Recommendations for keeping cats.
 

Nutrition.

A balanced diet in accordance with individual needs is the main criterion for the health of each pet.

This balance can be achieved by any of the three food options described below:

⦁ Commercial food (dry food and/or canned food). This option is the most convenient, as it does not require the owner to spend a lot of time preparing food and assessing its balance. Today, the market offers a large number of high-quality feeds for different breeds and age categories.

The feed manufacturer is responsible for controlling the composition and quality of the products.

⦁ Homemade diet. As a rule, it consists of meat, fish, cereals, vegetables, oils, and mandatory vitamin and mineral supplements. Such a diet can be very diverse, for example, containing eggs and dairy products, offal or animal meat. Usually, these products undergo heat treatment (boiling, steaming, baking).

One type of home diet is BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food). This is a diet consisting only of raw foods: fish and meat (beef, chicken, turkey, lamb, duck, rabbit, day-old chickens, etc.), offal, as well as eggs, vegetables, fruits, and oils. The BARF diet does not use cereals or thermally cooked foods and does not contain raw pork (due to the risk of contracting Aujeszky's disease).

 

The advantages of a home-made and BARF diet are

- the ability to choose its components independently;

- control the quality of the products,

- making the diet more diverse.

Disadvantage: such feeding requires the owner to spend more time searching for food and preparing it. The food must be fresh. Homemade food is not always convenient to take on the road or leave with the pet at the hotel when the owner leaves.

An important condition is that such a diet should be prepared by a nutritionist, individually for your pet. Otherwise, mistakes are often made that can lead to illness over time.

⦁ Combination diet - part of the diet consists of food (dry or canned) and part of homemade food. How is this possible?

When feeding a reduced daily allowance of commercial food, the needs for minerals and vitamins in cats are often met, because most recipes are often calculated with a certain "margin". This makes it possible to add homemade foods without disturbing the balance of the diet.

For cats, this is the best type of feeding due to their characteristics - they prefer variety, and by adding wet or homemade food, you can also increase water consumption.

Important! The extent to which this type of feeding meets the needs of the animal can only be assessed by a nutritionist, as it is not suitable for everyone. Not every food can be combined with homemade food in any quantity. Sometimes additives or adjustments to the proportions of components are also required.

Any of these types of feeding, commercial, homemade or combined, is normal, complete and physiological for the animal, provided it is balanced.

The choice of a diet for a particular animal depends on 3 main factors:

1. it must be well eaten and tolerated by the animal

2. it should meet the needs and physiological state of the animal (growth, pregnancy, diseases)

3. It is convenient for the owner in terms of price and the amount of time spent on its preparation. It corresponds to the human worldview.

 

Dehelmintization (worming treatment).

We can conditionally divide worms into 2 groups:

1 group: Geohelminths. The larvae of geohelminths are found in the ground, infection occurs through dirt, soil, and grass. It is impossible to prevent geohelminth infection because the cat is constantly in contact with the environment.

To prevent infection with geohelminths, it is necessary to carry out preventive deworming according to the scheme:

Kittens under 3 months of age are treated every 2 weeks. From 3 to 7 months monthly, then once every 1-3 months.

2 group: Biological worms. The larvae of biogierals are found in meat or are carried by insects (fleas, mosquitoes). It is possible to prevent infection with biological worms because the ways the parasite enters the cat's body are limited (meat, fleas, insects).

In order to prevent biological worm infection, the following rules should be followed

- feeding ready-made food. In the process of manufacturing feed, the products undergo heat treatment, which is guaranteed to destroy worm larvae. Or, feed meat products only after heat treatment.

- regular treatment against fleas and mosquitoes, which can also carry worm larvae.

The following products are recommended for regular deworming:

- HelPet suspension can be used for kittens from 3 weeks of age.

- Drontal, Aniprazole, Canicvantel - from 3 weeks of age.

- Envaer, Pratel - from 1 month of age.

Separately, it is necessary to tell about the spot-on (on the withers) drugs Profender, Advocate, Stronghold and Broadline, which are currently the best for deworming. They are applied to the withers (unlike drugs that must be administered by mouth). They act not only on adults (those living in the intestinal cavity), but also on larvae that migrate in the bloodstream. These drugs have a wide range of anthelmintic effects on round and tapeworms (Profender and Broadline) and only on roundworms (Stronghold and Advocate).

Unlike drugs that are administered by mouth and act only when they pass through the intestines, Profender, Advocate, Stronghold and Broadline remain in the bloodstream for a month, protecting against worms all this time.

 

Vaccinations.

Up to 16 weeks of age, the baby should be vaccinated every 3-4 weeks. This frequency is due to the fact that maternal antibodies remain in the body for up to 16 weeks. They prevent the formation of a full immune response (defense). 

