Cat Information

So you've chosen your new kitten, bought all the necessary beds, blankets, carrier and toys, and kitten-proofed your home. But what now? Your kitten relies on you to provide it with the best environment, nutrition and health checks to make sure they have a long and healthy life.

Your new kitten should have a health check as soon as possible. This visit will include a thorough physical examination of eyes, ears etc to ensure she is healthy. Treatment/prevention may be given for parasites, ie worms and fleas, and your kitten may also have his first vaccination. The vet will discuss diet and care with you.

Once you have your kitten home, sensitive handling and friendly contact every day will soon help your kitten to settle in and feel at home. Young children should be taught that a kitten is not a toy and must be treated with gentleness and respect. Your cat should also be given lots of opportunities for interesting and challenging play to satisfy his natural instincts. 'Hunting' toys and scratching posts will please your kitten (and save your furniture too!) Allow your kitten to become accustomed to the cat carrier by leaving it out at all times so your kitten has access to it. Throw in a cosy blanket, some toys or a treat to encourage your kitten's natural curiosity!

Throughout your cat's life, he needs a clean and warm sleeping area. If you have other pets in the house such as dogs, a safe place, preferably high up, will provide a quiet escape to get away. Fresh water should be available at all times, and a healthy diet is essential. A good quality commercial food which is suited to your cat's age and lifestyle is ideal. Feeding dry food rather than wet can help maintain good dental health in your cat.

Ensure that litter trays are cleaned daily and kept away from sleeping areas and food/water bowls to prevent toileting problems. Always have a spare litter tray for indoor cats and have at least one tray per cat in your home.

You should regularly check your cat's mouth, ears and eyes. Any loose teeth, redness, swelling, discharge or bad odour should be noted and your vet contacted if necessary.

The best thing you can do to look after your adult cat is neutering. Unneutered male cats are prone to wandering and also are very territorial, meaning they are more likely to be involved in an accident or get into a fight. They also tend to mark their territory by spraying. We recommend the your male cat is castrated at about 6 months of age.

Female cats in season can make lots of noise, and the obvious benefit of having your female cat neutered is no kittens! Again, this is normally done at about 6 months of age, and is better to be done before you let your cat outside.

If your cat goes outside, microchipping can help reunite you if he wanders off.

Cats can suffer from a variety of common problems, but some of these are easily preventable with proper care.

Obesity affects cats just as it does humans. As cats get older, they require less calorie intake and feeding should be adjusted accordingly. Feeding the appropriate amount of a good quality cat food which is appropriate to your cats age and environment is important in maintaining a healthy body weight. Mintlaw Vets run FREE nurse led weight clinics to help you keep an eye on your cat's weight.

Diabetes is very common in middle aged and older cats. Symptoms can include increased thirst and hunger, urination, losing weight and poor coat condition. If any of these symptoms relate to your cat, please contact your vet so that she can have a thorough check. Diabetes can be easily treated with insulin injections and you can minimise the risk of your cat becoming diabetic by ensuring he is not overweight.

Arthritis can range from mild to severe, causing pain, stiffness and lameness. Anti-inflammatory medication can help, as can glucosamine supplements, which are available from your vet.

Dental problems are common in older cats, and can make eating painful. Feeding a dry food from a young age can help to prevent dental problems, but your vet will check your cat's teeth if you think there are any problems, and also at their yearly health check and vaccination. In cases of severe dental problems, a dental procedure may need to be carried out under anaesthetic to remove any rotten or broken teeth and to clean the remaining teeth.

Parasites are common in cats, and are easily prevented or treated using the proper medication. Cats should be wormed regularly, especially if they are outside cats who are hunters, and more often if there are small children in the house. Preventative treatment for fleas and ticks should also be applied regularly.

Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) is common in adult cats, especially those that are overweight, neutered, living an indoor only lifestyle and experiencing stress. You can help to avoid it by feeding your cat wet food and managing her weight and stress levels. It can present as cystitis or a urinary blockage. If your cat repeatedly visits the litter tray without passing urine, this is an emergency. Contact your vet immediately.

Many plants including lillies and christmas cactus are poisonous to cats. Antifreeze is another extremely toxic substance to cats and should be kept well out of the way.