Did you know we love cats?
We have dedicated one of our examination rooms entirely to cats! That means no dogs, and no dog smells…
Between our vets empathetic, caring manner, and the added help of feline pheromones, your feline friend is sure to have a calm and peaceful experience with us here at Daisy Hill Vet. When you arrive at the clinic, we welcome you to wait in the consultation room, giving your cat a chance to calm down, get out of its carrier and get a feel for the situation.
The vets and nurses are experienced in behavioral handling techniques and will treat your cat with the respect it deserves. Minimal restraint works well for many cats if given the time to adapt to the situation at hand. We aim not to rush any procedure with a cat and to do as much as possible in the cat examination room.
Whatever your cat needs, we can provide, with our cat-friendly staff.
VACCINATION
We routinely vaccinate with a F3 which provides protection against Herpesvirus, Calicivirus (Cat Flu) and Feline Enteritis. These are all common diseases and virus’s that a kitten/cat can contract making them very ill. Vaccinations are an essential part of kitten care.
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) – an optional but a recommended vaccine. This is a vaccine that can be started with the kitten vaccines. FIV is an infectious virus that causes Feline AIDS, a disease for which there is no cure. Healthy cats contract the infection through being bitten or scratched by an FIV positive cat.
When should this be done?
1st F3 +/- FIV at 6 – 8 weeks of age
2nd F3 +/- FIV at 10 -12 weeks of age
3rd F3 +/- FIV at 14 -16 weeks of age
A YEARLY BOOSTER is required to maintain immunity.
WORMING
Roundworm, Hookworm, and Tapeworm all are common intestinal worms.
Spirometra – is a tapeworm that we see in cats who hunt lizards, frogs and insects. It may cause vomiting, weight loss and ill thrift – we need to use three times the usual tapeworm dose for this one.
Worm fortnightly from 2 to 12 weeks of age, then monthly up to 6 months of age, then every three months for life.
We recommend:
MILBEMAX – an allwormer in a small palatable tablet
REVOLUTION – topically along with a tapeworm tablet (Popantal)
HEARTWORM
The incidence of heartworm in cats was recently found to be about 1% in Southeast Queensland. Diagnosis and treatment is very difficult in cats. Clinical signs vary from bronchitis-like symptoms to sudden death. Prevention of this potentially fatal disease is easy.
We recommend:
REVOLUTION – a monthly spot on – covers heartworm, fleas, ear mites and roundworm and hookworms.
MILBEMAX – small palatable tablet given monthly to cover heartworm
DESEXING
This can be done from 4-6 months of age. Female cats can come into season as early as four months of age and are highly fertile!! Desexing will help control problems such as fighting, spraying, roaming and unwanted litters.
Please see our benefits of desexing your pet handout
FLEAS
Only 5% of fleas live on your pet. 95% live in your carpet, floorboards, furniture, bedding and yard! It is very important to provide continuous flea control for your cat, to maintain a clean environment and prevent flea infestation.
Remember – all animals in the household must be treated for control to be effective!!
We recommend:
REVOLUTION – once a month topical treatment, which also covers heartworm and worming (minus tapeworm)
COMFORTIS – once a month tablet
TICKS
Ticks can be a real and life-threatening problem all year round. If you are in a known tick paralysis area, you can use Frontline spray fortnightly. Check your cat over by hand each day and remove any ticks found. Try to pull off without squashing the tick too much. It doesn’t matter if the ‘head’ is left behind. A vet check is recommended to check for any signs of tick paralysis
MICROCHIPPING
If cats are not confined, they are likely to roam and may be lost or impounded. If your cat has identification, its chances of being reunited with your family are much higher. A collar and tag are very important but may be lost – a microchip is there for life.
FEEDING
The type, quantity and frequency of food will vary greatly with the age and activity level of your cat. Feed kitten food until at least until 12 months of age. Commercial kitten foods provide a very balanced diet for your pet. We recommend premium quality foods such as Hill’s Science diet, Royal Canin and Advance.
TRAINING
Train from an early age to use litter trays, come when called and use a scratching post instead of your furniture. You should approach training one step at a time, continually rewarding desired actions and giving no encouragement to bad behavior. We can offer advice and handouts on behavior problems in your cat. Behavioral consultations are also available here at the clinic, for any problems you may be having throughout your cats life.
GROOMING
We provide professional grooming Monday to Friday. This includes bathing, brush outs, full body clips. We also provide sedation under our veterinarians care for those cats who get stressed and are difficult to handle.
