Cat Health Information, Schedules and Resources
They're smart, dedicated, sassy, snuggly and warm. From kittenhood through their adult lives, cats provide unmatched companionship. As the saying goes, either you're a "cat person" or you're not, but if you are then you understand why the love of a cat is that special.
Maintaining a healthy cat requires some special allowances, so here are our top recommendations for keeping your kitty purring strong for many years to come.
To schedule your cat or new kitten appointment, click here or call us at 970.453.0821.
Breckenridge Animal Clinic
11072 Highway 9, Suite #104 | Breckenridge, CO 80424
e. info@breckenridgeanimalclinic.com | p. 970.453.0821
Featured Pet - Captain Hastain
Captain is the three-legged former BAC office cat that was adopted by the office in 2008. Captain was part of a litter of kittens that was abandoned in Dillon. He is missing his right rear leg, we suspect that the litter was attacked by a coyote or fox. Captain kept watch
over the clinic for several months, but after he developed an affinity for scooting out the door to go exploring, we knew he needed a different home (further away from the highway!). Dr. Ed himself took Captain home to live and now he enjoys an adventurous life at Ed's 40-acre property in Fairplay. He spends his days bossing around Ed's two labs Derby and Willow and evenings curled up by the fireplace with his new kitty pal, Star.
Do you want your pet to be the next Pet of the Month? Email us a picture and short bio and they could be!
Schedule of Vaccinations - Kitten
8 weeks:
Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis and Calicivirus (FVRCP)
12 weeks:
Feline Leukemia and second FVRCP
16 weeks:
Rabies, Feline Leukemia and third FVRCP
Be sure to check out our BAC Newsletter for more useful pet health tips!
BAC Services
Some of our services include:
Dentistry
Acupuncture
Digital X-Ray
Emergency Services
Pharmacy & Laboratory
Dietary Consulting
Permanent Identification
To see more visit our Services page
Pet Health Resources
Some of our favorite Pet Health Resources:
To see more visit our Resources page
E-NEWS
Sign Up for our E-newsletter here! Monthly pet health tips & clinic updates.
Cats go Retro
Quick Jump to the Cat Health Information you're looking for!
Caring for Your New Kitten
once every seven or eight years. That is why all cats need twice a year health and wellness check-ups. Wellness check-ups allow your veterinarian to detect, treat and help prevent health related problems early before they become painful and sometimes untreatable.
Vaccinations
To safeguard your pet from potentially serious and sometimes fatal diseases we recommend vaccinations. Cats are vaccinated against:
Feline Enteritis - This is the most common life threatening disease affecting cats. It is a very contagious viral disease with a high death rate especially in cats under 12 months of age. Signs include fever, depression, severe stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration.
Feline Respiratory Disease (Cat Flu) - This is a highly contagious disease. Cats of all age are at risk, especially young kittens, Siamese and Burmese cats. Signs include sneezing, nasal discharge, runny eyes, coughing, loss of appetite and tongue ulcers. This can lead to severe dehydration followed by death.
Feline Chlamydia - Chlamydia is an organism that causes eye disease, predominantly seen in kittens up to 9 months of age. The signs of infection are discharge from the eyes (sticky eye or conjunctivitis) and nose, fever, coughing, respiratory signs, enlarged lymph nodes, inappetence, weight loss and depression. Chlamydia is found in up to 1/3 of cases of conjunctivitis and is transmitted by close and persistent contact between cats.
FIV Feline Immunodeficiency Virus - This blood borne viral infection causes feline AIDS which is potentially fatal. Vaccination is available and will be recommended by our veterinarians if your cat is considered to be at risk. The virus interferes with the immune system and initial symptoms such as fever, sores, lesions and diarrhea progress to severe chronic infections as the immune system is overcome. There is no treatment or cure for the virus itself.
Congratulations on the arrival of your new family member. The following information is provided to help you with all the necessary health care your new kitten will require, including, vaccination, heartworm prevention, flea control, worming nutrition, desexing and microchipping.
Wellness for Life
Did you know pets age around seven times faster than you? Taking your cat to the veterinarian once a year is the same as a person seeing a doctor or dentist
Kitten Health - Vaccinations, Fleas, Desexing, Feeding, Safety
General Cat Health
Your kitten will require a course of three vaccinations:
8 weeks First Vaccination - Temporary
12 Weeks Booster Vaccination
16 Weeks Final Vaccination
One week after the 16th week vaccination your kitten can go outside and socialize with other cats.