The standard kitten vaccination schedule recommended by WSAWA is as follows:

The first vaccination is carried out at 8 weeks of age against panleukopenia (feline distemper), calicivirus, herpesvirus infection, and some vaccines contain a chlamydia strain.
The second vaccination (revaccination) is carried out at 12 weeks of age, the vaccine includes all of the above diseases, as well as rabies.
The third one is given at 16-20 weeks of age against panleukopenia (feline distemper), calicivirus, herpesvirus infection, and some vaccines contain a chlamydia strain.
The next vaccination (final) is at the age of 12 months. And then annually with a comprehensive vaccine against viral diseases and rabies.

Depending on the mother's vaccination and the risk of infection (peculiarities of morbidity in the region), the frequency and timing of vaccination may differ from the above.
If a cat older than 16 weeks has not been vaccinated before, or the immune status is unknown, it is recommended to vaccinate twice with an interval of 2-3 weeks.
Vaccination should be repeated annually (a single dose of the complex vaccine + rabies).

Before vaccination, it is recommended that the cat be treated for worming, but this is not a prerequisite, since a clinically healthy animal, even in the presence of worms, has a sufficient level of protective antibody formation.

 

Treatments against ectoparasites (fleas, ticks).

Ectoparasites are parasites that live on the surface of the body and on the external organs of animals and humans. Ectoparasites are often carriers of infectious diseases, such as plague, malaria, and infect animals with heartworm, babesia, and other vector-borne diseases.

Many cats may have hypersensitivity (allergic reaction) to insect bites, in particular fleas, which manifests itself in the form of severe itching and can lead to significant skin lesions and, ultimately, to long-term treatment. Fleas are not species-specific, which means that they can be present in other animals that are in contact with each other and live in the same area (house, apartment). Therefore, it is important to treat all animals in the house.

It should be remembered that these ectoparasites do not live on the animal, but only feed on it for a certain period of time, and often the fleas themselves, even with a thorough examination, can not be detected.

Why treat cats that don't go outdoors? Indoor fleas live and breed all year round, and can enter an apartment from the outside ("come in on shoes," for example), from neighborhood animals that walk in the entrance, from the street and basements (especially true for residents of the first floors).

Substances to combat ectoparasites are divided into the following groups:

- edalticides (drugs that kill adult insects);
- insect development regulators (drugs that act at the stage of transformation into adults, preventing them from reproducing and moving from one stage to another)
- repellents (drugs that repel insects).
Most drugs in the form of drops on the withers have an edaltic effect, collars and sprays have a repellent effect. Some contain several active substances that have a repellent effect and kill adults (Advantage, Frontline), or an edaltic effect that prevents the transition from one stage to another (Frontline Combo, Fiprist Combo).

The following medications are recommended for kittens from birth:

⦁ Frontline in the form of a spray - can be used for kittens from 2 days of age, pregnant and lactating cats.

Among the drops (spot-on) for monthly treatment, the following can be used:

⦁ Stronghold, from 6 weeks of age, Advocate from 9 weeks of age (edalticidal drugs that additionally kill roundworms and scabies (ear) mites);
⦁ Broadline - from 7 weeks of age (an edaltic and repellent drug that simultaneously kills helminths and prevents infection with scabies and Ixodes mites).
⦁ Frontline (an oral anthelmintic and repellent) - from 8 weeks of age;
⦁ Frontline Combo (adulticidal and repellent preparation with insect development regulator) - from 8 weeks of age;
⦁ Advantage (an adulticide) - from 9 weeks of age;
Spot-on drops should be applied to the withers, but not to the coat, and directly to the skin so as to prevent licking. Do not bathe the cat 3 days BEFORE and AFTER treatment.

 

Grooming.

Grooming is a comprehensive care for skin, hair, teeth, and claws.

Cats are very clean animals. In long-haired cats, hair clogs the stomach to a greater extent than in short-haired cats, which can cause vomiting or stomach blockage. Therefore, for prevention purposes, it is recommended to give a paste for removing hair, for example, Malt-Soft.
A special comb-furminator also removes the undercoat very well (and thus prevents the formation of tangles, reduces the amount of hair throughout the apartment).
You can bathe the animal with special veterinary shampoos, such as AnimAll, Trixie, tropiclean, Espree, etc. The frequency of bathing is determined individually depending on the breed and coat condition.
Claws should be trimmed as they grow, determined individually. There are special devices for grinding claws, as well as substances for training and attracting them. If the animal does not sharpen its claws, they may grow into the pads of the fingers, which causes injury to the pads on the paws and requires a visit to the veterinarian. Therefore, it is necessary to trim nails that are too long.

Ear care.

Clean the ears only when necessary (in the presence of slight dark, brown discharge in the ears) with special veterinary ear-cleaning lotions Otifree, Hartz, Espry, Auricap, NutriVet, no more than once every 1-2 weeks. If there is a need to clean the ears more often, the animal shows anxiety when you touch the ears or scratches them excessively, you should show the animal to the doctor.

The cleaning procedure is as follows:

pour a small amount of room temperature solution into the ear canal,
then massage the base of the ear with gentle movements for a couple of minutes,
during which the lotion softens the dirt.
After that, give the animal the opportunity to shake its ears and shake out the dissolved secretions from the ear canal.
The procedure is best done in the bathroom or in a room with washable walls. Outside, the auricle can be gently wiped with a napkin.
Do not use cotton swabs to clean the ear canal, as they only seal deeper wax and irritate the skin of the ear.

 

Eye care

To clean the eyes and remove discharge from the eyes, you can use special drops or wipes for animal eye care. You can use products from Espree, 8 in 1, nutri vet, bifar, diamond eyes, AVZ, etc. Do not rinse the eyes with tea - this will only increase irritation and tearing. If there is a profuse discharge from the eyes, you should consult a veterinarian.

Teeth.

With age, plaque is deposited in each animal and, as a result, stones are formed, which in advanced cases can lead to bad breath, gum disease, loss of appetite, and tooth loss.

In case of bad breath, gum redness, or significant tartar deposits, a veterinary dentist should examine the dog and perform the necessary treatment of teeth and gums, and sanitize the oral cavity.
The most important thing in preventing dental problems is active home oral care. It is necessary to clean your teeth from soft plaque with a specialized toothpaste and toothbrush, preferably daily. In extreme cases, 3 times a week. You can start accustoming your child to the toothbrushing procedure by wiping the teeth and gums with a damp gauze cloth or a bandage wrapped around your finger.
To slow down the rate of plaque formation, you can use enzyme preparations with lactoferrin and peroxidase (apply to the gums 3 times a week). Such as: Orozyme, Befar gel. Vets Best and NutriVet toothpaste
Human fresheners, rinses and toothpastes should not be used for cats. They contain xylitol and fluoride compounds that are toxic to animals.

 

Castration / Sterilization.

Normally, animals should mate regularly during each period of the sexual cycle. If your cat is not planned to be used for breeding, it is recommended to spay or neuter her before the first, maximum after the first estrus, as this significantly reduces the risk of various diseases of the reproductive organs (neoplasms of the testes, ovaries, uterus, mammary glands, vagina, purulent inflammation of the uterus, polycystic ovaries).

The optimal time for sterilization is from 4 months of age, after completion of the full vaccination regimen. Previously, it was believed that surgery at such an early age was not indicated, it was necessary to let the animal give birth. Today, it is absolutely certain that sterilization at an early age does not disrupt the further development and growth of the animal, and allows avoiding a number of life-threatening diseases.

It is highly discouraged to give special drugs to suppress the symptoms of estrus or to mate not every estrus, once a year, several times, once in a lifetime. The exception is the modern drug Suprelorin, which has no side effects.

In the Zoolux clinic, cats undergo daily scrotal castration, i.e. an incision to remove the testes is made on the scrotum skin. The incision on the skin can be one or two, the vessels of the testes are coagulated with a cauterizer (cauterized with a special tool), and cats do not use suture material. A wound on the scrotum also does not require suturing, but heals like a normal cut on the skin.
Cats undergo ovariohysterectomy (removal of the ovaries and uterus) in 2 ways, the methods differ in the way of access to the abdominal cavity and, accordingly, the size of the incision on the abdominal wall. The incision is always made in the center of the abdomen (along the white line) just below the navel.

1 option: Laparoscopically assisted surgery (or endoscopic).
Access to the abdominal cavity through an endoscopic port, the diameter of the port is 3-5 mm, a camera is inserted through the port, which allows you to examine the internal organs, visualize the ovaries and horns of the uterus. Due to the possibility of visual control, this operation is the most controlled, which increases its safety. The muscles of the abdominal wall are connected with a suture made of absorbable material, and the skin is sealed with a special glue.

2 option: The operation with intradermal sutures is performed in the same way, but without a camera and port, special tools (hooks) are used to remove the horns of the uterus and ovaries. With this method, there is no visual control, a slightly larger incision and the skin is sutured with an intradermal suture. After the operation, it is recommended to wear a protective boot or collar to prevent the suture from licking.

 

Toilet training.

As a rule, kittens do not need to be toilet-trained. But, if there is a need, you can use special substances in the form of a spray or powder that treat the cat's litter box.

Fillers.
There are a lot of litter boxes on the market. It is recommended to use wood or silicone gel fillers, which are generally not harmful to the animal.

Stress prevention.

Cats are animals that are very sensitive to stress. The latter, in turn, can lead to the development of certain diseases or relapses of chronic diseases.

