Cats are loveable companions and are very individual in character. They enjoy regular human interaction, physical and mental stimulation to maintain their health.
To keep your cat healthy, you also need to pay attention to appropriate diet and give thought to a preventative care plan which will allow you to avoid illness and injury.
Below you will find important information to get you and your cat off on the right foot.
Keeping your Cat Healthy with Preventative Health Checks
Regular health checks at Mt Helena Vet Clinic (MHVC) will allow early detection of any diseases or ailments that can be affecting your pet. Whether your pet is a kitten, adolescent, adult or a senior citizen it is important to alert veterinary staff to any concerns you may have since your cat is prone to different diseases at different life stages.
This is why the veterinarians at MHVC perform a full physical check of your pet each time they come in for a consultation.
Kittens need a course of vaccinations to prevent serious and sometimes life threatening diseases. (see the Cat Care section of the website).
An adolescent check is recommended to ensure that your kitten is growing well and to discuss any behavioural issues that might be arising to tackle them early before they have become too established.
During adulthood we all hope that this is the easiest time of their lives since training and preventative health care have already become a routine. Adult cats need at least an annual check usually at the same time as their annual vaccinations. We address any other issues such as weight, dental disease, skin conditions and behaviour problems during these consultations as well.
During the senior years your pet may need more regular checks especially if we have found certain changes (such as arthritis, skin changes or a heart murmur) or have diagnosed a specific disease (such as heart failure or diabetes). Routine tests such as measuring blood pressure, blood and urine checks and lump checks are recommended to identify any developing disease and also for monitoring purposes. If your pet is on medications, this becomes even more important to ensure that the medications given are at the correct dose and that they are not effecting other body organs.
Regular prevention should be given to all cats for:
- Gastrointestinal parasite control – round worm, hook worm and tapeworm
- External parasite control – fleas and ticks
There are many different regimens and products available to help protect your pet. They should be used from when your pet is a kitten and throughout its lifetime.