Vet Care
How often should my cat see the vet?
We recommend annual wellness visits at least once a year for adults. Cats with FIV should be seen at least twice yearly. Kittens should start their FVRCP vaccine regimen at 6 weeks old and have this boosted every 3 weeks until they are 4 months old.
Sick visits should happen if your cat:
-
Litter Box Abnormalities: Straining to urinate (but urine IS coming out), blood in urine, frequent, or inappropriate urination/defecation.
-
Appetite & Weight Changes: Not eating for over 24 hours, rapid weight loss or gain, excessive thirst, or sudden hunger.
-
Behavioral Shifts: Hiding, lethargy, unusual aggression, increased vocalization, or decreased activity.
-
Physical Distress: Vomiting (especially repeated), diarrhea, coughing, sneezing, or walking stiffly/limping.
-
Grooming Changes: Overgrooming (leading to bald spots) or suddenly stopping grooming (resulting in a matted, greasy coat).
-
Appearance Changes: Lumps, bumps, cloudy/runny eyes, or a, "un-kempt" appearance.
EMERGENCY vet visits should happen if your cat:
-
Struggling to breathe: respiratory rate above 40 bpm, open-mouth breathing (without nasal congestion), nostrils flaring while breathing, panting, bilateral breathing
-
Severe lethargy and listlessness; inability to stand/walk; Dragging of back legs
-
Pale/blue gums
-
Male cats who cannot urinate (deadly blockage)
-
Unfixed female cats who have blood/discharge coming from their vagina (pyometra)
-
Seizures
-
Toxin ingestion: eating lilies, cleaners, medications, etc.
-
Trauma from an accident like a large fall or being hit by a car
-
Severe vomiting and diarrhea
-
Crying in pain
-
Severe bleeding that lasts longer than 5 mins with pressure applied
-
Repeating retching/gagging with nothing coming out
Why does my indoor cat need vaccines?
The FVRCP (feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, panleukopenia) vaccine is important even if your cats do not go outdoors.
These viruses can be brought in on your shoes and your clothing simply from being outdoors. These viruses exist in the environment, sometimes without animals present.
When you take your cat to the vet they will possibly be exposed to infectious diseases.
The rabies vaccine is required by law in the State of New Jersey. Animals such as bats who have a higher rate of carrying the disease sometimes slip into people's homes. It's important that your pet is protected from any possibilities. There is no cure for rabies and it is always fatal.
Indoor cats may accidentally slip outside.
The short period that a cat may feel ill following a vaccine is much better in comparison to contracting these diseases themselves.
PureVaxx vaccines are modified live vaccines and do not include adjuvants, or the ingredient that contributes to injection site sarcomas.