Adult/Rescue Cat Recommendations

 

• We strongly recommend testing all newly adopted cats, young or old, for both Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). Both are potentially fatal viruses. Kittens can be exposed to the virus from their mothers and both kittens and adults can be exposed through fighting with other infected cats. Testing requires a few drops of blood and results are usually available during your exam.
   

• Whenever possible bring in a stool sample. Intestinal parasites are not always visible and can cause a lot of health problems.
   

• Cats adopted from shelters or rescue groups will typically be current on vaccinations, however, you will want to ask for a record of what has been done in the health of the cat. Discuss any further vaccines, or health related needs with your veterinarian. Click HERE for more information about vaccines. 
   

• If your cat loves to go outside you should consider a monthly flea preventative. We have several products to choose from and our staff will be happy to help you select the one that is perfect for your pet.
   

• We recommend all outdoor cats receive a microchip for identification. This tiny microchip is inserted with a needle under the skin. Most veterinarians and the humane society have a microchip scanner which can read the microchip and provide the owner’s information if your pet should ever be lost. If your adult cat has one already, be sure to update the information with your details. Click HERE for more information about microchips.

​

• To help your cat live a longer, healthier life and possibly avoid potential health problems in later years, spaying or neutering is an important first step. We recommend both spays and neuters to be performed at around six months of age, many adult shelter or rescue cats will be altered upon or before adoption. 
   

• If there are other cats in the household it is a good idea to keep the new family member isolated in a separate room for about 2 weeks. The cats will get to know each other first by smell. Then you can gradually introduce them. Spayed or neutered cats are generally more accepting of other cats. Adult cats are generally more accepting of kittens than of other adults. Two altered adult cats often become friends in the same home.

 

For more general advice on bringing a new pet into the home, the resource library at PAWS.org has some great information.