The first weeks of your new kitten’s  life with you will be busy and demanding. There may be times when you wonder if getting a kitten was such a good idea. Things will go better if you have patience and keep your sense of humor. Remember that kittenhood only happens once. The extra effort you put into it now will pay off in the future. Here are a few things to do for your new kitten. For information on a few things to do for your new kitten, read our article Your New Kitten.

Topics include Visit your vet; kitten wellness checkup; microchip ID implants; vaccinations; boarding kennels; Prevent fleas, ticks, worms, and mites; Parasites; Heartworm treatment; Worming your kitten; What to feed your kitten; Pet health insurance; Neutering and spaying; Responsible Cat Ownership.

Make sure you understand this, make sure you can afford to pay for your cat’s feeding, boarding fees, grooming (if long haired), veterinary care and so on. Make sure you know what you are letting yourself in for when deciding on what breed or type of cat that you are looking for. Speciality  breeds for the most part take more time and money through out their lives than say an everyday run of the mill cat.

How to chose
There is no real science to choosing the right cat for you and your family. Its just a matter of ones taste in breeds.

Consider what type of cat you want

 Do you want a small petite cat, a medium sized cat, or a large cat. Does the cat need to get along with other pets in the household, be gentle with kids, or a companion for yourself.
All of these will impact on what type of pet you should consider…also, what type of pet you should NOT consider. If you have young children maybe an older cat may not be the right pet, also some of the elderly may not want to have to take care of a rambuncious kitten all the time. Take these things into consideration when looking for the right pet.

A pet is for life
In summary we cannot make up your mind for you but we can tell you that you should never, EVER, get a pet on a whim or give a pet as a potentially unwanted present.

Take your time..realise that having a pet is time consuming, expensive and a real commitment. And then chose a pet that will both suit your own circumstances, as well as benefit from the amount of time and love that you are able to give. Read more in this web site, learn what you have to do to care properly for a cat and then, if you feel you are up to it, start thinking about whether you are able to give a cat the care that they need. If you are, great – outside of the love of your family having a pet is probably the most rewarding relationship you will ever have.

If you have a question you would like answered please leave your question in the comments below and we will consider your query for inclusion. We will pick one or two questions a month and place them in this section.

Please note that this is intended to be a general information service only. It is specifically not intended as either an emergency service nor as a replacement for calling or visiting us or your own vet and as such if you are very concerned about your pet you should call your vet immediately.

Look forward to your questions and comments!
Dr. Don Long

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This blog is intended to be a place to answer your questions, educate or entertain you, explore the nature of caring for your cat, and much more on becoming a responsible and knowlegable cat owner.

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Why does my cat have bad breath?
The most common cause of bad breath is excessive tartar deposits on the teeth. Bacteria feed and live in the tartar and produce offensive odors. Tartar is a crusty collection of food particles, minerals, and bacteria that forms at the tooth/gum borders. However, metabolic diseases such as kidney disease, diabetes, etc. can also produce halitosis.

Does tartar on the teeth hurt my cat?
Yes. As tartar accumulates at the gum line, it causes gum recession and inflammation or “gingivitis” . This allows bacteria in the tartar to infect and loosen the base of the tooth, causing periodontal disease. In cats, periodontal disease may lead to an infection of the heart (endocarditis) and/or of other organs, as also may occur in people. Inflammation of the gums and infection of the teeth can cause your cat considerable pain, their appetite and general attitude may deteriorate.

How Can I prevent tartar buildup?
Feed your cat a well-balanced, commercial diet. Brushing the teeth is an excellent way to check tartar build-up, though once hard plaque has developed, your cat may require a dentistry. Brushing with C.E.T., a flavored toothpaste designed for pets, 2-3 times weekly, discourages tartar build-up.

Greenies, or dental diets are also helpful as a preventative and also aid in stimulation of the gums. If your cat does not let you brush the teeth, you may use one of the pre-made mouthwashes. Alternatively, if you cannot provide maintenance, you may need to have us perform full dental scaling and polishing on a more frequent basis.

Do cats get cavities like humans?
Cavities are not as common in cats, but do occur occasionally.

When is dentistry required?
Dentistry is required when hardened tartar deposits have occurred and/or when periodontal disease is present. It is also required when substantial mouth odor exists, which indicates infection or decay even if it is not readily apparent.

How long will my cat’s teeth remain clean?
This depends on diet, dental alignment, amount of gum recession that has already occurred, and future care of the teeth. Some breeds tend to develop tartar much more quickly; in most cases this is a genetic predisposition and not something the owner can readily modify. However, the degree to which you provide ongoing dental care heavily influences the outcome!

Signs of Dental Problems

• Bad breath – one of the first signs of dental disease
• A yellowish-brown crust of plaque on the teeth near the gum line
• Red and swollen gums
• Pain or bleeding when your cat eats or when the mouth or gums are touched
• Decreased appetite or difficulty eating
• Loose or missing teeth

Does your cat have bad breath or reddened gums?
If so, it could be from gingivitis. Gingivitis occurs when soft plaque hardens into rough, irritating tartar. Tartar build-up on your cat’s teeth can cause damage to the teeth and gums. If left untreated, gingivitis can lead to an infection called periodontal disease . This disease can cause the loss of teeth.

