Preventative Care-what Is Necessary For Cats?

[Hollis'sMom]

I'll preface this post with the face that I have only dogs currently who are ages 10, 11, and 12. I choose not to vaccinate them (with the exception of Rabies, which is required by law in NC) as studies have shown that after the puppy series and the 1 year vaccines, that they are as protected as they will ever be and no additional vaccines are necessary.

What I do not know is is it the same for cats? Do they need heartworm testing and preventative? Do they need fecal screening annually? We've never had fleas, so I do not plan on putting any flea treatment on her at all.

 

[Kieka]

Get a cat specialist or cat friendly vet. There are vets out there who don't like cats or don't realize there are true biological differences between cats and dogs. The number one step in your cats long term health is a vet who knows, loves and keeps up on cat health issues. For example, my vet only sees cats and she attend annual cat health seminars along with staying current on relevant papers and studies. I once saw a vet who said my cat was the first cat who he'd seen in three weeks, I asked for a different vet.

For cats under 8 years old, just annual exam is good. You do want to do all the kitten vaccines as recommended by your vet because they prevent deadly illnesses that can be carried in on shoes. I do keep up with vaccines because my crew goes outside and has contact with other cats. But many people with indoor only cats will choose not to continue vaccines after the kitten and first year booster. Partner with your vet on that one. In terms of fecal or preventative, most indoor cats once you get past the first year will stay relatively stable. If you notice something off then you see the vet about that concern.

For cats 8+ years old, my recommendation is twice a year exams with a once a year blood work.

One key thing to remember when it comes to cats health is that they are as much prey as they are predators. They *will* hide illness and discomfort as long as they can. They will pretend it doesn't hurt until it is too much to hide. Because in the wild weakness means death and our house cats are not that much different from their wild cousins. So if anything, even something little, seems off it is better to see the vet then not. You know your cat better then anyone else and your cat will hide their discomfort or pain in front of strangers. My boy broke his leg and didn't even flinch when the vet touched the break; I had to tell them to x-ray it because I know him and he showed more pain in front of me at home. Which also leads me to recommend taking photos and videos at home of the behaviors that concern you because they will move differently at the vet.

My rule of thumb is if it is something minor in a person (occasional vomit, little sluggish, bleeding cut that doesn't get red, etc) and they are adults, I give them 48 hours. With me setting up an appointment or checking availability at the start of that time period. Kittens, I take them in immediately even if it is relatively minor because they are so little and don't have reserves if something is really wrong. Worst case we go to the vet and I pay $40 to be told they are all good.

Edit: I would do a flea treatment for the first three months you have your new cat just to make sure she didn't bring something with her.

 

[FeebysOwner]

Hi. All good information from Kieka ! I really can't offer much, but will say that once Feeby hit around 9 yo the vet stopped all vaccinations (he said we probably could have stopped much sooner), other than rabies (also required by law here in FL). She is an indoor only cat - and our only cat. She has never had a flea treatment, even though she does spend time on our screened in patio. Once Feeby hit 10 yo, the vet recommended a full senior check up, including a senior blood panel, on an annual basis.

There may be some additional tips/information in these TCS articles for first time cat owners.

First-time Cat Owner's Guide

What To Expect As Your Cat Ages

Good luck with your new addition!! When you have time, give us a pic and a name!!!

 

[Hollis'sMom]

Hi. All good information from Kieka ! I really can't offer much, but will say that once Feeby hit around 9 yo the vet stopped all vaccinations (he said we probably could have stopped much sooner), other than rabies (also required by law here in FL). She is an indoor only cat - and our only cat. She has never had a flea treatment, even though she does spend time on our screened in patio. Once Feeby hit 10 yo, the vet recommended a full senior check up, including a senior blood panel, on an annual basis.

There may be some additional tips/information in these TCS articles for first time cat owners.

First-time Cat Owner's Guide

What To Expect As Your Cat Ages

Good luck with your new addition!! When you have time, give us a pic and a name!!!

Thank you so much for the info! This is Hollis Finley Colton...