Therefore, stress prevention in cats is of particular importance.

Certain rules should be followed:

- The cat should be able to spend enough time with the owner or other animals. Play with it more often, spend more time with it;
- free movement around the house and places for climbing and scratching should be provided;
- the animal should have a place where no one ever disturbs it and where it can hide;
- it is advisable to have a large number of toys for cats and change their location in the house;
- it is important to have several scratching posts, beds near windows, and if windows are opened, they must have protective nets;
- if there are several cats in the house, you need to provide litter boxes for each. Keep the litter boxes clean and do not use strong-smelling disinfectants;
- Place food bowls in a safe place so that other animals (e.g., a dog) do not interfere with the cat's eating;
- If you need to change the diet, try to do it gradually.

To minimize stress, you can use products available at your veterinary clinic/pharmacy:

- Feliway diffuser
- Bifar diffuser
- Zilken
- Vetcalm
When planning trips, such as clinic visits, traveling, introducing new pets to the home, etc., you should contact your veterinarian to discuss stress management techniques.

 

Rules for traveling abroad

All the requirements of Ukrainian legislation are based on and adapted to the norms of the country where the animal is traveling. Therefore, the full list of requirements for exporting animals outside of Ukraine should be checked with the consulate of the country where you plan to travel.

The general rules apply regardless of whether it is a purebred animal that participates in exhibitions or a simple outbred pet.

1. Marking.

The animal must be chipped.
Chipping is the insertion of a special microchip under the skin containing a unique number registered in international databases. This number can be remotely read by a special device available in most veterinary clinics, customs inspection points, shelters and similar institutions.
The chip must comply with EU requirements (Transponders must comply with ISO 11784 and use HDX or FDX-B technologies and be readable by a reader compliant with ISO 11785).
Clearly readable tattoos applied before July 3, 2011 are allowed.
Animals must be labeled or described, taking into account the characteristics of each species, in such a way that the animal can be linked to its respective identification document.

2. Vaccination against rabies.

The animal must be at least 12 weeks old at the time of vaccination (all animals over 12 weeks of age must be vaccinated against rabies).
The date of vaccine administration does not precede the date of marking or reading the transponder, (Vaccination must be performed on an ALREADY chipped animal. That is, the date of actual vaccination cannot be earlier than chipping (chipping and vaccination at the same time is permissible))

3. Rabies antibody titer test.

• The test should be carried out no earlier than 30 days after vaccination and no less than three months before departure (i.e. at least 30 days after vaccination, and at least 3 months after the test before departure - must be done in advance!!!).
• The minimum antibody titer level should be 0.5 IU.
• The test must be performed in a certified laboratory.
• The test does not need to be repeated for regular revaccination carried out during the period of validity of the previous vaccine (e.g., done on 12.07.2020 - next on 11.07.2021 (or earlier).
• The antibody titer test takes up to 30 days to complete.
• Blood for analysis is taken on an empty stomach. The owner's foreign passport and the animal's international veterinary passport must be brought with him/her to ensure that the accompanying documents are filled out correctly.

To import an animal into the territory of Ukraine, a certificate of rabies antibody titer is also required.
 

In the animal's passport:

- the animal's chip number must be indicated. The date of chipping (or reading) must be earlier than or coincide with the date of rabies vaccination;
- rabies vaccination must be carried out no later than one year before blood sampling and at least one month before the titer test. That is, if today is October 1, 2021, then the rabies vaccination mark must be from October 2, 2020 to September 1, 2021;
- the name of the vaccine, manufacturer, batch/control, and expiration date must be clearly readable on the vaccine sticker.

4. Compliance with disease or infection prevention measures

Vaccination against Echinococcus multilocularis (dogs only). Mandatory for traveling to Finland, Ireland, Malta, Great Britain, Norway
Deworming is carried out with certified drugs 24-48 hours before departure. A note on deworming is made in the passport and stamped.

5. International passport and health certificate

- An international veterinary passport can be issued only at a public clinic.
- Obtain a veterinary form No. 1, which is issued at a state veterinary clinic no earlier than 3 days before the animal is taken abroad. This form is valid for 3-5 days.
A health certificate is issued on the basis of a veterinary certificate F1, this certificate is valid for 10 days.

6. What should I bring with me?

1 Depending on the type of transport you plan to use, the method of safe transportation of your pet, you need to purchase a carrier in advance that meets the size of the animal and the requirements of the transport service.
2. Take care of changeable diapers in the carrier so that the animal has free access to water (you can buy special drinkers), do not forget about treats;
3. Also, take enough of the familiar and favorite food to reduce the risk of possible gastrointestinal problems during the transition to a new unknown food.
4. Pack a travel first aid kit that includes painkillers, anti-inflammatories, a repellent collar, withers drops, and tick spray.

Health to your pets!!!