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