is re-growth of the nail. This happens when all of the nail generating tissue has not been removed. It is a rare but does occur. If this happens please call us to discuss what should be done next, including repeat surgery on the affected claw.

This is not generally recommended and is extremely painful to the cat. Please feel free to discuss any issues with our veterinarians

Queening is the process of giving birth to kittens and follows an average gestation (pregnancy) of 60 days. Cats generally do not have trouble giving birth, as compared to dogs. However, queens should be closely monitored when birthing is to begin.

Cats approaching birthing will seek out a quiet, secluded and comfortable place in which to queen. This area should contain a food and water bowl, although you may keep food and water in their normal areas for whenever she will be moving around the house.

Queening begins with the onset of contractions, which you may or may not notice. In cats, once this process has begun, kittens can be expelled rapidly in sequence. Cats rarely need intervention, but if you notice prolonged pushing without kittens, you should call our clinic right away!

The mother usually will have all the post-queening issues well in order – cleaning up the placentas, grooming and stimulating kittens and allowing them to nurse. At this time, you should observe the cat and kittens to be sure that ALL the kittens are nursing and huddling together.

Occasionally, one or more kittens, or even the litter, may be abandoned by the mother for various reasons only known to her. These kittens will need to be hand fed an appropriate kitten formula and stimulated to urinate and defecate. They will also need to be kept warm and away from draughts.

Kittens can begin receiving worm medication at 2 weeks of age and then regularly thereafter. Keeping their environment clean will also reduce the parasite load and transmission. Deworming the mother cat can help reduce the number of worms transmitted through the placenta, the milk of the environment.

Please schedule a health exam for the mother and her kittens as soon as possible.

When we play with our puppies and kittens, and watch them grow, we take for granted that our little friends don’t live as long as we do. Watching our older pets, we may see the subtle signs that age is taking its’ toll. Health problems become more common and they seem to lose interest in the activities they once humored us with. Sometimes they become sick, often with painful conditions, and despite the best medical efforts, they continue to worsen. Sometimes a decision must be made.

Euthanasia is an ethical and moral decision. Because our pets cannot decide for themselves, it is up to us – you the pet owner and the veterinary staff, to discuss what should be done and when. Veterinarians and their staff have struggled with this issue as they are almost always pet owners and have had to face this decision themselves. As such, we are always available to discuss euthanasia and answer your questions. Discussing euthanasia with us, and with your family well in advance, may help make that final day just a little bit easier.

In plain terms, euthanasia is the use of an approved method for bringing about the death of an animal. The accepted method in veterinary medicine is through the use of an overdose of intravenous anesthetic. The medication will first cause the animal to enter deep sleep, and then stop the heart.

Usually, a specific portion of a front or back leg will be clipped of hair to reveal an appropriate vein. Application of alcohol often helps the vein ‘stand-up’ (become more prominent). Once sure that the needle is within the vein the solution is injected smoothly.

We strongly recommend that you schedule an appointment so that time is set-aside for you and your pet. There is nothing worse than simply showing up and having to wait in a room full of other people and their pets.

You need to decide what you would like to do with your pet’s remains. There are several options available to you and prices vary:
• Home burial
• Group burial at an approved pet cemetery
• Cremation with ashes returned

When you arrive you will be asked to fill out and sign paperwork giving consent for the euthanasia. You will indicate on this form which method you have chosen for your pet’s remains. A copy of the euthanasia consent will be given to you so you may present it to the town dog licensing department. The bill will be invoiced out at this time to allow you to leave at your own pace and privacy afterwards.

You do not have to be present, and in such cases, please know that people who have dedicated their lives to animals will surround your pet. If you choose to be present, there are several things you should understand about the process and what will actually happen.

Your pet may struggle when restrained for the injection, especially old animals and cats. It is important to re-assure them that you are there. Often, your pet will have passed by the time the injection is finished. Some animals will continue to take deep breaths and they often relieve their bladder and bowels. Their eyes will remain open. The heart will be listened for – once it has stopped and the pupils are fixed and dilated, the animal is clinically dead.

For animals that will not tolerate restraint, either a different restraint position will be chosen or a sedative may be administered. Remember, the process is also upsetting for the veterinarians and staff present. They will want the process to proceed as smoothly as possible. Please co-operate with them should any problems arise