Here at North Cobb Animal Clinic we recommend that all cats be tested for Feline Leukemia and FIV before introducing them to your household. All outdoor cats should be vaccinated against Feline Leukemia every year to keep them protected. We offer a new transdermal vaccine for Feline Leukemia which is much safer than the traditional, injectable vaccine. We also use a Rabies vaccine that is specially formulated for cats only. We do not neccesarily recommend Feline Leukemia for indoor only cats unless they are exposed to other cats in the household who do go outside, we strive to not over vaccinate our patients against diseases that they are not likely to be exposed to.

• If you have just adopted a new kitten, it is best to bring him/her to your vet before introducing them to your household. We recommend that you let one of our doctors examine your new kitty to check for disease, illness, fleas and intestinal parasites. Our staff is always more than happy to provide you with all the information you need about proper care, diet and all the things you need to know about the new addition to your family.

• Feline Leukemia and FIV are untreatable viruses that cats can get from close contact with infected cats; this is why you should always have your cat tested before introducing them to your household. Unfortunately there is no cure for either one of these diseases so it is very important that your keep your cat protected by vaccinating him/her against Feline Leukemia if they are exposed to other cats who go outdoors. Not all cats show signs or symptoms of Feline Leukemia but are still carriers of the disease, that is another reason we recommend you test all new cats coming into your home no matter how healthy they appear to be on the outside.

• We recommend that you spay/neuter all cats in your household as early as 6 months of age to prevent spraying and unwanted litters

• Our doctors can also help with minor behavioral problems such as inappropriate urination/defecation.

• Outdoor cats very commonly get absesses from fighting with other neighborhood kitties so always check your pet for areas of swelling, lethargy, limping or loss of appetite. If you suspect that your cat has been in a fight or has an absess, bring him/her to your vet immediately. Left untreated, sometimes these wounds can become serious and may require surgery. When caught early they can usually be treated with just a simple round of antibiotics.

• All cats like to play with strings and yarn, although you might think it's cute to watch your kitty having a good time these objects can be very dangerous to your pet. Cats can swallow the string and it can become lodged in the digestive tract and requires surgery to be removed. Left untreated it can be fatal. So keep your kitty away from strings, yarn or tattered rugs.

• Senior cats require special care, our doctors are always happy to answer your questions and help you do what's best for your old friend in their "golden years". A yearly blood panel can be very helpful in monitoring your cats organ functions which can detect certain diseases in their early stages.

• We also carry licensed 3-year vaccines for our patients who have an adequate vaccine history. We are finding now through research that the duration of some vaccines is longer than 1 year as previously thought. That is why we recommend 3-year vaccine protocol, especially for our senior patients. Feel free to ask a member of our veterinary staff for more information and see if your cat is a good candidate for a 3-year protocol.

• Many people are unaware that cats can get heartworms too. We carry heartworm prevention for cats as well as dogs so talk to your veterinarian about heartworm disease and what you can do to make sure that your pet is protected against this deadly parasite.

• Kittens under 6 weeks of age are NOT to be vaccinated

• The Rabies vaccine can ONLY be given at 3 months of age or older

• 6-11 weeks- FVRCP (feline distemper vaccine) ONLY- FVRCP boostered every 3-4 weeks until approx. 12 weeks of age

• 12-15 weeks- FVRCP and Feline Leukemia (if needed)- Feline Leukemia vaccine needs to be boostered 1 month later

• 1 year- Give standard 1-year FVRCP, Rabies and Feline Leukemia (if needed) vaccines

• 2 years and up- Talk with your veterinarian about a 3-year vaccination protocol- 3-year FVRCP and Rabies

• We generally recommend deworming all kittens at every booster visit and all cats every year with their yearly vaccines. Routine deworming will keep your cat healthy and free from intestinal parasites.

• In general we like to tailor your cat's vaccines to their age, vaccine history and lifestyle