FAQ
What Vaccinations does my cat need?
The rabies vaccine is required by law in the State of California. We prefer to give the 1-year vaccine because it does not contain the preservatives that have been linked to illness from vaccinations.The other routinely given vaccine for all indoor and outdoor cats is the FVRCP, or Distemper vaccine.If your cat goes outside we also recommend a FeLV, or Feline Leukemia vaccine.All three of these need to be boostered yearly, it has recently been discovered that cats hold a good immunity from the FVRCP vaccine, if your cat has had several as an adult they may be able to go to once every three years.
Why does my cat have such bad breath? What can I do about it?
Cats need regular dental checkups, just like people do! We will look at their teeth during a regular exam, and may recommend a dental cleaning, which we can do for you here at the clinic.There are also some treats and special diets available that may help to clean their teeth. Good dental care can be the key to a long and healthy life for your cat!
Do I really need to treat for fleas in the winter? What should I use?
In our climate, we seldom experience the “good freezes” that kill off fleas in the winter. We recommend a monthly topical flea product; several types are available depending on your situation.We recommend Advantage or Frontline, which also repels ticks, or Revolution, which also protects against mosquitoes, which may carry heartworm.
I give my dog heartworm prevention medicine, do I need to worry about this for my cat too? Yes! A regular, year round heartworm preventative can help protect your cat from this fatal disease. Ask us about your prevention options at your next exam, all medications do require a prescription.You can choose between a monthly oral or topical product.
I just got a new kitten, what needs to be done now?
A young kitten needs a general wellness exam, deworming, and to be FeLV/FIV tested. At 8 weeks of age they can begin their course of vaccines, ending with a rabies vaccine and spay/neuter surgery at 4 months old.
How can I make my cat stop doing that?!?
Don’t play with a kitten with your hands, make sure there is a toy between you and her teeth/claws. If you do get a swipe, stop playing! Uninvited scratching on furniture and rugs can be avoided by providing multiple appropriate scratching surfaces- posts, mats or even the disposable cardboard scratchers. They can be especially appealing if catnip or treats are placed on or around them!
When scratching on your new sofa starts, redirect them to their scratcher- either move them to it, or make loud noises/use the trusty squirt bottle (filled with only water, of course!) Double sided tape or bubble wrap can be a deterrent when used to cover the corners of furniture where scratching occurs.
What do you think about declawing a cat?
We do perform the declaw procedure, and believe that if that is what comes between keeping a cat in a good, indoor home and ending up in a shelter or tossed out side, then it is the best choice. We highly recommend trying some training tricks first (see How can I make my cat stop doing that?!?), and treat declawing as a last resort. If the decision to declaw is made, it is better tolerated, and healing time is shorter in a young kitten than an older cat.