Caring for your cat

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Caring for Your Cat Fact Sheet
All responsible cat owners should make sure their cat is;

• Neutered at 5 months old
• Vaccinated against disease
• Microchipped
• Regularly treated against parasites
• Seen by a vet when ill or injured

Facts about NEUTERING

• There are 2.5 million stray cats living in the UK
• One un-neutered female cat can be responsible for 20,000 descendants in just 5 years.
• Cats can become sexually active from 4 / 5 months old.
• It is not beneficial for a cat to have “just one litter” before being spayed.
• Gestation (the length of pregnancy) in cats is just 9 weeks and a female cat can come into season again just six weeks after giving birth.
• Pregnancy and Motherhood are very demanding for a cat and repeated pregnancies will take their toll.
• Cats will breed with brothers and sisters which can lead to serious health problems.
• A cat can have up to 3 litters a year with 5 or 6 kittens in each litter. That adds up to 18 kittens in one year that homes must be found for – and that is just one cats kittens!!

VACCINATIONS
Vaccinating your cat will help your cat stay healthy and help stop the spread of disease.
Your cat should be vaccinated against the following;
Feline Parvovirus or Panleucopenia – a severe and potentially fatal gut infection.
Cat Flu – a common type of respiratory disease that can have lasting effects.
Feline Leukaemia virus (FeLV) – a devastating fatal disease that damages the cat’s immune system and can cause cancer.
Chlamydophilia – a bacteria that causes severe conjunctivitis along with sneezing and nasal discharge.

Kittens need their 1st vaccine at 9 weeks old and a 2nd vaccination at 12 weeks.
It is also recommended that your cat receives annual booster vaccinations throughout its life to help protect from diseases.

MICROCHIPPING
A microchip no bigger than a grain of rice is inserted under your cat’s skin between his shoulder blades. Each chip carries a unique ID number linked to a database containing details of your cat and your name and address. If your cat goes missing he can be scanned and reunited with you. If you move house or change your telephone number you must make sure your details are updated.

FLEAS
It is best to treat your cat for fleas whether he has them or not. There are various different treatments for fleas but the most effective will be supplied by your vet.
If your cat does have fleas you will need to treat your cat’s bed and your home also. There are a number of different products available for this also but the most effective from your vet.

WORMS
Cats can get 2 types of worms – Roundworm and Tapeworm.
You must de-worm your cat regularly. Your vet will advise you of the best product for your cat.

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