CARE FOR YOUR NEW KITTEN continued Kittens should be dewormed every 2 weeks until they are 12 weeks old and then once a month until they are 6 months old. A Faecal Egg Count (FEC) is a test that we can do to see if worms are present, what types they are and whether treatments are needed or are working. Unfortunately pet overpopulation is a huge animal welfare issue worldwide and many animals are abandoned, aren’t adequately cared for or can’t be rehomed by animal shelters leading to millions being euthanized each year. Desexing is an important tool to help address this issue. Desexed cats are less likely to have territorial behaviors and get into ghts, which is important in helping to reduce their injuries and the need to see the vet. Desexing can be done as young as 8-10 weeks of age but as with any surgical procedure there are risks involved. For more information please refer to our Desexing information sheet. Microchipping A microchip is approximately the size of a grain of rice. It is inserted under the skin usually between the shoulder blades and offers a reliable means of Vaccinating your kitten / cat can be an important way of helping to prevent serious life threatening diseases like panleukopenia and it can help to reduce cat u. Other diseases such as FIV (Feline Aids) and Feline Leukemia may be considered depending on risk factors. If your kitten or cat has received a vaccination, its vaccination booklet will indicate when a booster vaccination is recommended. Most vaccinations hold for 3 years but an annual health check is recommended to help keep your pet in top health and pick up any health issues early on. Desexing Vaccination and Regular Health Checks identifying an animal. This can be a fantastic help when an animal has been found and it has no collar or other identifying features and when the microchip is listed on the national database, it is relatively easy to reunite an animal with their owner. Microchipping can be done at any age Pet Insurance Sometimes health problems develop suddenly and often unexpectedly and especially for occasions such as these, pet health insurance can be invaluable. A good Pet Health Insurance Plan will cover basic health checks as well as major health issues which may crop up. Ideally choose a pet health insurance plan that covers complementary and natural therapies in addition to all the benets of conventional veterinary medicine and surgery so that you can easily give your pet all the healthcare options that they may need. Cats and Wildlife Looking after your cat responsibly ensuring that they are well cared for and do not threaten wildlife is an important part of helping to preserve our natural heritage. Here are some tips on how you can help: l For those cats that do hunt wildlife, a bell may be being caught. l Keep your cat inside at night so that it is less likely need to hunt placed on their collar to help warn native wildlife quality food l Ensure that your cat always has access to good about the cats’ presence. Another option is a special “cat bib” that can help to prevent wildlife them to fend for themselves and it is a threat to our have a new cat desexed. wildlife. to prey on wildlife (and get into ghts) l Never abandon unwanted cats. It is unfair to leave l Unless you are a responsible cat breeder, always l Provide toys and regular playtime so that your cat is well entertained and exercised and less likely to