We all love our cats and want the best for our pets, sometimes we even debate the decision to vaccinate or not. Outdoor cats are more susceptible to a variety of diseases, disorders, and parasites, some of which can even affect humans. If your cat is kept indoors and not mixed with other cats, then it becomes a personal decision regarding vaccination. If allowed outside, even occasionally, it is highly recommended that your cat be vaccinated against some of the more widespread and significant viral diseases cats are most susceptible to, such as: feline distemper, upper respiratory infections and rage.
When vaccinating kittens, they must be at least 8 to 12 weeks old and free of parasites. It is best to deworm the cat and/or kittens approximately two weeks prior to immunization. You can test the stool to make sure there are no parasites, but this can cost in addition to deworming costs. Or you can assume that the worms may be there and just do prevention. Remember to avoid contact with other pets that have not been immunized, as the vaccination is not effective until about a week later. A second dose may be required to be effective and provide protection. Some vaccines also require annual boosters or a booster every few years.
Examples of some of the cat parasites that affect humans are fleas, ticks, mites, lice and worms, which are the main external parasites that you want to regularly monitor and treat if present. Some of these pests carry disease and lay eggs on the animal, requiring repeated treatments. Scratching is usually a clue. Check ears often for ear moths!
The main concerns of humans, and children in particular, are internal parasites, which include a variety of worms (roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, threads, sticky tape) and single-celled organisms that you can’t detect until they’ve wreaked havoc on your body. your pet or worse. have transferred to people as the dreaded “earthworms”. If you have other pets, such as dogs, remember that your dog can be the carrier and transmit “bugs” to your indoor cats.
The most dangerous for pregnant women is the Protozoa Toxoplasma Gondaii, which is found in cat feces. This organism can affect the fetus and can even cause miscarriage. It is best that pregnant women do not clean the cat litter box and/or take precautions and make sure to schedule regular deworming of their cats. There are many “automated” cat litter disposal systems that pregnant cat owners should consider investing in if cat litter tray cleaning duties are their sole responsibility.
Like us, every part of the body of cats can be affected by some diseases and health problems, the mouth and teeth by stomatitis, respiratory diseases, eye disorders such as conjunctivitis, ear disorders, kidney diseases, the circulatory system by anemia, heartworm and leukemia.
Pay attention to your pets’ health and be especially concerned if your cat vomits, collapses, has diarrhea, has difficulty breathing, is bleeding, or has dilated pupils. Loss of appetite is usually not serious unless it lasts more than 24 hours. Observe your cat for subtle signs of illness, listlessness, sneezing, coughing, closed eyelids, cloudy eyes, mouth odor, lameness, pain, constipation, frequent urination or straining, and discharge from the eyes, ears, or nose. Also watch for changes in your usual habits, such as sleeping more, pain, irritability, etc. Usually the Cat will tell us that something is wrong before the problem becomes critical. A trip to the veterinary clinic may be required to confirm any problems.
Your cats will start to show signs of aging around 10 years of age, which translates to about 60 years in a cat’s life. The average lifespan of a cat is 15 years. Even if they can’t live nine lifetimes (although some seem to), they can live a long and healthy life when given consistent and responsible care.
Taking care of your cats health is a lot like taking care of yourself. Pay attention, prevent what you can and if you suspect something, have it checked.