You can prevent serious dental problems from happening by making sure your cat receives dental exams with the first set vaccination, again at six months of age, and then annually.

Dental cleanings
Veterinary dentistry is quite different from the equivalent process in people. For most of us, caring for our teeth and gums has been part of our daily routine for as long as we can remember. Consequently, a person’s visit to the dental hygienist is relatively brief and does not require sedation. In contrast, veterinary dentistry is considerably more involved, time-consuming, and complex. It requires general anesthesia, and consequently a day’s hospitalisation and the skills of several people, from veterinarians to veterinary technicians.

Predental workup
A predental workup involves a full physical examinaiton as well as laboratory and diagnostic tests to better evaluate a cat’s current health status and to assure safe anesthesia. Current medical problems must be evaluated and any possible unknown problems must be identified prior to dentistry.

For otherwise healthy young cats, we suggest a brief in-hospital blood screen on the day of the dentistry. For older animals, a complete blood count (CBC) and blood chemistry profile is taken at least one day prior to the dentistry. A preoperative electrocardiogram (ECG) may be suggested in certain circumstances.

Teeth cleaning
Your cat”s dental cleaning will begin with a physical examination. This is important to evaluate their general health. After the physical exam, your cat is given a general anaesthetic for a safe and painless sleep during the dental cleaning.

The first part of dental cleaning requires the removal of tartar. This is done with a hand scaler. Next , a periodontal probe is used to check for pockets under the gumline where periodontal disease and bad breath starts. An ultrasonic descaler similar to that used by human dentists is then used to clean above the gumline while a curette cleans and smoothes the teeth under the gumline in the crevice.

Your cat”s teeth are then polished, creating a smooth surface. The gums are washed with an anti- bacterial solution to help delay tartar build-up both under the gumline and on the crown of the tooth.

Home prevention
Dental care does not end with a visit to your veterinarian. You need to continue your veterinarian’s good work at home. Brushing your cat’s teeth is an important part of home dental care. Feeding a good quality dry food is also very important (avoid tins and pouches). The staff at Reno Hospital for Cats will show you the proper method of brushing your cat’s teeth and can recommend good quality foods for your cat.

Give your cat complete dental care
Annual veterinary dental care and home dental care will help keep your cat’s breath fresh and gums and teeth healthy. Your cat’s bright white teeth and healthier life will be well worth the effort.

Why do I need to vaccinate my cat?
There are several diseases which your cat can get – and any one of them can be fatal – for which we can administer vaccines. These vaccines are very effective at preventing infection should your cat be exposed to these diseases and can thus save their life. Prior to the availability of the vaccines thousands of animals died every year. Now thanks to widespread vaccination of cat we see only small numbers of animals dying from these disease.

Furthermore all good boarding facilities will not admit your pet without their vaccines being up to date.

At what age can your kitten be vaccinated at?
Kittens need to receive their first vaccines anywhere between 6-8 weeks of age and need 3-4 sets of vaccines until they are approximately 4 monts of  age to ensure they are fully protected.

The first injection can be given at 6 weeks of age for kittens followed by a second injection 3-4 weeks later. Your kitteny has to be at least this age before the vaccines will be effective so there is no point in giving the vaccines any earlier. The exact timing of additional vaccine and whether or not they need a fourth vaccine depends on the age of your kitten – we will let you know what needs to be done and when at your first visit.

What if I have an older cat that has never been vaccinated?
If you have an older cat that has never been vaccinated, we just administer a full vaccination course as we would to a kitten. It is never too late to vaccinate your pet – just because they have never picked up one of these diseases does not mean they will not in the future. If in doubt, just pick up the phone and have a chat with one of our office team.

What is needed in the years after the first vaccinations?
Because the immunity your cat gets from their first vaccinations does not last longer than a year for some of the diseases he/she will need annual vaccinations to ensure they continue to be fully protected.

We do not need to vaccinate for every disease annually but we do need to vaccinate for some diseases every year. Exactly what your cat receives depends on what they received in the previous years and what age they are. We discuss this with you at the time of the visit but rest assured your pet receives only those vaccines needed to maintain protection. Our primary objective is to use the minimum number of vaccine components necessary while at the same time ensuring optimum protection.

What if my cat hasn’t been vaccinated for years?
If your cat hasn’t been vaccinated for years, then they may now have little or no immunity to any of the disease we vaccinate for and can thus catch these diseases and become ill. However there is no problem – we can get them back on track very quickly and ensure they are safe. Depending on how long ago it has been since the last vaccine we will need to either administer one or two shots to get the immunity back up to where it need be. We will discuss this when you are in and make the decision that is best for your cat.

Are the vaccines safe?
Yes they are. As with any drug there is always the possibility of an adverse reaction. But it is so very rare that our vets have seen any severe reactions to vaccinations. Furthermore the risk of not vaccinating is far higher than any potential risk from administering the vaccines.

In summary we have seen plenty of cats that get very ill and die from not having been vaccinated but we have seen no deaths or severe illness from being administered vaccines.