These feral cats are often actually unaltered pet cats that were released by owners who no longer could care for them. A colony of feral cats can spread diseases to pet cats and dogs in the area. Even when the cats are fairly healthy, they are often infested with fleas. When female cats are in heat, the colony can literally keep people up all night with their fighting and crying. Hungry cats will raid the trashcan and playful kittens will destroy shrubbery and soil lawn furniture.

Besides reducing the number of unwanted kittens, spaying and neutering cats provides several other important benefits. Many people cannot handle the racket caused by a cat in heat. Soon the sound of your female house cat mewling pitifully at the door is joined by the yowling and fighting of every tom cat in the neighborhood. Un-neutered tom cats have a tendency to roam far from home if they are outdoor cats. Both indoor and outdoor tom cats will mark every new object with their odorous spray.

Unaltered cats are also more prone to certain types of cancer than altered cats. These cancers of the reproductive organs are very rare in cats that are altered by one year of age. In addition, unaltered cats can develop several contagious reproductive diseases.

Of course, there is also a downside to altering your cat. Unlike altered dogs, cats that are altered can compete in the show ring. However, if your cat wins a championship, other people may want one of your cat’s kittens and you will not be able to have a litter.

Cats can be altered at quite a young age. Some humane societies will alter kittens as young as eight weeks. However, most veterinarians agree that it is healthier to alter kittens at five to six months, unless they are feral kittens who are trapped to be altered and then released back into their colonies or they are in a home with other unaltered cats.

Neutering is harder on female kittens than male kittens, so if you have both male and female kittens, you may want to neuter the males at a younger age and wait to neuter your females until they are six months old.

Although cats rarely have problems after being neutered, sometimes their incisions become infected. Check your cat once a day to be sure the area has not turned puffy and red. If you notice your cat licking and chewing at the stitches from the surgery, you may need to talk to your veterinarian about using a surgery collar to keep the cat from being able to reach the stitches. In addition, while male cats can be active and bouncy without injuring themselves, female cats will need to be confined indoors for three to five days after the surgery.

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FIP most often strikes young cats or kittens that have been in contact with other cats. Most homes that only have one cat are at less risk of FIV than homes with more than one cat. FIP is contagious, and while it isn’t known for sure, it is believed that the disease is transferred through feces. But since cats tend to groom each other, it may also be spread in this manner as well.

Symptoms of FIP include weight loss, a distended abdomen or chest, anemia, swollen lymph nodes, depression, jaundice, fever, gastrointestinal problems, kidney failure, neurological problems, liver failure, inflamed organs, and pancreatic disease.

While there is no test for FIP, there is a test that can be performed to detect a coronavirus. If your Persian shows any of the above signs, you should have him tested for a coronavirus at your veterinarian’s office. There is also a vaccine that is available for FIP, but not all experts agree that the vaccine is effective enough. In fact, many veterinarians won’t even offer this vaccine.

If you have a Persian that has FIP, the cat is going to pass on, and there is nothing that you can do to prevent this unfortunately. What you can do is try to save your other cats, or at least make the environment safe for a future cat. You need to wash anything that the infected cat has come into contact with, using a disinfectant. Throw out old bedding, food dishes, and toys that the infected cat has come into contact with as well.

Feline Infectious Peritonitis is a tragedy for any Persian cat lover, but it is a part of the world of owning a feline. This is why it is so important that you choose your breeder with care, ensuring that the litter of kittens is healthy. This is also why it is a good idea to keep a new kitten separate from other cats in your home for a while, to ensure that the kitten doesn’t have FIP.

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From the time that they are born, tartar starts to accumulate on the Persians teeth. This tartar will lead to gingivitis if it is not taken care of properly. It is best to start your Persian on a tooth care regimen when he is a small kitten, so that it is something that he becomes accustomed to. This is cleaning that you must do between exams at your veterinarian’s office.

You can actually purchase toothbrushes and toothpastes that are designed for animals, and particularly for cats. Most owners cannot floss their cat’s teeth, but a good brushing every two weeks or so is an absolute must. The toothpaste designed for animals is non-toxic, and can be safely swallowed, so you don’t have to convince the Persian to rinse, which is a relief.

Never use toothpaste designed for humans or any other dental hygiene product designed for humans on your Persian. If you have never brushed cat’s teeth before, ask your veterinarian to show you how to do this.

If your Persian has a bad tooth, he could become very grumpy. His bad tooth will hurt him just as much as a bad tooth would hurt you and everyone knows that the worst kind of pain is tooth pain. If a bad tooth is discovered, the veterinarian will either be able to fix the tooth, or remove the tooth.

You should check your Persian regularly for bad breath. If bad breath exists, this is often a sign that the teeth need to be cleaned. If you already regularly brush your cat’s teeth, take him in for a dental cleaning at your veterinarian’s office. If the bad breath still persists, this is a sign of a more serious problem, such as an infection. It could also be a sign of liver or kidney disease.

Unfortunately, many pet owners, especially cat owners tend to overlook dental care for their animals. The chances are good that you paid a pretty penny for your Persian. Therefore, you really need to put some thought and consideration into his dental hygiene for his comfort, happiness, and general good health.

