PET (mainly cat and dog) Care Information

PET CARE

If man could be crossed with a cat it would improve man, but it would deteriorate the cat" - Mark Twain

Well there was so much on pets and I want to say and put even more so I figured I should put in a separate page for pets. I have lots of info on pet care (especially cat), but I am NOT a veterinarian, or other animal care professional. Keep in mind as you look at this that only a veterinarian that knows your animal will be able to tell you exactly what is best for your animal.

About My Cats!

Now I only have one cat, Siley; she is ten years old. She is torbie colored and has short hair. She meows everytime I pick her up and greets me at the door when I come home. She likes to get up on the shelf above the kitchen sink and bat at my head while I do the dishes. And she LOVES catnip. Just a little whiff makes her roll around on the floor and dart throughout the house. The cute pic ture above is of her.

In General
As you must have guessed by now, I promote taking good care of your pets. To me, my cats are my children. You feed your kids food that is good for them. You take them to the doctor when they are sick. You get them vaccines to prevent them from getting sick. You try your best to make sure they are happy and healthy. You don't give them away when you move or they become too bothersome.

Some Animal Health Musts

  • Estimates vary, but every year anywhere from 5 MILLION to 13 MILLION cats and dogs are euthanized in the United States. On the lower end that is one animal killed every 6.2 seconds, in the United States alone. For every puppy or kitten your animal has, another one is getting "put to sleep" in a shelter somewhere.
  • You and your animal will be happier: Male cats will not "spray" (urine) to mark their territory, your cat will not roam as much, and thus will be safer outside, and really, being in "heat" is very uncomfortable for your animal, so you will eliminate all of these headaches and more.
  • If you want to have one litter to show your kids the miracle of birth or to give your animal a better temperment please reconsider. There is no evidence proving an animal will be calmer or a better animal after having one litter; if any changes occur, evidence seems point to the animal actually becoming more aggressive. And as for the "miracle" of birth, my one experience with a cat giving birth resulted in 2 stillborns, 3 kittens that died before they were two days old, and the death of my beloved Peabody (mama cat). Here is a poem I found. There was no author listed

    The "Miracle" of Birth
    I wonder if those parents
    Who want their child to see
    The miracle of birth
    Would come along with me?
    We'll go to any shelter
    Or pound you care to name
    It really doesn't matter
    As they're all about the same.
    Rows of dogs and cats
    All frightened, their eyes begging
    Won't you please take me?
    Would you parents bring your children
    As this show is quite free
    There'll be ninety put to death today
    As there were only homes for three.

    "There is a direct relationship between allowing your dog or cat have a litter, and the euthanasia totals at the animal shelter" (Animal Lovers Unlimited.) Most vets recommend getting your animal spayed or neutered anywhere from 4 - 9 months of age. Some will do it earlier. Something I want to mention, although it is rare, is that my cat Peabody (mentioned above) had her kittens and died before she turned 6 months old. This means she got pregnant before she was 4 months old (the gestation period for cats is ~64 days). And the vet said she had been pregnant at some point before this too.

    Keep your Pets vaccinations current.

      The main Vaccinations for cats are
    1. FVRCP- (AKA Feline Distemper or 3 in 1) This vaccinates against Calicivirus, Rhinotracheitus, (both upper respitory infections) and Panleukopenia ( a disease comparable to distemper in dogs); and is needed every year. (there is also FVRCP-C available, which also protects against chlamydia)
    2. FeLV- This vaccinates against the Feline Leukemia virus and is also needed every year
    3. Rabies- generally needed every three years
    4. FIP- Vaccinates against Feline Infectious Peritonitus , and is needed every year. This vaccine is in the form of a nose drip instead of a shot, and is not widely used; but is recomended for cats that come in contact with many other cats, such as in shelters, catteries, or foster homes (this is something I did not know until it was too late) .

    P.S. - I have read in ONE source recently which says that research now says that feline vaccinations are only needed every three years (as opposed to every year.) I am not sure what to think of this, having had "vaccinations every year" drilled into me for so long; although the source did seem credable (it was "Veterinary Economics," a magazine published for veterinarians). I have also read another source that recomended vaccines every three years for indoor ONLY cats.

      The main Vaccinations for dogs are
    1. DA2PLP-C -(AKA Distemper or 7 in 1) and is needed every year
    2. Rabies- which is needed every 1 - 3 years depending on the county laws where you live.
    3. Bordetella- this vaccine is in the form of a nose drip instead of a shot and is needed every year, especially if your dog is going to spend any time in a kennel. According to the vaccine companies only one little drop of the liquid has to get in the nose in order to vaccinate fully against the disease (in case you noticed your dog only got a tiny bit of the liquid actually in its nose)
    4. Lyme Disease- I would speak to a veterinarian in your area to determine whether or not to get this vaccine. In our area we reccomend it if the dog goes camping, fishing or hunting (ie: goes to the woods or wilderness)

    Some other important information: