Your Cat
Cats are increasingly popular pets; in fact for the last few years, the number of pet cats in the country has exceeded the number of pet dogs. They are especially suitable for owners who work, live in a flat or are unable to walk a dog regularly. However owning a cat is still a big responsibility – they require lots of companionship from you and, just like dogs, need regular vaccinations, deworming and flea treatment. We hope that the next few pages will help and guide you in your search for a new furry friend.
Buying a Kitten
If you want a domestic short or longhair cat (the traditional “moggie”) there are many ways to get a kitten. Ideally see if a friend or relative has a cat that has had a litter or offer a home to a stray kitten from Battersea Dogs Home (020 7622 3622 www.dogshome.org) or the Mayhew Animal Home (020 8969 0178 www.mayhewanimalhome.org).
There are many kittens available for sale through newspaper ads, pet shops or over the internet. Unfortunately we often find that these kittens are not as healthy as they might be so be very careful if you decide to use this route.
If you want a pedigree cat then you should contact the General Council of the Cat Fancy (the feline equivalent of the Kennel Club, 01278 427575 www.gccfcats.org) for a list of registered breeders. Or have a look in the classified section of one of the specialist cat magazines.
Buying an adult cat
This may not be so easy but contact the rescue centres listed above in the first instance. Always try to get as much information as possible regarding the previous medical history of the cat as this may have
The first few days
This is obviously a very exciting time but remember that it can be very stressful for a young kitten to move from its mother and littermates so you should do all you can to make the transition as comfortable as possible. Ideally keep the kitten in one room with you for the first few hours and let him or her explore gradually. Remember you will need to provide a litter tray and some litter, most kittens get the hang of things very quickly.
There is a vast array of proprietary foods that you can offer your kitten, we would recommend a premium quality complete dry food as it is easy for you to store and provides the perfect balance of vitamins, minerals and nutrients. We have a variety of free samples in our kitten packs so why not pick one up before the kitten arrives.
We would suggest you bring your new kitten in to see one of our vets for a quick check after 1-2 days; this is just to reassure you that everything is OK and gives you a chance to ask as many questions as you like!
Vaccinations
These are essential for all cats whether they are going to be allowed access to the outdoors or not. Two injections are required 3-5 weeks apart and the first one cannot be done earlier than 8 weeks of age. All kittens should be vaccinated against herpesvirus and calicivirus (the “cat ‘flu” viruses, those that will be going outside should also be vaccinated against feline leukaemia virus. These are all potentially fatal diseases and, in the case of cat flu, depressingly common. Some kittens, especially pedigree ones, may have had one or two vaccinations before you pick them up. In this case you should be given a certificate signed by a vet detailing what he or she has had. Just bring this along to the practice and we can tell you if any further shots are required. When you bring your kitten in for its check-up we can discuss a deworming strategy with you. This is again essential as many kittens are born with roundworms and they can be very damaging to your kitten’s health.
Microchipping
This is the only effective way of permanently identifying your pet and we recommend that all cats are microchipped. Ideally this can be done when they are neutered (see below) but we can also implant the chip during a consultation. Our new chips are called Biotherm and they measure your cat’s temperature when we pass the scanner over them. This prevents insertion of a thermometer in any private places and will be much appreciated by your pet!
It is also a requirement of the Pet Passport Scheme.
Neutering
Unless you want to breed from your cat we would recommend that he or she is neutered. This involves castration or ovariohysterectomy depending on the sex of your cat and is a relatively quick and safe procedure that can be performed from about 4 months of age. Studies have shown that, on average, neutered pets live several years longer than entire ones. More information can be found on out Neutering page
