First Time Pet Owner?

First Time Cat Owner?

Having a cat is a great experience, but should not be taken lightly. Being responsible for another life takes much time, patience and a lot of education! As a first time cat owner you may be wondering 'what do I need to know?' Taking charge of your cat's well-being and learning about his or her most essential needs- eating, playing, and staying healthy- are crucial for his quality of life. If you have just brought home your new cat, make an appointment today so we can get you on the right track.

Diet

Cats can grow from fluffy to flabby. It's true: studies show between 25% and 40% of household pets are overweight or obese, leading to obesity-related pet illnesses, skin disease and increased veterinary costs. Start healthy eating habits early by feeding your cat a quality kibble- we recommend Hills, Royal Canin, and Purina Diets. Be sure to ask us about which food is best for your cat. We can help you decide based on your cat's age, weight, and predispositions to disease.

Keep your pet indoors

Help your cat avoid an unwanted trip to the pound or potential injury while running lost. In addition to a comfortable collar or harness with ID tags, cats should receive a microchip. We advise to implant a microchip into your cat at your first visit to our hospital. We can register the microchip information for you. Should your cat become lost, this microchip can be scanned by the local shelter, pound, animal hospital or police who finds him or her and can lead them to find you. Some of your neighbors may be afraid of cats or allergic to cats and cat fights are additional reasons to keep your cat indoors. Also, weather that is too hot or too cold can be dangerous to your cat. Always use a leash if you take your cat out and be certain that the fencing around your home is escape-proof.

Housebreaking and Litterbox Training

Housebreaking is not just for your benefit, it is essential for your cat's health. The number one reason cats and kittens visit the veterinarian? Urinary tract infection. It is serious and causes much discomfort to your cat. There are many techniques for teaching housebreaking and litter box training to your cat. One of our team members can talk with you about your cat's individual needs.

Toys

Take a trip to the pet store and the vast variety of squeaky, cute toys will call out to you, begging to be bought. Beware of toys with small parts, any with metal or those that can be swallowed in part or whole. Never leave cats alone with string toys; accidental ingestion is life-threatening and often requires surgical intervention.

Parasites

Many kittens have worms (intestinal parasites), which can be easily passed to people. This zoonotic potential can be dangerous especially to children, the elderly and immunocompromised people. We will help you be proactive in protecting your whole family. We strongly advise that kittens have several stool samples checked and that adult pets have fecal parasites examinations every 6 months. Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes. Heartworms can shorten a cats life and can drastically decrease the quality of their life. Using a monthly parasite control program is your cat's best hope of keeping parasite free. Once we learn about your cat's lifestyle and environment, we can make the best recommendation for the right protection for your cat against worms, heartworms, fleas and ticks.