As the holidays quickly approach, let’s not forget about your four-legged friend. If you plan any air travel with your cat this year, pre-flight preparation will be necessary as it is predicated to be a heavier holiday travel season than in past years.  First, you will need a valid health certificate from your veterinarian.  All airlines require a health certificate that is written no more than 10 days before the flight. Second, more airlines are using regional jets, so I advise that you call the airline ahead of time to determine if your cat carrier will fit on board.  If you are traveling by car, you might be required to have a health certificate depending on your final destination. 

All cats need to be up to date on their vaccines, especially Rabies, before holiday travel.  The distemper vaccine protects your cat against respiratory virus. So, it is an important vaccine when visiting a multiple cathouse hold or boarding your cat. Because other cats may not be vaccinated, it is important to give your cat the most protection. I also recommend an extra dose of Revolution for your cat to ensure that he/she is parasite free (for example, fleas, heartworm, roundworm, hookworm, and ear mites) and will remain so for 30 days. Again, you can’t be sure that other cats have been protected or that the place you are staying is free from intestinal parasites. Did you know that 15% of indoor potting soil has roundworm eggs in it?

In addition to vaccines, we need to prepare cats for traveling. If your cat is not accustomed to travel, you will want to introduce him/her to his/her cat carrier a couple days before travel. This will save your cat undue stress.  One way to do this is to place your cat’s meals in the carrier prior to the trip so he/she has a positive association with the carrier. To prevent car sickness, you shouldn’t feed your cat the morning of your car trip. It is not possible to bring your cat, using a cat sitter is always an option. It is important that a cat sitter comes over at least once a day to make sure that your cat still has food and water and is acting normally. Still another option is boarding your cat. If you plan to board him/her you should make reservations early, as boarding facilities fill quickly during the holidays. For your cat’s comfort and well-being, you should try to board your cat in a window unit and purchase the additional play times. These extras will help reduce his/her stress and make the boarding experience more pleasurable.  Again, if you choose to board your cat, consult with your veterinarian about the best time to vaccinate your cat. Typically, shots should be given at least 7 days in advance of boarding to give the maximum protection.

If instead of traveling, you are having guests for the holidays, be cognizant that your cat may become scared and stressed by the arrival of your guests. Starting your cat on natural calming medicine such has Composure treats or Feliway a couple weeks before your guests arrive will be advantageous. Stress effects cats in multiple ways. The most common effect of stress that I see is urinary and litter box issues.  I will review these issue in great depth in our next issue so stay tuned.

The holidays are very stressful for both you and your cat, so take some time out of your schedule to pet and play with your wonderful cat. The time spent together will benefit your cat and you, research has shown that spending time with pets can lower your blood pressure and stress.

As the holidays approach, you may be expecting a new kitten.  Once you find a reputable breeder, it is time to choose your new kitten.  Kittens come with lots of responsibilities and one of them is finding a veterinarian.  How do you select a new vet?  What should you look for? 

One common mistake, is opening the phone book or Googling the closest vet to your home and just going there.  Before you settle on a vet, you should do some research.  Start with their website; do they use Facebook or Twitter?  While using Facebook or Twitter does not guarantee that he/she is a better veterinarian, it may show that the vet clinic is on the cutting edge and willing to adopt new technology.  Because veterinary medicine is constantly progressing, you will want to find a clinic that is remaining up-to-date on the newest advances.  Veterinarians spend anywhere between four and eight years after veterinary school becoming specialists in certain areas. 

Another key area to consider is whether the clinic you are considering has all the equipment needed to diagnose and treat your cat.  All general vet clinics should have radiograph (X-ray) equipment.  X-rays are used to diagnose problems with bones, heart, and lungs.  Clinics should also have digital ultrasound.  Ultrasound is an important diagnostic tool that is used to examine your cat’s stomach, small intestines, kidneys, liver, and bladder.  All of these are important to visualize in older cats. An electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) is an important diagnostic tool that checks for problems with the electrical activity of your cat’s heart.  All clinics must have an EKG to monitor your pets with heart disease.  Finally, the clinic should have laser surgery equipment.  Laser surgery allows your cat to heal more quickly and have less pain than traditional surgery.  Laser surgery is particularly important if you make the decision to declaw your cat. 

In addition to making sure that the clinic has all the necessary tools you will want to make sure that your vet is trustworthy and knowledgeable.  It is important that you feel comfortable taking advice and treatment from your vet.  While all vets complete the same medical education, they can vary in how much continuing education they do after completing school.  While this might be difficult to assess, if you feel comfortable with your vet and he/she seems to be doing the necessary research to best help your cat, you will have a good working relationship and this will help your cat receive the best possible care.  If you feel uncomfortable with your vet, it may be time to move on and find a vet with whom you can work easily and trust. 

Price may be a final consideration.   While everyone is feeling the pinch now, it is important to weigh the cost of the services with the quality of the service.  Paying a little more in the beginning for a good diagnosis may help your cat get treatment he/she needs and avoid additional costs (and suffering for your cat) later on.

Dr. Jonathan A. Yardley