Regular dental care, vaccinations, parasite control and a balanced diet are essential for the health of your cat. Laboratory testing plays an integral role in the early detection of changes in your cat's health. Diagnostic tests provide essential information by which our veterinarians can identify blood disorders, kidney and liver disease, diabetes, infection, cancer, thyroid disease and other hormonal problems.

The gradual onset of health problems in an apparently healthy cat often go unnoticed. Once symptoms appear the condition may be too difficult or costly to diagnose and treat. Age is not a disease; however, there are many conditions, that if diagnosed early, can be completely reversed or controlled for extended periods of time

Make your cat's day-to-day life better with answers to your cat's health. Here you'll find answers to basic care and health questions and helpful general information.

AT WHAT AGE CAN I HAVE MY CAT SPAYED OR NEUTERED?
Feline overpopulation is a problem, so many cat owners who do not plan to breed their pets want to know how soon they can have a kitten spayed or neutered.

The traditional age to spay or neuter a young cat has been six months, but cats grow up fast. In fact, a female cat can get pregnant as early as four months of age. So if you want to spay or neuter your pet before it's old enough to reproduce, talk to one of our veterinarians early on.

The procedure not only prevents unwanted pregnancies - it can help reduce a cat's risk of reproductive diseases and may help eliminate undesirable behavior such as fighting.

HOW SHOULD I GO ABOUT BRUSHING MY CAT'S TEETH?

Have you ever tried brushing your cat's teeth? To keep your pet's teeth and gums in tip-top condition, you should brush their teeth every day to help maintain your pet's health.

If you've never brushed your cat's teeth before, start slowly. Rub their lips with tuna water or chicken broth, and then give them a reward. Do this for a few days. Then put a dab of cat toothpaste on a child-sized toothbrush and let the cat lick it off. Once your cat is used to that, lift their lips and gently brush the outside of one canine tooth. Over time, extend the process to other teeth. Brush only the outer surfaces.

HOW CAN I TELL IF MY PET IS IN PAIN? ARE THERE TELL-TALE SIGNS TO WATCH OUT FOR?
Since animals can't always tell us when they hurt, it may be hard to know if a cat is in pain. So to determine whether or not your pet is hurting, ask yourself how the same condition might affect you. If you would benefit from pain relievers, chances are your pet will, too.

Acute pain often causes sudden lameness or behavioral changes in pets, but chronic pain such as arthritis may be more difficult to detect. So if your cat loses their appetite, is reluctant to move, or guards a part of their body, take your pet in for a checkup. And trust your instincts – you know your pet best, so if you suspect your cat is in pain, talk to one of our veterinarians. Proper pain management can drastically improve your cat's quality of life.

HOW LONG DO CATS LIVE?
Generally speaking, the average cat's life span is twelve to fifteen years. But in a healthy, safe environment and with proper nutrition and good veterinary care, a cat can live to be twenty years of age or more. The oldest cats on record lived well into their thirties.

As a general rule, outdoor cats don't fare as well or live as long as cats kept indoors. It's often a hard-knock life for outdoor kitties - they risk injury from cars, dogs, predators, and even other cats in the neighborhood. They're also more likely to pick up contagious diseases that are passed along by other felines. So as a general rule, indoor cats often live longer than their free-roaming counterparts.

WHAT ARE COMMON PARASITES AND HOW CAN THEY BE PREVENTED?
Inside and out, pets are prime targets for parasites. Fleas, ticks, mites and lice can infect your pet's skin and hair, while roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, and heartworms are common internal invaders.

They're bad news for pets - and humans, too, since many parasites are transmissible. The key to their control is prevention. Grandview Animal Hospital recommends the use of year-round flea and tick control products, year-round parasite control products, and year-round heartworm products, so that the diseases can be prevented. To learn more about parasite control, view the guide to products section and also talk to one of our veterinarians.

WHAT IS RINGWORM AND HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CAT HAS IT?Ringworm is a bit of a misnomer, as the condition is not really caused by a worm. It's actually caused by a fungus that resides on the hair and skin of animals. Ringworm can cause your pet symptoms ranging from bald spots to dandruff to widespread hair loss.

Unfortunately, you can't just look at an animal and determine whether or not it has ringworm. Diagnostic testing is required to find out. If your pet does have ringworm, treatments may include topical antifungal creams, whole-body shampoos, or an oral antifungal agent. No matter the method, treatment is important because ringworm is also contagious to pet owners.

