How Does Your Kitten Become a Cat?

Posted by Jeanne on December 26, 2008

If you aren’t sure what to expect with your cat, here are a few bits of information that will help prepare you as your cat grows from a kitten to a full-grown cat. Within the first month, your kitten will begin getting his baby teeth. At two months old, a kitten can be fully weaned from his mother. That is why it is important not to purchase a kitten until he is six to eight weeks old.

Between six and twelve weeks, you will need to take your kitten into the veterinarian for his vaccinations, other shots, and regular checkups to make sure the kitten is doing well. At three months, you can look forward to taking your kitten to the veterinarian for his rabies shot in certain states.

After that, anywhere between three and seven months, your kitten will begin to get his permanent teeth. The next step will depend largely on whether you have a male or female kitten. For females, the time to spay is anywhere between six and eight months.

For males, you are looking to neuter them between eight to twelve months. If you are not in one of those states that requires a rabies shot at three months, then between four and twelve months you will need to get your kitten in for his rabies shot. Between six months and two years old, your cat will need various booster shots to keep him current with regulations and for health reasons. Once your kitten hits the twelve-month mark, he stops being a kitten and becomes a grown cat.

Whether you are someone who believes in vaccinations or not, they are extremely important to the health and well being of your cat. Just as with humans, there are certain viruses that can attack a cat’s system if they are not properly protected. Even if your cat never goes outside, he still interacts with whoever comes into your home and whatever germs that they are carrying. It is really easier to take your cat to the veterinarian for their vaccinations instead of dealing with all of the bills that come from a sick cat. Ask your doctor about any vaccinations that your cat may need and have them explain them to you if you have any concerns.

Another major decision when having a cat is the question of whether or not you are going to have your cat spayed or neutered. For those who plan to breed their cats, this is not a major concern. However, for those who don’t have any plans to breed should strongly consider these options to avoid a lot of complications down the road.

Not only are you protecting your cat from contributing to a litter of kittens that weren’t exactly in the cards, but you might avoid a lot of behaviors that occur when a male or female is fertile. When a male or female cat is not spayed or neutered, they may demonstrate such behaviors as urination, spraying, and having to deal with a female’s heat cycles.

Spaying refers to a female cat in which the cat’s reproductive organs are removed to eliminate any chance of having kittens. By spaying your female cat you will have a more relaxed, active, and happy cat. Neutering refers to the removal of a male cat’s reproductive organs. Again, he will not be able to reproduce. You also will find that he is not as aggressive as when he was unneutered.

How to Protect Your Cat’s Health

Posted by Jeanne on December 23, 2008

Before you decide to take on any kind of pet, you need to understand that different breeds of cat are susceptible to different health issues. Even if it seems like you have a healthy cat in the beginning, it is possible that he will be diagnosed with some sort of disease or health-related issue as he gets older.

There are precautions that you can take as a cat owner to protect your cat’s health and well being:

• Make sure that all harmful plants are removed from the area where your cat lives. Some plants can be poisonous when a cat chews on them.
• Cats can suffer from diabetes. Some people might find it strange that humans and cats can share the same illnesses, but it is quite common for a cat to be diagnosed with diabetes. If you suspect this from your cat, you should definitely call your veterinarian for further measures.
• You might not be aware that certain medications can be hazardous to your cat if not taken correctly or with the right medication.
• If there is anything that sparks your concern, such as if your cat acts listless, has yucky stuff coming from his eyes or nose, or if he looks like he isn’t eating (even though you know he is), you should trust your instincts and contact your veterinarian with your concerns.
• If you notice that there starts to be a buildup in your cat’s ears, he might have ear mites. If this is the case, your veterinarian will be able to instruct you on the best way to treat this and prescribe medication.
• Do not let your cat play with yarn or string. All can be fun and games until your cat swallows it, and then it becomes a serious matter. If such an instance occurs, you need to contact your veterinarian. It might help to know that white petroleum jelly helps to coat the stomach so that the string or yarn can get out of your cat’s tummy with little harm.