The following information is NOT intended to diagnose or cure any ailment your cat may be having. This is only general information.
ALWAYS take your cat to see a veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment.
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We recommend that you take your cat see a veterinarian for a physical exam every year, and twice a year for cats older than 7 years.
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Even if vaccines are not due, many problems that are not immediately noticeable could be caught early and treated during routine exams.
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About Us
Cat Care
Fun Stuff
- Amazing Cat Stories
- Ted goes home after 10 years thanks to microchip.
- China survives month long journey in a cargo container 3000 miles away, 7 years later
- Cheyenne found in San Francisco.
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Fun Recipe
Cat Litter Cake Recipe
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Q. What & When to vaccinate?
A. Prevention of infectious diseases is one of the most important steps you can take to keep your cat illness free. There are several vaccines that are available for felines. Different vaccines are appropriate for different cats depending on their age and lifestyle. Talking to your veterinarian is the best way to determine which vaccines are best for your cat. Here is a is a list of the most common vaccines available and how often they need to be given.
Rabies Vaccine: Is required by law for all cats (both indoor and outdoor). Once an initial one year vaccine is given, it needs to be boosted every 3 years. Some vaccines are only labeled for one year, so consult your veterinarian on this matter.
FVRCP: Commonly referred to as the distemper vaccine. Prevents several different upper respiratory viruses, and panleukopenia, that without vaccination can be fatal. Should be boosted yearly in all cats (both indoor and outdoor).
FeLV: Prevents feline leukemia. This usually lethal disease is contracted by intimate contact with other infected cats. Cats that go outside and those living in multi-cat households should be vaccinated yearly after an initial series of 2 vaccines 3 to 4 weeks apart is given.
FIP: Helps prevent feline infectious peritonitis. This disease is always fatal, typically within 6 months of showing signs of infection. There is still a lot unknown about this complex disease and the vaccine, which is given intranasally, is estimated to be about 50% efficacious. The vaccine protocol is the same as for the FeLV vaccine.
FIV: Helps prevent feline immunodeficiency virus, commonly referred to as feline AIDS. Is a new vaccine and you should see your veterinarian to see if is appropriate for your cat.
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Q. Can vaccines cause cancer?
A. It has been found that a higher number of fibrosarcomas (which are a type of tumor) occur at vaccine injection sites. The overwhelming majority of vaccine-associated tumors are associated with rabies and feline leukemia vaccines. It should be understood that most sarcomas ARE NOT associated with vaccines, and those that are associated are infrequent (estimates are about 1 in 10,000), but it is still a big concern. A small, hard, painless lump does commonly form immediately after an injection. This lump is almost always inconsequential. Rarely however, it develops into a sarcoma. Tell your veterinarian about any lumps that occur and discuss what procedure you should follow.
That these sarcomas are rare does not mean that owner should forego all vaccines. The diseases that vaccines prevent are much more common than sarcomas. You should discuss all your concerns with your veterinarian so you are comfortable with everything your cat receives. However, be reassured that extensive research is being done in this area. for more information visit the website of The Vaccine-Associated Feline Sarcoma Task Force's website at www.avma.org/vafstf.
At the Scratching Post Cat Hospital, we only use high quality vaccines that have a track record of causing ZERO fibrosarcomas. We feel that your cats' health is worth much more than a few dollars of margin for us. Be rest assured that we only have your cats' best interest at heart.
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Q. I just adopted a cat. What should I do now ?
A. Whether your cat came from the streets, a friend or a shelter, make sure she has been tested for Feline Leukemia. If you have other cats in the home, your new cat should be kept away from your current cats until it has been tested and treated for any possible parasites.
If you have no medical records on your new cat, take her to your vet right away to be tested for Feline Leukemia. This is a simple test that only takes 15 minutes and cost very little. A thorough exam by your vet will show if your new cat needs any treatment for parasites or to be spayed/neutered. Your new cat should be started on vaccinations as well to be protected from all sorts of ailments. If you live in Montgomery County, it is county law to vaccinate your cat against Rabies. Depending on whether your cat goes outside or not, your vet will recommend the appropriate vaccines and advise you from there.
Thinking of adopting a cat ?
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Q. When to neuter/spay/declaw?
A. We prefer cats to be at least 4 lbs of weight for them to undergo anesthesia safely. Kittens generally attain that weight around 4 months of age.
