Your Cat

Cats are very inquisitive and love to play. They are often more aloof than dogs, but can still be trained and bring joy to our lives through their playful and amusing antics. While cats are more independent, they still need and benefit from your attention. It is sometimes best to have two cats so they can give each other companionship. However, because cats are territorial, more than four or five cats in a household can potentially lead to behavioral problems.

Nutrition plays an important role in your cat's life. We recommend top quality cat foods (i.e. IVD Life Stages, Iams, Science Diet) to provide the nutrients necessary for growth and continued health. These diets have undergone rigorous testing to ensure their quality.

There are many diets available today that claim to promote urinary tract health. Unless your cat has a history of urinary tract disease, we recommend regular cat food. There is a risk of developing other types of problems with these specialized foods.

At an early age, it is important to determine if your cat will be an indoor cat, an indoor/outdoor cat, or an outdoor cat. This decision is important because it will help us to determine the appropriate vaccination schedule for your pet. We encourage you to strongly consider keeping your cat as a strictly indoor pet.

While cats do like to roam outside, they can encounter many dangerous situations outdoors. They can get into fights, developing cat-bite abscesses, and increasing their exposure to disease. They can be hit by cars or attacked by dogs or other wild animals. There is no benefit to roaming other than our own perception that they need to go outside to be happy. Cats will sleep 16 to 18 hours a day and can be very happy indoors as long as they have cat posts and toys to play with. The average life span of a feral cat is less than two years, while an indoor cat's life averages 10 to 11 years.

Cats, like humans, are individuals. Each has a different personality and different requirements in terms of attention, food and "alone" time. Figuring out how to best deal with your new companion is up to you. We can help ensure that you and your cat have a long, happy life together through preventative medicine and annual check-ups.