FEL-V Vaccination requires a course of 3 vaccinations which can be done at 12 & 16 weeks of age or later in life also. Cats vaccinated for FIV after 6 months will require a blood test prior to vaccination
Adult cats require an annual vaccination booster for life. You will receive a reminder when your cat's yearly vaccination is due.
Heartworm Prevention
Heartworm can affect cats and is spread by mosquitoes. Your kitten can commence heartworm prevention anytime before 16 weeks of age. Heartworm prevention is needed for the lifetime of your pet.
Worming
The most common worms that affect cats are roundworm, hookworm and tapeworm. Worms are a common cause of ill health in pets and can cause signs such as loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea and in severe cases even death.
Kittens should be wormed at 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age, then every 6 - 12 months for life if an outdoor cat.
Flea Control
Fleas are unfortunately an ever present nuisance to our pets. If they exist in the environment they will find a way onto your cat's coat.
Fleas can be prevented easily and effectively with a once a month topical solution. All pets in the household need to be treated. Kittens can be given a topical flea treatment as early as 6-8 weeks of age. Our Veterinary Healthcare team can provide you with more detailed information about effective flea control.
Nutrition - a healthy diet
Getting the correct nutrition as a kitten is very important. Therefore it is highly recommended to feed a high quality commercially available kitten or growth formula. We stock several varieties of premium quality cat foods at our hospital. Milk is unnecessary and can cause diarrhea in those that are lactose intolerant. Clean water must be available at all times.
Neuter & Spay
We strongly recommend neutering or spaying all cats, male and female, between 5 and 6 months of age. As well as reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies, neutering prevents pets from roaming, fighting, spraying and night prowling. Spaying and neutering also reduces cancer in cats.
Microchipping
Microchipping is a permanent form of identification in the form of a tiny chip, which is implanted under the skin. Registration details are kept with Central Animal Records and can be updated by the owner if there is any change in owner details.
Kitten Safety
Please remember for the safety and well being of your cat and other wildlife it is recommended to keep your cat indoors or in an enclosure after sunset.
Your cat should also wear a collar or be microchipped to ensure that they are properly identified.
Vaccinations
To safeguard your pet from potentially serious and sometimes fatal diseases, we recommend vaccinations.
Cats are vaccinated against:
Feline Enteritis
Cat Flu
Feline Chlamydia
FEL-V
General Cat Health Tips - Vaccincations, Heartworm, Worms, Spaying/Neutering and FAQ's
Your cat may require a course of two vaccinations, each one a month apart, to fully protect them from the above diseases.
To protect against FEL-V, we need to do a blood test prior to vaccination to ensure your cat does not have the disease. Vaccination requires a course of 2 vaccinations, which are given 2-4 weeks apart.
Adult cats require vaccination boosters for Feline Enteritis, Flu, Chlamydia and Fel-V every three years for life if indoors and every year if outdoors. Rabies vaccinations for cats are yearly. You will receive a reminder when your cat's yearly vaccination is due.
Heartworm Prevention
Heartworm can affect cats and is spread by mosquitoes. Although heartworm is not prevalent in Summit County, we may recommend heartworm prevention if your animal travels to lower elevations.
Worming
The most common worms that affect cats are roundworm, hookworm and tapeworm. Worms are a common cause of ill health in pets and can cause signs such as loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea and in severe cases even death.
Cats should be wormed every 6-12 months if outdoors.
Flea Control
Although fleas may not be as much of an issue here in Summit County as in other locations, you still may find that your cat picks up fleas during the summer months.
Fleas can be prevented easily and effectively with a once-a-month topical solution.
Nutrition - a healthy diet
To maintain your cat's health and wellbeing he/she must have a balanced diet. The most reliable and convenient way to provide a balanced diet is to feed a high quality prepared cat food. We stock several varieties of premium quality cat foods at our hospital. Cats often prefer to eat several small meals per day but will do equally well if fed one meal at the same time each day. Milk is unnecessary and can cause diarrhea in those that are lactose intolerant. Clean water must be available at all times.
Spay & Neuter
We strongly recommend spaying or neutering all cats, male and female, between 5 and 6 months of age. As well as reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies, this also prevent pets from roaming, fighting, spraying and night prowling. Spaying and neutering also reduces cancer in cats.
Microchipping
Microchipping is a permanent form of identification in the form of a tiny chip, which is implanted under the skin. Registration details are kept with Central Animal Records and can be updated by the owner if there is any change in owner details.
Cat Safety
Please remember for the safety and well being of your cat and other wildlife it is recommended to keep your cat indoors or in an enclosure after sunset.
Your cat should also wear a collar or be microchipped to ensure that they are properly identified.
