Cats - Basic health and care

Spring can pose a few problems for our feline friends. At this time of year there's an increase in pollen and pests and, with many of us spring cleaning the house or out weeding the garden, there's also an increase in the presence of chemicals.

The classic story of the incessant battle between ‘cat versus hairball’ has been one told through centuries. When we notice our cat trying to vomit out a hairball, it can be quite a sight to see and it can be stressful as we cannot help them.

With a spring in our step, there is a new found feeling of motivation to get back into being active. We all know what comes with this change in season… hay fever.

Bringing a new family member into the home is often a much awaited event for existing members of the family. However, there are many factors that need to be considered to ensure your new pet settles in to the family including introducing existing pets, house and toilet training and healthcare.

The grooming process is an important part of the day for cats and most are able to keep themselves very clean without a bath. Unless there is a medical need to, you do not need to bath your cat, but

Our pets can hear sounds at a much higher frequency than us mere humans and rely on this ability for different needs. Therefore, it is important as pet parents that we familiarise ourselves with their ears so that we can notice any changes as well as prevent any infections that may develop.

The following information is provided to help you with all the necessary health care your new cat will require, including check ups, vaccination, desexing, worming, fleas, heartworm prevention, nutrition, dental care, microchipping, bathing, socialisation, house training, home environment, fauna, pet insurance and travelling.

The following information is provided to help you with all the necessary health care your new kitten will require, including check-ups, vaccination, worming, flea control, heartworm prevention, nutrition, dental care, desexing, microchipping, bathing, socialisation and training, toileting, home environment, native fauna and pet insurance.

Catnip is a perennial herb of the mint family with over 250 species in existence and cats can be quite attracted to it. The main varieties that are available are Common Catnip (Nepeta cataria) and

Collars and/or a harness are an essential accessory for every pet and a fashion highlight for some too. It is however essential that you should choose carefully as a poorly selected and fitted one may cause unnecessary injury.

Surgical desexing involves removing part of the reproductive system of an animal whilst under a general anaesthetic. There are many different names to describe this procedure but the correct word in

Desexing and neutering are umbrella terms for the surgical sterilisation of both male and female animals. Females are ‘speyed’ by removing the ovaries and uterus, and males are ‘castrated’ by

There are important medical and behavioural benefits to consider when deciding to desex your pet.

Get familiar with your pet's ears, so that you know what they should look like. Look out for changes on a regular basis, note changes and find out what you should do, treat ear problems and learn how to clean your pet's ears

With over 32% of cats considered overweight or obese in this country, we often see and treat the problems associated with excessive weight.

Administering eye drops in most cats can be tricky business. Mastering the process of holding your cat and the eye drop bottle in the correct position whilst ensuring the medication makes its way to

In a natural wild environment cats are hunters, spending many hours of the day looking for and capturing food. With many more unsuccessful hunting attempts than successful, hunting is a very time and energy consuming activity. Living as part of a household, they enjoy the comfort of you doing the hunting on their behalf.

There are many reasons why pet's turn their nose at the food bowl, and there is unfortunately no 'trick' to feeding a fussy pet, however here's some tips on how you can encourage eating.

Being a pet parent to a fabulous feline can be a lot of responsibility, especially when it comes to feeding them. It all starts with proper nutrition and free, ready access to H2O.

It’s no secret that we all love cats, with many households choosing to own multiple cats as their animal of choice. Despite their friendly nature, feeding time in multiple cat households can often be

If your dog jumps to the sound of the word 'schmako' or your cat lives for a special treat then it is likely you are one of many pet owners who are tempted to sneak their pet a snack. For most pets,

With so many brands and types of cat food available it can be very difficult to know what meal is the best one for your cat. In recent years there has been a huge amount of research into feline

Fleas are tiny dark brown parasitic insects that infest the coat and skin of pets. Find out how to tell if your pet has fleas, how pets get fleas, prevention and why it is important all year round. The flea lifecycle and the products that can help destroy the flea lifecycle.