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CAT HAS EAR MITES?
A cat shaking its head and scratching its ears may be suffering from ear mites. The condition is called otoacariasis. Otoacariasis isn't fatal, but it is more than a nuisance. If ear mites go on too long, they could hurt the inner ear and affect the animal's hearing and sense of balance. They could also lead to a bacterial infection.

To determine if ear mites are a problem for your cat, look into your pet's ears. Is there a blackish brown waxy material in them? Are they smelly? If so, then one of your veterinarians will clean out your cat's ears and then give you medicine and an insecticide to kill the ear mites.

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CAT IS OVERWEIGHT?
The obesity epidemic is affecting our cats. In fact, between twenty-five and forty percent of pet cats are obese or likely to become obese.

Unfortunately, cat owners don't always realize that their once-trim cat now has a weight problem. Without proper weight management, their cats continue to grow - and become at higher risk for diabetes, arthritis, and other conditions.

So keep an eye on your cat's weight. When you pat your cat, gently press down. If you are unable to feel it's ribs, consider taking your cat to see one of our veterinarians for a proper exam. After ruling out any underlying medical causes, our veterinarians can develop an appropriate nutrition and exercise plan.

WHAT ARE SOME POSSIBLE CAUSES OF WEIGHT LOSS IN CATS?
If your cat is shedding pounds, it's important to get your cat checked out by one of our veterinarians. Although stress is one of the most common causes of weight loss in cats, there are also a host of medical conditions that could be to blame.

Parasites, heartworm, cancer, feline leukemia virus, giardia, and kidney disease are only some of the potential reasons for weight loss in cats. With so many possible causes, there's no sense guessing what's wrong - you need an official diagnosis from a veterinarian. So take note of other symptoms - is your cat eating? Does your cat have diarrhea? How has your cat's behavior changed? Observe your cat carefully and then take your cat in for a thorough exam.

HOW CAN I HELP MY CAT AVOID HAIRBALLS?

Cats are fastidious and groom themselves frequently with their tongues, so they can inadvertently swallow a lot of hair. The result for some cats is horrendous hairball hassles.

It's not just a problem for long-haired cats. Because a cat's hairs are replaced roughly every thirty days, even short-haired cats can ingest a lot.

Usually this hair passes through the gastrointestinal tract unnoticed, but sometimes it gathers into sticky balls that your cat has to cough up. Otherwise the hairballs will block up the cat's digestive tract and cause constipation.

The best way to avoid hairballs is to brush your cat frequently. If this doesn't solve the problem, ask our veterinarians for a special laxative.

MY CAT VOMITS FREQUENTLY. ARE HAIRBALLS TO BLAME?
It's definitely not unusual for a cat to cough up a hairball, and hairballs themselves are not particularly dangerous to cats. But sometimes they're misleading to cat owners because they mask other problems. When a cat coughs or vomits frequently, people tend to blame hairballs, when there may be something more serious going on.

For example, a vomiting cat may have eaten something it shouldn't have, such as a button, tassel, or coin. So if you think your curious kitty has swallowed something unusual, take him to the veterinarian right away for an x-ray.

Your cat should also go in for a checkup if your cat is sick to its stomach more than once a week, is losing weight, or is vomiting up food, not just saliva or the occasional hairball.

WHY DOES MY CAT SEEM TO SHED ALL YEAR ROUND - ESPECIALLY RIGHT BEFORE WINTER?
You can quickly put on a warm coat for the first day of winter, but your cat needs a head start to grow that extra fur. To make a room for the new, your pet will have to start shedding its summer coat long before it gets cold.

Factors that influence when to start shedding include breed, age, and temperature. But the most important signal is the seasonal change in the amount of daylight. For cats, shorter days are an indication that it's time to get out their winter coats. Longer days are a sign to take them off again.

The reason many indoor pets shed continually is that their bodies are not as tuned into the changing seasons.

MY CAT WAS SPRAYED BY A SKUNK. HOW DO I GET RID OF THE SMELL?
If your pet tangles with a neighborhood skunk, it's hard to ignore the evidence. The odor can linger for up to a month! There are some commercial deodorizers available at pet stores. But a reliable home solution is one cup of water, a half-cup baking soda, a teaspoon liquid dishwashing soap, and a quart of hydrogen peroxide. Work the fizzy solution deep into your pet's coat and then rinse thoroughly, making sure to keep the solution out of your pet's eyes, nose and mouth.

Another problem with skunk sprays is that the foul odor can throw off a pet's sense of smell, which may affect the animal's appetite – especially in cats. Adding water or heating your pet's food may increase its appeal.