{"appState":{"pageLoadApiCallsStatus":true},"articleState":{"article":{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-26T21:15:48+00:00","modifiedTime":"2016-04-26T17:57:03+00:00","timestamp":"2022-09-14T18:14:36+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33809"},"slug":"home-auto-hobbies","categoryId":33809},{"name":"Pets","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33964"},"slug":"pets","categoryId":33964},{"name":"Cats","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33966"},"slug":"cats","categoryId":33966}],"title":"Preventive Healthcare for Your Cat","strippedTitle":"preventive healthcare for your cat","slug":"preventive-healthcare-for-your-cat","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Preventive care for your cat — just like for you — is more cost-effective than crisis care, and easier on both your pet and your bank account in the long run. T","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"Preventive care for your cat — just like for you — is more cost-effective than crisis care, and easier on both your pet and your bank account in the long run. The following lists give you some preventive-care guidelines.\r\n<p class=\"Remember\">Talk to your veterinarian to find out what is best for your pet.</p>\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"tab1\" >Kitten veterinary care</h2>\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Initial exam and feline leukemia test within 48 hours of adoption and prior to introduction to other cats.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Three combination vaccinations at three- to four-week intervals, starting at the age of six to nine weeks. Feline leukemia vaccination after initial testing, two vaccinations three to four weeks apart. Rabies vaccination at 16 weeks, or as required by law.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Wormings as prescribed by your veterinarian, at two- to three-week intervals or until fecal test is clear.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Spaying or neutering, as early as eight weeks as recommended by your veterinarian.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab2\" >Adult veterinary care</h2>\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Annual examination, which may include chemical profile and urinalysis, especially for older pets and prior to procedures requiring anesthesia.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Combination vaccination, annually, as recommended by your veterinarian. Rabies vaccination as recommended by your veterinarian or as required by local law.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Dental cleaning and scaling under anesthesia, as recommended by your veterinarian.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab3\" >Adult home care</h2>\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Brush teeth three times weekly.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Trim nails monthly.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Regular grooming; bathing as required.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Weekly home exam, including checking for lumps, bumps, injuries, and weight loss.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>","description":"Preventive care for your cat — just like for you — is more cost-effective than crisis care, and easier on both your pet and your bank account in the long run. The following lists give you some preventive-care guidelines.\r\n<p class=\"Remember\">Talk to your veterinarian to find out what is best for your pet.</p>\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"tab1\" >Kitten veterinary care</h2>\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Initial exam and feline leukemia test within 48 hours of adoption and prior to introduction to other cats.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Three combination vaccinations at three- to four-week intervals, starting at the age of six to nine weeks. Feline leukemia vaccination after initial testing, two vaccinations three to four weeks apart. Rabies vaccination at 16 weeks, or as required by law.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Wormings as prescribed by your veterinarian, at two- to three-week intervals or until fecal test is clear.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Spaying or neutering, as early as eight weeks as recommended by your veterinarian.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab2\" >Adult veterinary care</h2>\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Annual examination, which may include chemical profile and urinalysis, especially for older pets and prior to procedures requiring anesthesia.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Combination vaccination, annually, as recommended by your veterinarian. Rabies vaccination as recommended by your veterinarian or as required by local law.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Dental cleaning and scaling under anesthesia, as recommended by your veterinarian.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab3\" >Adult home care</h2>\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Brush teeth three times weekly.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Trim nails monthly.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Regular grooming; bathing as required.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Weekly home exam, including checking for lumps, bumps, injuries, and weight loss.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":9572,"name":"Gina Spadafori","slug":"gina-spadafori","description":" <p><b>Gina Spadafori</b> is the bestselling author of <i>Dogs For Dummies,</i> which received the President's Award from the Dog Writers Association of America. <b>Dr. Lauren Demos</b> is a board certified feline specialist who in 2017 was elected the youngest president of the American Association of Feline Practitioners. <b> Dr. Paul D. Pion</b> is a board certified veterinary cardiologist as well as cofounder, president, and CEO of the Veterinary Information Network, Inc. ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9572"}},{"authorId":10317,"name":"Paul D. Pion","slug":"paul-d-pion","description":" <p><b>Gina Spadafori</b> is the bestselling author of <i>Dogs For Dummies,</i> which received the President's Award from the Dog Writers Association of America. <b>Dr. Lauren Demos</b> is a board certified feline specialist who in 2017 was elected the youngest president of the American Association of Feline Practitioners. <b> Dr. Paul D. Pion</b> is a board certified veterinary cardiologist as well as cofounder, president, and CEO of the Veterinary Information Network, Inc. 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Pion</b> is a board certified veterinary cardiologist as well as cofounder, president, and CEO of the Veterinary Information Network, Inc. <p><b><b data-author-id=\"9572\">Gina Spadafori</b></b> is an award-winning veterinary medical writer. She is the coauthor of <i>Cats For Dummies</i> and <i>Birds For Dummies</i>. <p><b>Gina Spadafori</b> is the bestselling author of <i>Dogs For Dummies,</i> which received the President's Award from the Dog Writers Association of America. <b>Dr. Lauren Demos</b> is a board certified feline specialist who in 2017 was elected the youngest president of the American Association of Feline Practitioners. <b> Dr. <b data-author-id=\"10317\">Paul D. 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Preventive Healthcare for Your Cat

By: Gina Spadafori and Paul D. Pion and

Updated: 04-26-2016

Cats For Dummies

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Preventive care for your cat — just like for you — is more cost-effective than crisis care, and easier on both your pet and your bank account in the long run. The following lists give you some preventive-care guidelines.

Talk to your veterinarian to find out what is best for your pet.

Kitten veterinary care

Initial exam and feline leukemia test within 48 hours of adoption and prior to introduction to other cats.
Three combination vaccinations at three- to four-week intervals, starting at the age of six to nine weeks. Feline leukemia vaccination after initial testing, two vaccinations three to four weeks apart. Rabies vaccination at 16 weeks, or as required by law.
Wormings as prescribed by your veterinarian, at two- to three-week intervals or until fecal test is clear.
Spaying or neutering, as early as eight weeks as recommended by your veterinarian.

Adult veterinary care

Annual examination, which may include chemical profile and urinalysis, especially for older pets and prior to procedures requiring anesthesia.
Combination vaccination, annually, as recommended by your veterinarian. Rabies vaccination as recommended by your veterinarian or as required by local law.
Dental cleaning and scaling under anesthesia, as recommended by your veterinarian.

Adult home care

Brush teeth three times weekly.
Trim nails monthly.
Regular grooming; bathing as required.
Weekly home exam, including checking for lumps, bumps, injuries, and weight loss.

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