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You should begin vaccinating your kitten when he is six to eight weeks old. Before this time, his mother’s antibodies have been protecting him from many of the diseases that vaccinations protect against. However, now that he is weaned, he will need to develop his own antibodies.

On your kitten’s first veterinarian visit, your veterinarian will give him a physical examination. He should also complete a fecal exam to be sure your kitten doesn’t have worms. Before your veterinarian vaccinates your kitten, he should do a blood test to be sure the kitten is not already infected with Feline Leukemia.

He may also test for Feline Infectious Peritonitis. The tests do not take long. Your veterinarian will have preliminary results in minutes. If your kitten is not already infected with one of these diseases, your veterinarian will give your kitten his first Feline Leukemia and FIP vaccines if he is at risk for these diseases. An only cat who never leaves his home may not need these two vaccines and your veterinarian may recommend against giving them.

However, your kitten should receive his first FVRCPC vaccine whether he leaves the house or not. This vaccine is actually a combination of several vaccines. FVRCPC protects kittens from rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, panleudopenia and chlamydia.

Your kitten should visit your veterinarian again in two to four weeks, when he is eight to twelve weeks old. At this time, he will get a second FVRCPC vaccine and a second FIP and Feline Leukemia vaccine. If he was wormed during his first visit, he will also receive his second worming. Kittens who are twelve weeks old and spend time outdoors should also receive their first Rabies vaccine at this time.

The third visit to your kitten’s veterinarian should occur when he is ten to sixteen weeks old. During this visit, he will receive his third FVRCPC vaccine. Kittens who were too young to receive their first Rabies vaccine on their second visit should be given the vaccine this time.

Once your kitten has completed his third set of FVRCPC vaccines, he will not need any more injections until he is one year old. At that time, he will need a Rabies and FVRCPC vaccine. As long as the Rabies shot is given within one year of the first Rabies vaccine, it will be good for three years. However, your cat will need to return for a FVRCPC vaccine each year. If your cat received FIP and Feline Leukemia vaccines as a kitten, he will also receive boosters for these shots when he is one year of age.

While vaccines are usually safe, some of them do occasionally have side effects. Feline Leukemia vaccines can actually cause a form of cancer at the injection site. This is the reason most veterinarians do not recommend giving the vaccine to cats who are not at risk. Other vaccines can also occasionally cause tumors at the vaccination site. Many times, the tumor can be removed before it spreads. This side effect is rare enough that the risk of catching a disease without vaccinations is much higher. If you notice a lump develop at the injection site, tell your veterinarian, as these lumps usually are a simple reaction to the injection, but can develop into a tumor.

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As important as it is to hear that it will be your responsibility to understand your cat and decipher the signals that he or she may be sending you, you may be wondering why. Many pet owners often respond with something like ‘what the heck?’ If you are a new pet owner or a first-time pet owner, you may not understand just how much your cat relies and depends on you.

As for why it is important to understand your cat, doing so can be important to his or her health. We humans are able to speak and seek medical attention when we develop a cold or suffer a debilitating injury. Pets, on the other hand, cannot do so. Just because your cat doesn’t outright tell you that she needs to go the vet, it doesn’t mean that a visit isn’t in order.

If you suspect that your cat is suffering from a medical problem, whether it be an injury or an illness, you will want to seek professional help right away. Schedule a visit with your veterinarian. The sooner you do so, the quicker you can understand what is bothering your cat. If you must make your cat’s appointment an emergency appointment, especially if he or she seems to be suffering.

Speaking of suffering, many new cat owners wonder how they can tell when their pet is feeling ill or has suffered an injury that may not be noticeable to the human eye. Whether you have only had your cat a week or five years, you should already start to notice habits that he or she has. These habits may include greeting you when you walk into a room or sleeping in the same spot. If these habits change, it may be due to an injury that is difficult to see or a medical illness.

In addition to knowing when your cat may be ill, understanding when your cat is hungry is also important. Some pet owners will always leave food out for their pets. This is doable; however, there may be some negative consequences. For instance, your cat may eat too much and develop an obesity problem. Bug and other rodents can be attracted to your pet’s food, especially wet canned food, regardless of how clean your home is.

For that reason, look for signs that your cat may be hungry. Many cats will approach their empty food dish and start to cry out. Others, may take steps to get human food or the food of other pets in the home. Of course, you also don’t have to let it get that far. Creating a set feeding schedule for your cat has a number of benefits.

Despite the fact that deciphering your cats every move may seem like an impossible task, it really isn’t. Although your cat will have his or her own distinctive attitudes, you may be surprised just how similar cats occasionally react like humans. When upset or frustrated, your cat may retreat to their own special spot. When hungry, your cat may call out for food. When your cat is excited, you should be able to tell right away, as he or she will likely be more active than usual.

The above mentioned reasons are just a few of the many why it is important for you to learn how to understand your cat. If you are looking for helpful tips, consider speaking to your veterinarian. There are also multiple book and online websites that are designed to help new pet owners develop a close and healthy relationship with their cats. Having an attentive and close relationship with your cat is the first step in understanding their wants and needs.

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