| Keeping a cat as a pet is a very rewarding | | | | available that are safe, effective, and simple to use. |
| experience. Cats can provide comfort, companionship, | | | | Often, monthly application is all that is needed. Even |
| even entertainment. However, when something goes | | | | cats which live indoors can get fleas. Fleas are small |
| wrong and your feline friend is not feeling well, the | | | | enough to sneak inside very easily. Preventing fleas |
| results can be devastating. Fortunately, there are | | | | and ticks will help keep your cat comfortable and |
| several simple things you can do to help keep your | | | | healthy.Preventing intestinal parasites, commonly |
| cat healthy and happy.Keeping your cat up-to-date | | | | called "worms", is also important in keeping your cat |
| on the necessary vaccinations will go a long way | | | | healthy. Finding out whether your cat has worms is |
| toward keeping your cat healthy and happy. | | | | as easy as collecting a sample from your cat's litter |
| Vaccinations ("shots") can help keep your cat from | | | | box and taking it to your cat's veterinarian for |
| getting many of the serious diseases which can make | | | | testing. You should do this regularly. If you see |
| your cat sick, or even perhaps threaten your cat's | | | | worms in your cat's feces, you should collect the |
| life. Your cat's individual lifestyle and situation will | | | | worm, along with the feces, and take it to your cat's |
| determine which vaccinations your cat needs to have | | | | veterinarian. However, you should not assume that |
| and how often these vaccines need to be given. | | | | your cat does not have worms because you are not |
| Your cat's veterinarian can help you determine what | | | | seeing them yourself. Your veterinarian will use special |
| is right for your cat. Do not make the mistake of | | | | laboratory techniques to check for worm eggs which |
| assuming that your cat does not need vaccinations if | | | | you cannot see.Spaying or neutering your cat is |
| your cat lives indoors and never goes outside. This is | | | | another simple way to help keep your cat healthy. |
| simply not true, and there are diseases which your | | | | Spaying your female cat not only keeps your cat |
| cat may be at risk for even if he/she never ventures | | | | from coming into "heat" and becoming pregnant, but |
| outside. Nothing is more frustrating than watching | | | | spaying also provides many health benefits for your |
| your cat suffer through an illness that could easily | | | | cat. Spayed cats do not develop the serious, |
| have been prevented. If you do not know which | | | | life-threatening uterine infections which are fairly |
| vaccinations your cat needs, or whether your cat is | | | | common in cats which are not spayed. And spaying |
| up-to-date on these vaccines, please contact your | | | | your cat at a young age will also dramatically lower |
| veterinarian right now to find out.Your cat also needs | | | | the chances of breast cancer occurring later in life.For |
| to be tested for feline leukemia and feline | | | | male cats, neutering helps prevent unwanted litters |
| immunodeficiency virus (also called feline AIDS). | | | | of kittens. However, it also makes living with your |
| These viruses are common and are passed from one | | | | male cat more pleasant. The odor of your cat's urine |
| cat to another. The viruses can be passed to kittens | | | | will be more tolerable if neutered, and he is not as |
| from their mother as well. A positive test for either | | | | likely to "spray" (urinate) inside of your house. He is |
| of these viruses indicates that your cat has been | | | | also more likely to stay at home and less likely to get |
| exposed to that particular virus. If your cat is | | | | into cat fights if neutered. Neutering (or spaying) your |
| positive, his/her immune system may be | | | | cat will only improve your cats personality.Regular |
| compromised and your cat needs to observed even | | | | physical examinations by your cat's veterinarian are |
| more closely. Veterinary care should be sought at the | | | | also mandatory to help keep your cat healthy. Often, |
| first sign of even mild disease symptoms. A positive | | | | a thorough physical examination will find evidence of |
| test also indicates that your cat could potentially | | | | a health problem while the problem is still in the early |
| spread the disease to other cats, so your cat should | | | | stages. Many illnesses are more easily treated when |
| be isolated from other cats if he/she is positive for | | | | detected early, and treatment is often more |
| either feline leukemia or feline AIDS.Fleas and ticks | | | | successful as well. Finding and treating health |
| can not only make your cat very itchy and | | | | problems early can save your cat a great deal of |
| uncomfortable, they can also carry disease which can | | | | suffering and even extend your cat's life by many |
| cause serious illness for your cat. In addition to | | | | years.Copyright 2006 The Pet Med SiteLorie Huston |
| causing problems for your cat, fleas and ticks can | | | | has been a veterinarian for over 20 years, working |
| also attack people, and can spread disease to us as | | | | with both dogs and cats. She emphasizes the use of |
| well. You should make a habit of checking your cat's | | | | routine preventive pet health care to keep your pets |
| coat regularly for fleas and ticks and act immediately | | | | healthy and safe. Lorie is the owner, editor, and |
| if you find evidence of these creatures on your cat. | | | | webmaster of The Pet Med Site where you will find |
| Fortunately, with the products we have available | | | | a library of information pertaining to pet health care, |
| today, controlling or, better yet, preventing fleas and | | | | including free audio recordings describing the secrets |
| ticks is very simple. There are many products | | | | to keeping your dog or cat healthy. |