Author: Chewy Editors

Cat vaccines have been an integral part of preventive health care programs for several decades. No other medical development has been as successful as vaccination in controlling deadly diseases in cats. Cat vaccinations can be divided into two broad categories: core vaccines, those recommended for all cats; and non-core vaccines, those that may or may not be necessary, depending on the cat’s lifestyle and circumstances. Currently, vaccines against cat panleukopenia, cat herpesvirus, cat calicivirus and cat rabies fall into the core vaccine category. The most commonly used vaccine against panleukopenia, herpesvirus and calicivirus is a multivalent vaccine: it contains viral antigens for several diseases together in the same dose, and is commonly abbreviated as the “FVRCP” vaccine. The rabies vaccine is usually a monovalent vaccine. It contains viral antigens for one virus: the rabies virus. Vaccines against feline leukemia virus (FeLV), feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), ringworm (a skin fungus), Chlamydophila (a respiratory pathogen, formerly called Chlamydia) and Bordetella (another respiratory pathogen) are considered to be non-core. Some of the non-core vaccines have questionable efficacy for your cat’s health and are not generally recommended. For your totally indoor cats, I recommend the FVRCP and the rabies vaccine. Although you referred to these vaccines as yearly, some of these vaccines are not necessarily required annually. The FVRCP vaccine has been shown to confer immunity for at least three years, so vaccinating your cats with this vaccine any more frequently is probably unnecessary. Cat rabies vaccines are available as 1-year vaccines and 3-year vaccines. Check with your cat’s veterinary office to see exactly which of your cats are due for vaccinations, and see if you need vaccines for indoor cats. Only a few of them might be due for vaccinations. Keep in mind that during the vaccination visit, your cat is also receiving a good physical examination, and this is necessary to keep cats healthy. Regular veterinary examinations allow illnesses to be detected early, when treatment is likely to be less expensive and more effective, so consider packing your cat in a cat carrier and visiting the vet.,Q:

Getting a kitten is a special time in a household. Whether the cat is a Siamese, a Maine Coon, a Ragdoll, a Persian, a Bengal or a mixed- or unknown-breed, you want to make sure you’re raising a kitten properly. The first few months are a crucial time in shaping your kitten’s emotional and physical well-being. Not sure how to raise a kitten? Here are seven things to do when raising a kitten.

The Imagine This Company “It’s Not a Home Without” Wood Labrador Sign is the perfect Labrador-inspired sign to hang to represent how much love your home shares on Valentine’s Day, and every day!,Does your valentine have fur and four paws? What about a bark or a purr? If you plan on spending Valentine’s Day with your furry family members, then you’ll love these Valentine’s Day messages for pets. These pet-themed Valentine’s Day sayings will have any pet lover feeling all warm and fuzzy inside—just in time for Valentine’s Day! And don’t forget to show your pet just how much you love them with a toy or treat from our Valentine’s Day Gift Guide.

The crazy days of being a cat probably occur during adolescence, from about 7 months old to 2 years old. Cute kittenhood is behind these cats, and the routine days of adulthood are yet to come. Although cats don’t frequently suffer from diarrhea, I’ve seen it strike cats of all ages during my more than 20 years as a veterinarian. And young, adolescent cats are not immune. I’m currently chief of staff at the Animal House Of Chicago, and I’ll never forget this one young cat named Spike. Spike’s diarrhea was a result of his eating indoor houseplants that — although not toxic — resulted in chronic, intestinal irritation and diarrhea. We treated Spike for the diarrhea, and the owners decided that they loved him more than their plants. The plants found a new home and Spike no longer had bouts of diarrhea. Diarrhea occurs for many reasons. Young cats develop diarrhea for many of the same reasons that kittens do, namely from dietary indiscretion, change of food or parasites. In my experience, the most common reason for a young cat to develop diarrhea is because he ate something inappropriate. Young cats can’t help being inquisitive, so that rubber band on the floor looks like it might be tasty. And that plant’s leaves look tasty, too. Ingesting any foreign material could cause gastrointestinal upset or worse. Determining the cause of your young cat’s diarrhea gives you and your veterinarian the best chance to prevent it from happening again. Overactive thyroid, food allergies, renal failure, cancer, poisoning (from houseplants, rat poison, human medications, etc.), parasites, and infectious disease (among other things) can all result in diarrhea. Obtain veterinary assistance if the cause isn’t apparent or it is an ongoing problem. A food with fewer allergens or treatments for a disease might reduce or eliminate the diarrhea.