Healthy Kitten

While cats are naturally healthy animals, there are some illnesses, such as Cat Influenza and infectious Enteritis, against which the only protection is to have the kitten immunized by a Vet. This is best done as soon as kitten leaves its mother, for both these ailments cause much suffering and often the loss of the pet’s life.

All cats are subject to infestation by worms, and most kittens are dosed against these when they are six weeks old. So ask the dealer or breeder if your kitten has been dewormed and, if not, get his advice on the best way to do this.

It is best to have your kitten ‘neutered’. This means preventing a female, or ‘queen’, from having unwanted kittens, and a male cat, or ‘tom’, from wandering away in search of a mate, and getting into fierce fights with other toms.

Untreated tom cats can also create a very unpleasant smell about the house and gardens and be a great nuisance to the neighbours. Female kittens should be neutered between five to six months of age and males when they are three and a half to four months old.

If you find that veterinary fees are too expensive, it is well to know about the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (P.D.S.A.) and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (R.S.P.C.A.).

Many minor ailments can be treated at home, and a useful book that will assist you do this is, Sherley’s Cat Book, which can be bought at most pet shops and stores.