Cat Health Q&A

PetSmart -

Should I have my cat declawed?
The subject of declawing is a delicate issue, with the final decision best left to you and your veterinarian. Some things to keep in mind when considering declawing are:

Declawing should be considered only for exclusively indoor cats.

Training your cat to use a scratching post and providing frequent nail trims may minimize scratching problems (we'll talk a lot more about scratching in the next issue.

Declawing must be performed under general anesthesia and does involve post surgical pain and home care.

Kittens seem to recover more quickly and may exhibit fewer pain-related behaviors than older cats
If declawing is desired, performing it at spay or neuter time is recommended.

Does my kitten need vitamins?

If you're feeding your kitten an Advanced Nutrition diet, additional supplementation probably isn't necessary. But, your cat's age, overall health, exercise level, environment, and breed can all be factors to consider in whether or not to add supplements. Your vet may suggest certain supplements at certain times of the year, such as an Omega fatty acid supplement during seasonal shedding periods.

When will my cat begin to have heat cycles and get pregnant?

Young females generally come into heat between 5 and 9 months old; but some may not cycle until one year of age. To avoid pregnancy and future health issues, your cat should be spayed by 6 months of age. That's because during a heat cycle, even timid, young, indoor cats may do their best to get outside to reach males. It only takes one quick escape outdoors for your feline friend to become pregnant.

How do I know if my cat is in heat?

Unspayed cats often repeatedly cycle through heat until they are spayed. There are no mistaking the signs, which include loud vocalizing, rubbing and rolling, placing the hind quarters up in the air while flagging the tail, urine spraying, scratching at doors or windows, and many attempts to get outdoors. The female may also receive loud midnight serenades from courting tomcats. Interested males may also urine mark the area and fight amongst themselves.

Comments

01 Jan 2010 10:34 pm

jsueadams said:

How long does the cycle last for cats that are in heat? Besides spaying her, is there anything else that can be done to prevent her going into the heat cycle?