Spays/Neuters should be done as soon as possible. Prolonging the procedure could result in a female cat going into heat (which increases her chances of breast cancer later in life) and undesirable urinating/spraying outside of the litterbox by either gender.
We always recommend a pre-anesthetic blood test on a cat before anesthesia. This blood test checks for liver and kidney function, organs that are vital in processing anesthesia. If the test results show any abnormality, we may opt to use IV Fluids, use a different type of anesthesia or postpone the surgery/procedure. For cats older than 7 years, this test is mandatory. Though this test is an option for younger cats, it can never be assumed that their kidneys and liver will perform perfectly even if they seem absolutely healthy and active.
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Q. Inappropriate urination
A. Cats urinate or defecate outside their box for either behavioral or medical reasons. An unneutered male and unspayed female tend to be more agressive in marking their territory by urinating outside the litterbox. Spaying/Neutering these cats often curbs this behavior.
Always the first thing to do, if your cat is acting his usual self (not crying or acting even the least bit abnormally) is to make sure you clean your litter box daily, and have at least one litterbox per cat. Cats are very clean animals, and they enjoy a dirty litterbox no more than you enjoy a public outhouse. Dump all the litter out and bleach the box thoroughly every 2-4 weeks. Cats can smell things we can't.
If the problem persists, it is very important to rule out a medical cause before assuming it is behavioral. Bringing your cat to your veterinarian for a urine check is the only way to be sure he does not have a urinary problem. Some common symptoms of a urinary tract disorder (referred to as FLUTD, feline lower urinary tract disease, or sometimes by the older term FUS) are: straining in the litter box, urinating in unusual places, crying while trying to urinate, frequent urination, and blood in the urine. There are several known causes and some unknown causes, making this often a frustrating problem to deal with. If left untreated, the result can be a complete blockage of the urethra (the tube leading from the bladder to the outside), with quick fatal consequences. Blockage is almost exclusive to male cats because their urethra is narrower.
Whether the problem turns out to be behavioral or medical, you and your vet can work together to alleviate the problem. Talk to your vet about the appropriate steps to take to diagnose your cat's particular cause.
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Q. Why is veterinary care for my pet(s) so expensive these days ? Sometimes I believe I'm spending more on my pet's health care than on my own. (Provided by the AAHA)
A. Relatively speaking, veterinary care is a great deal. The cost of veterinary care has actually risen very little during the last 20-30 years. When compared to the rising cost of human health care, pet care is not at all unreasonable.
Bear in mind that your veterinarian is not only your pet's general physician, but also its surgeon, radiologist, dentist, neurologist, opthalmologist, psychiatrist, ears/nose/throat doctor, and pharmacist.
Your veterinary bill is a reflection of the costs of maintaining suitable facilities, equipment, and support personnel to provide the level of care that is expected in animal medicine today. Remember too that the original cost of the animal has no bearing on the cost of the services rendered.
Although it may feel as if you are paying more for your pet's health care than your own, chances are that you probably have adequate health care insurance for your own needs. Consequently, you may never see the total bottom-line figure for your own doctor bills. When human health care costs are added up - including insurance, deductibles, and pharmaceutical costs, there is no comparison to the much lower veterinary care costs.
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Q. Why can't veterinarians advise, diagnose or prescribe over the phone and save me a whole lot of time and money?. (Provided by the AAHA)
A. Not only is it unethical and illegal to prescribe for an animal that hasn't been physically examined by a veterinarian, it is also impossible to come up with an accurate diagnosis and rational plan of treatment.
A veterinarian cannot make a diagnosis based only on symptoms observed and described by an owner. Your pet cannot verbalize its symptoms, and the outward signs may be an indication of any number of internal causes with a wide variety of clinical treatments. A complete physical examination is required to determine the cause of the symptoms and the best course of treatment.
Asking a veterinarian to advise, diagnose and/or prescribe over the phone/e-mail is the same as asking your physician to prescribe medications for you over the phone/e-mail without ever examining you. If you were told to take an antacid for what turned out to be a heart attack, the results would obviously be disastrous! Your pet deserves more consideration.
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Q. Accepted forms of Payment
A. Payment is due at the time of services. We accept Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard and Discover. Billing options and monthly payments are not available at this time.
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