 

[CatLover49]

I'll preface this post with the face that I have only dogs currently who are ages 10, 11, and 12. I choose not to vaccinate them (with the exception of Rabies, which is required by law in NC) as studies have shown that after the puppy series and the 1 year vaccines, that they are as protected as they will ever be and no additional vaccines are necessary.And flea treatments only use during April _Sept cause I have indoor cat n I can bring in on my shoes.But he gets tested.

What I do not know is is it the same for cats? Do they need heartworm testing and preventative? Do they need fecal screening annually? We've never had fleas, so I do not plan on putting any flea treatment on her at all.

Personally I get all the vaccines offered for cats.Cause even though say you get the vaccine for feline herpes . .Well they still get feline herpes.It wont b as bad on them.And flea treatment.And the fecal test etc.Precautionary measures.I know some people will disagree but I feel any precautionary vaccine wont prevent things but will prevent them from being so bad

 

[FeebysOwner]

Welcome Hollis'Mom and Hollis Finley Colton! (Sorry didn't even pay attention to your avatar pic - oops!)

 

[She's a witch]

I'll preface this post with the face that I have only dogs currently who are ages 10, 11, and 12. I choose not to vaccinate them (with the exception of Rabies, which is required by law in NC) as studies have shown that after the puppy series and the 1 year vaccines, that they are as protected as they will ever be and no additional vaccines are necessary.

What I do not know is is it the same for cats? Do they need heartworm testing and preventative? Do they need fecal screening annually? We've never had fleas, so I do not plan on putting any flea treatment on her at all.

My cats had kitten vaccines and then booster in a nasal form (to minimise the risk of sarcoma cancer that cats may get from injections). According to schedule they should be vaccinated again in 3 years and personally I'd probably repeat it because they carry FCV and FHV each, but if they didn't, I'd have a titer test done and skip the vaccines if the antibodies are still high (as it will likely be the case).
As for rabies vaccine, well, it's also required where I live now, and my cats were vaccinated for it with 3-year vaccine last year because it was required as I was travelling overseas with them, but if I had to do this now, I'd probably rebel and skip it (they are strictly indoors so the rabbies risk is lower than sarcoma risk and I'm pretty sure the antibodies will still be there for a long time).

Some people deworm cats regularly even when they are indoor, I used to do this with other cats yearly with wide spectrum dewormer, then I started checking their stool yearly, but since fecal floatation can be very inaccurate when it comes to finding some parasites, I learned to trust my judgement and decided to worm them only when I see the symptoms or when my vet suggests it. But - if you have dogs, I think I would deworm both dogs and cats according to the same schedule.

It was already mentioned, but I can't stress enough how valuable the cat only clinic can be for cats so I would resist the temptation to take them to the same vet you're taking your dogs, even if he's great: great for dogs doesn't (and I'd even say shouldn't) mean great for cats.

 

[marmoset]

We caretake for a colony as well as having six indoor only cats. The indoor only cats stay current on vaccines. Since we work at a cat shelter and have community cats we work with and do TnR/ sometimes housing ferals in a spare room the chances of something spreading is too high for our liking even though we take precautions as best as we can.

The feral cats are all vaccinated when they get their neutering. We redo any vaccines if they are not trap shy after that first go. We do have one "feral" that goes into a trap every time because she just loves food and has no fear of traps so she is easy...actually she's a pain because when we are trying to trap other cats she has to be trapped and transferred and held just so she doesn't interfere in targeted trapping.

Rabies is the one I care the most about because it can be a problem if a cat ever bites anyone and they are not current on rabies vaccination. A lot of owners just assume their sweet cat would never bite but cats that get out of the house and get lost or sick/ injured cats can indeed bite.

There are exceptions to general combo vaccines. We get one cat titered instead of vaccinated because he has a reaction so needs to stay for observation after vaccination (not with rabies vaccination thankfully) but we made that decision with the vet.

Something a lot of people don't know is that vaccines are "good" for X amount of time because that is what the pharma company funded testing for. So for example, rabies vaccinations have the option of a three-year vaccine because there was funding for testing of the vaccine for three years. It is no secret that the vaccines are likely still effective after the three years but since rabies is such a serious health issue there is no room for owners to be lax in vaccination schedule imo.