Cool Cat Summer Care & Tips from Anchor Vet in Dartmouth, MA
Everyone’s talking about the “hot girl summer” trends, but what about tips and ideas for keeping your cool cat happy and well-cared for this season? There are plenty of ways that pet owners can take care of their cats during the summer – and lots of issues that you might not be aware of that could pose a potential danger to your favorite furry friend. Individual concerns, such as a cat not using the litter box suddenly or keeping up with vaccinations, should be brought to the attention of your Anchor vet in Dartmouth, MA. At Anchor Animal Hospital, we provide a wide range of veterinary check-ups, treatments, and care options to address the needs of our Southcoast patients. Whether you are concerned about tick season in Massachusetts or want to know about cat scratch fever symptoms, you can count on our team to help you stay on top of everything that matters most.
Vaccinations & Preventive Treatments
One way to make sure that your feline friend has everything they need to thrive this summer is to take time to go over their current vaccinations and preventive treatments. During the first year, a new kitten will receive many different shots for things like rabies, feline distemper, and feline leukemia and get checked for internal parasites. Many consider these vaccines to be preventive treatments for some of the most common and, in many cases, deadly diseases known to impact housecats. Tick season in Massachusetts is no joke, and these nasty parasites can impact not just our cats and dogs but also humans. Fleas, ticks, and heartworm should all be checked and addressed through preventive treatments at your Anchor vet in Dartmouth, MA.
Most of the common diseases that impact your cat’s health can be prevented through proper testing, vaccination, and the provision of preventive treatments. Feline retroviral testing for feline leukemia and feline AIDS is very serious and can be transmitted through contact with blood, saliva, or bodily fluids. Early testing of kittens and adult testing of older cats can help to stop the spread of disease to your other pets, as well as to humans, in some cases. Toxoplasma gondii causes the disease known as toxoplasmosis and is caused by a single-celled parasite that can be found in litter boxes and outdoors in gardens, children’s sandboxes, and in potting soil. Outdoor cats can be exposed when they hunt and kill small animals, and an infected cat can shed the parasite in their feces for up to three weeks the first time they get infected. This parasite can spread to humans and cause serious illnesses, as well.
Behavioral Issues & Health Concerns
Sometimes a pet’s behavior is not just annoying or frustrating but a sign of a health condition. If your cat is not using the litter box all of a sudden, it could be a symptom of disease. Contact our local Anchor vet in Dartmouth, MA to find out more or to schedule a veterinary check-up. Sometimes litter box issues are more about the brand of litter, the type of box, or the placement and number of boxes. Even seemingly small changes to the cat’s environment might be the cause of the cat not using the litter box. Medical conditions, stress, and other issues that you might not even notice could be the reason why your cat is choosing to go outside of the box – even after years of proper training and use.
Another common issue that pet parents need to be aware of is a disease that can come from contact with other cats. Rabies is a chief concern, but so is cat scratch fever. An infected cat typically gets the disease after being bitten or scratched by another cat – something that is common amount outdoor pets. Humans who contract the disease may see cat scratch fever symptoms, such as a scratch or bite that does not heal, a red area around a scratch or bit that gets bigger for more than two days after the injury, or a fever that lasts for several days after a cat scratch or bite. If you have concerns that your cat may have cat scratch fever or any other disease, seek veterinary assistance and medical help for anyone who has symptoms after coming in contact with your pet. You can reach Anchor Animal Hospital by calling 508-996-3731 to schedule an appointment or speak with one of our team members.