From time to time your dog or cat will require medication such as worming tablets, or antibiotics. Giving tablets to your pet can be tricky business so here's a few tips that can help make medication time less stressful for you and your pet.

The most satisfying task to accomplish is getting the house nice and clean! We all enjoy that first sip of a hard-earnt cup of tea after sitting down and appreciating all your hard efforts. These moments are often short lived, especially with our furry friends around!

Cats are one of the most popular pets kept as companions in Australia and NZ. They are beautiful, graceful, affectionate, but above all, highly complicated!

Whilst some Australians give their cats the freedom to come and go as they please there is a growing trend for cat lovers to keep their companions indoors. In a recent online poll we found over 77%

Bringing a new cat or kitten into the home is often a much awaited event for all family members. There are a few factors that need to be considered to ensure your new cat settles in to an existing feline family well.

We have all been in that position before. Keeping a watchful eye on that one spot that our furry friend keeps itching. Then the internal fight begins on whether you should take them straight to the vet or are you just overthinking this?

Hibernation season is upon us! As the temperature outside is dropping, all we can think about is getting cosy with our favourite winter blanket, a nice cup of tea and staying as close to the heater as possible.

For our female spays we can offer the option of minimally invasive laparoscopic spays (ovariectomy). Is laparoscopic spaying right for my dog? The Choice Is Yours Of course, traditional spaying is

The world of pet food is as confusing as ever. From different brands to new and interesting treats, it is difficult and stressful to make the decision on what the best food is for our fur child.

January is the month of motivation; we are getting everything in order to prepare for a prosperous and positive year. This new beginning is usually a reminder for most pet parents to get all their pet’s vaccines updated...

We all love our pets and without perhaps realising it we may be loving them to death. Sneaky snacks, an oversupply of food and a lack of daily exercise has made obesity the most common health issue vets see...

With Spring upon us, some of you green-fingered folks may be starting to think about what you can plant this year. Have you thought about planting something both you and your cat can enjoy? Many

Irritated skin can be a result of many problems such as skin diseases, allergies, ear problems and other illnesses. However, it is a good idea to rule out fleas as they are extremely irritating and when left to breed and multiply, they can cause other related issues such as a flea allergy.

Dogs and cats are full of energy and that energy needs to go somewhere, otherwise problem behaviours may start and your pet will become more prone to health issues.

Your vet can give you advice on how to look after your pet, but as a pet owner the responsibility is with you to make sure your pets are fit and healthy.

A balanced and nutritious diet equals a happy and healthy pet, but getting the right amount of nourishment can be a tricky business.

Each year at your pet’s annual check-up, your vet may recommend getting a blood test. Ultimately you have the final decision if you would like the test completed and that choice should be respected.

Vaccinations are an extremely important element of your pet’s health and wellbeing. This article will give you the reasons why vaccinations are so important in giving your pet a happy and healthy life.

As the weather starts to warm up a cat’s water requirements naturally increases. However, cats are very adept at masking signs of illness and often it is only very subtle changes in their behaviour (

Coming into the wet season ticks become a problem in northern NSW and QLD, and there are a number of types of ticks.

Whilst cats are very fussy about going to the toilet the good news is they generally learn quickly how to use a litter tray as long as it is clean and placed in the correct location.

Obtaining a urine sample from your pet can be tricky business. If your veterinarian or veterinary nurse has asked you to collect a urine sample from your pet at home, here are some handy tips on how to go about it.

Chlamydophila, Leukaemia, Panleukopenia are just some of the words you may hear your veterinarian referring to when discussing cat diseases in the community.

The life of a pet parent can be summed up in three simple words: messy, stressful and (above all) rewarding. We would do absolutely anything to keep our furry child safe...

Is your pet a healthy weight? Use the visual indicators to select a Body Condition Score for your pet.

Tapeworms and roundworms are two of the most common intestinal parasites of cats and should not be left untreated. Tapeworms are long flat worms composed of many individual segments whereas round