Prevention is better than cure
By Loretta Ann Soosayraj
Malay Mail, 19 Oct 2003

SO you’ve got a new baby… a little kitten which has become the latest addition to your family. A lovely creature that will become a big part of your life.
 

To him, you owe the responsibility of ensuring he is given adequate care, food and shelter. But what does care really mean? Does it only encompass the basics, or does it go well beyond that?
 

Caring for a pet is a major responsibility and one of the most important thing in pet-care is visits to the veterinarian.
 

This is what preventative healthcare is all about --- to make sure he doesn’t fall sick in the first place.
 

Before you bring your kitten home from the pet store or animal shelter, take him to the vet first. Check for any congenital defects such as neurological problems or heart murmurs.
 

Your vet will advise you on the proper nutritional needs of your young pet.
 

Remember that its needs will change as it grows. An adult cat’s dietary requirements are different from that of a kitten’s. And if it has a particular condition, it may need “ a little more of this” and “ a little less of that”.
 

Discuss with your vet on the right time to neuter it as well. As your cat matures, neutering can not only eliminate some potential behavioral problems, but it reduces the risk of your cat developing serious hormone-related diseases.
 

Pay attention to your cat’s behaviour. If you notice loss of appetite, coughing or sneezing fits, pawing at eyes or ears, abnormal urination or defecation, vomiting, lethargy or signs of pain, contact your veterinarian immediately.
 

Vaccinations are vital if you want a happy, healthy cat. Your vet will sort out the vaccination schedule for your pet.
 

Annual shots can protect your pet from:

·         Feline Panleukopenia Virus
With symptoms of fever, anorexia, vomiting and diarrhoea, kittens can even die from this virus. Transmission occurs from direct contact, insect bites and exposure to objects that have been in contact with infected cats.

·         Feline Calcivirus
Signs include sneezing, ulcers in the mouth, discharge from the eyes or nose and pneumonia.
The virus is spread by secretions from the eyes, nose and throat. Your kitten can catch it from direct contact with an infected cat or indirect exposure to objects that have been in contact with an infected cat.

·         Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis
With this disease, kittens are more severely affected than older cats. Signs include sneezing, nasal discharge, watery or inflamed eyes and coughing.

·         Rabies
This is a serious disease. It can lead to death, and it can be transmitted to humans.
Cats can be infected by a bite from an infected animal, by eating infected tissue, from the mother cat (during pregnancy), and even by virus aerosolisation (such as when a rabid bat flies through a room). Infected cats may show jaw and limb paralysis, aggression, anorexia, fever and lethargy.

·         Feline Leukeamia Virus
A common infectious disease, transmitted between cats by saliva when grooming each other or through bites.
Infection may result in immune suppression, bone marrow suppression and neoplastic syndromes.

·         Feline Infectious Peritonitis
This disease usually infects very young and very old cats. If your cat comes into contact with many other cats, ask your veterinarian about vaccination.
The disease is spread by close contact, and may result in fever, lethargy, weight los, difficulty in breathing, as well as liver and kidney problems.

Talk to your vet about what is best for your pet.