Attention All Cat Owners

Spring time is a dangerous time of year for cats. It's cat breeding season and even if your cat is desexed they will be still potentially suffer as a result. Here is how.

During breeding season cats will be very territorial whether they are desexed or not. On top of that male cats will try to establish new territories. This means that your everyday household pet will suffer territorial stress. That might mean fighting or it might mean hiding under a bed. Either way it can be a stressful time of year for a cat.

This stress can lead to behavioural problems, the most common of which is marking their territory with urine. For inside cats that can make them very unpopular and it is a problem that can be difficult to fix.

If your cat isn't desexed now is the time to do it... and fast.

Feline AIDS (FIV) is similar to human AIDS  but is transmitted through bite wounds. Unlike HIV there is a vaccination against it.

About 15% of cats have FIV, so it is quite common. The cat population of Goulburn has in incidence of FIV of about 30%. We did a study a few months ago where we offered free FIV testing and found that FIV was uncommon in our population of cats.

Fighting also leads to infections and abscesses, many of which need surgery.

Check list for Spring:

                        -Keep your cat inside at night. This is when most fights occur.

                        -Vaccinate against FIV

                        -Talk to your vet about ways to distress your cat. Feliway pheromones are a simple, effective

                           way of getting your cat to chill out

                        -Desex