Cat Health
Cat health is an issue that most pet owners do not consider until the pet falls ill. Cats are generally thought of as autonomous creatures that can fend for themselves most of the time. While this is certainly a trait that many cats have, it is not a universal truth, nor is it an indicator that they do not need proper medical attention and care.
Adoption
A cat's health should be considered from the moment the animal is chosen. Whether the cat is picked from a professional breeder or is a mixed breed found at the local shelter, a thorough medical history should be reviewed before any cat adoption decisions are made. If a choice is made to adopt without knowing a cat's health and medical history, let the buyer beware; there is no way to know where this furry feline has been or what it may have been exposed to.
Before you adopt, spend some time with the potential new family member. A cat's behavior and attitude can be quickly determined by just a few moments of play.
Kitten Care and Vaccinations
Once a cat has been adopted, the next major step in cat health is vaccinations. Many shelters, pet stores and breeders will have already started a kitten on his or her first set of shots, but it is the responsibility of the owner to follow up. Maintaining routine vaccinations against feline AIDS, rabies, distemper, feline leukemia, rhinotracheitis and other regional diseases and viruses is essential to the health of any domesticated cat. Check with a local veterinarian to ensure that the cat is getting all of the vaccinations necessary for the vicinity.
Additionally, consider what type of cat this will be. An indoor cat will not need to be vaccinated against feline leukemia or AIDS. An outdoor cat, on the other hand, should be vaccinated against all of the above, and the owner may even want to consider other vaccines, including Chlamydia, ringworm and Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP).
Spay and Neuter Your Cat
Another major aspect of cat health is spaying and neutering. Spaying or neutering your new cat is absolutely crucial for maintaining the stray and feral cat population. The largest populations of cats in pounds and rescue facilities are strays born on the street of at least one parent who has a home. If you are not a professional breeder and/or you do not wish to deliver and care for a litter of kittens, spay and neuter your cats. An added benefit to spaying and neutering is cat owners will not have to withstand the pining of toms when neighborhood queens are in heat or the erratic nocturnal behavior of a queen in estrus.
Cat Health and Obesity
For indoor cats, obesity is a very real concern. To keep your indoor cats from gaining too much weight, avoid "free feeding." Many cat owners think it is perfectly normal to simply set a large bowl of food out for their cats. This presents several problems to a cat's health. To begin, if you have more than one cat, unless they are the exact same age and gender, it is highly unlikely that they have the same cat health needs and should be on different diets. The other major concern is that it is impossible to determine how much or how little a cat is eating. Is one aggressive cat eating all the food and keeping the other cat or cats from eating? Is a cat's health at risk due to severe under or over eating? Free feeding makes it difficult to answer a veterinarian's dietary questions during a non-routine visit for illness or disease.
The main concern to a feline's health in a free feeding environment is obesity. As with humans, obesity in cats can lead to other health problems, including kidney and liver disease, heart disease and disorders of the intestinal tract. Often people think a plump kitty is cute, but the reality is that an overweight cat is likely an unhealthy cat. Feeding your cat the proper cat food in the right quantities for age and size is extremely important to its health.
Care for Your Aging Cat
As with any living thing, a cat's life ends. A cat owner's responsibility is to ensure the cat's health and comfort during this final stage of life. Give the cat an enriched soft food to aid with bone and muscle aches. While soft food is not generally the best dietary avenue for younger cats, senior cats can benefit greatly because they may experience enough oral pain with hard food to lose interest in eating.
Making a choice at the end of the road is very difficult. The decision to put a cat to sleep is an emotional one. It is best to have a deciding factor while the cat is still healthy. One good idea is to have a family discussion. Taking into account a cat's quality of life alongside the veterinarian's diagnostic work will make the right decision possible.
A Healthy Cat Is a Happy Cat
From the time your cat is a kitten until her final days, your pet needs love, car, and appropriate medical attention. These things contribute to a longer, happier life, so take the time and make the investment.
Related Topics
