Vet2Cat

28/06/2024

1. Fleas are excellent jumpers- While the average flea can jump a horizontal distance of 8 inches, some have been recorded jumping as far as 20 inches!
2. Flea eggs take between two days to two weeks to develop.
3. Fleas breed like crazy; a female may lay as many as 2,000 eggs in her lifetime.
4. Fleas will live one week without food- The average lifespan is between two and three months, however, with an ongoing food supply, a flea can live up to 100 days!
5. Fleas prefer animal hosts; there are different species of fleas, including cat fleas (Ctenocephalides felis), these are capable of infesting dogs as well as a variety of other animals.

AND (ok- a bonus 6th fact!)
6. Fleas are important in the transmission of ‘cat scratch disease’ between cats and humans. This is an infection with the bacterium Bartonella hensellae and is spread when fleas feed on blood.

Keep your cats parasite protected for themselves and for you!

20/06/2024

We are now approaching the hotter months of the year, yay! But there are things we would encourage you to be aware of when it comes to your fur babies.

-Sunburn (especially white cats). Use pet- or baby-safe sunblock on light coloured cats' ears and noses.
- Dehydration. Ensure your cat has plenty of water access which is topped up regularly. Also cats love to drink from other sources like ponds and puddles, even the dew on grass. If unwell seek medical attention.
-Heat stroke. Greenhouses, sheds and garages can become very hot in the summer so if you are locking up, make sure no cats have wandered in. Getting stuck on an exposed flat roof can also be a risk to a cat, if they cannot get down. Provide shaded areas in your garden for your cat to cool off.
- Insecticide poisoning. Products such as ant poisons and bug sprays for plants can be very toxic to cats if ingested. Look out for signs of vomiting, lethargy, and neurological signs like twitches or seizures. Contact your vets urgently if intoxication is known or suspected.
-Insect bites. Mosquitoes and midges sometimes feast on cats as well as humans; usually around the face and ears. Some cats can have bad allergic reactions to the bites - watch out for red, raised, itchy lumps and contact your vets.
- Adder bites. Britain's only poisonous snake, the adder, can be found in heathland and woodlands. If your cat roams and likes to hunt, they could get bitten. The snake bite is painful and the venom can lead to serious organ damage and even death. Urgent veterinary intervention is required.
- Fleas and ticks thrive in hotter conditions, so ensure your cat has adequate parasite protection. Cheaper, over-the-counter products are generally ineffective. Prescription-level products are recommended.
- Open windows. Cats may climb through open windows. Although cats are reknowned for 'landing on their feet' some falls from heights can result in serious injuries. Be vigilant, and consider installing mesh window screens if you need to open windows.

19/06/2024

Pretty grey floof-ball Sammy gets a Pet Remedy fix during his 6-month health check. We picked up that he has a bad case of gingivitis with some painful tooth resorption lesions, so he is booked in for a dental soon. Having regular health checks is the best way to pick up problems which might not be obvious from the outside.

Click our link in bio to find about Vet2Cat’s preventative health care plans!

16/06/2024

Happy Father's Day! Let's give a shout out to all the awesome dads out there, but let's not be encouraging fatherhood in our feline friends....

Unneutered male cats (toms) will prowl around looking for females to mate and fighting off any other males they confront. This behaviour results in injuries such as cat bite abscesses and other wounds, disease such as FIV, poor body condition and a shortened life expectancy.
Also, studies show that stray cats are more likely to be hit by oncoming traffic.
Neutering male cats (castration) will curb this behaviour dramatically, resulting in a healthier, happier cat.
Neutering also prevents the development of testicular cancer, especially if they are found to have cryptorchid (undescended) testicles.

If you have a male unneutered cat kept indoors, they will become very frustrated as they are unable to perform their normal instincts. This can result in aggression toward humans, destructive behaviour and urine spraying - with a particularly pungent smell to it!

And one of the most important reasons to neuter both male and female cats is to prevent unwanted kittens. Our rescue and rehoming centres are overbrimming with cats and kittens, with a reduction in people taking on new pets due to the economic crisis. Let's not burden the system any more!

We recommend neutering from 4 months of age, which is done under general anaesthetic. So please contact your vets to book in.
Because sometimes, the best Father's Day gift is no kittens at all!

15/06/2024

Diseases of the teeth and gums are common in cats. Studies report that between 50 and 90% of cats older than 4 years of age suffer from some form of dental disease, but fortunately the most common forms of these diseases are largely preventable or treatable with appropriate at-home oral care and monitoring.

The three most common dental diseases in cats are: tooth resorption, gingivostomatitis and periodontitis. Other conditions include teeth fractures, jaw fracture and cancers. Dental disease in cats can cause serious pain and discomfort, which can impact a cat’s quality of life, and can be associated with a variety of other health problems. In extreme cases, it can cause the cat to stop eating.

At Vet2Cat, when we perform dental procedures, we always do full mouth dental xrays of your cat's teeth, as often there are painful problems below the gum line. Everything must be done under a full general anaesthetic (they won't lie back and say 'Aargh'!). We also use dental nerve blocks to reduce the amount of gas anaesthetic required, perform a descale and polish and extract any diseased teeth as required, surgically closing the gums up afterwards.

You can help prevent dental disease in your cat home by brushing their teeth! We recommend you introduce this at a young age so they get used to it as many cats don't like their mouth being touched.
There are also special dental treats/food which are designed to reduce the build-up of plaque. We recommend Royal Canin Dental or Hills TD kibble.
Water additives and feed supplements can also be added to your cat's food and water, such as Aquadent, Plaqtiv+ Oral care and Plaque-off powder.

Keep an eye on their eating habits or any changes in behaviour which could signal that they are in pain, and if you have any concerns please call your vet for a check up. Vet2cat provides a thorough and highly experienced professional dental service.

14/06/2024

Young Tikka enjoys a gabapentin moment after a visit from Vet2Cat to assess his ongoing Feline Idiopathic Cystitis (FIC) problem. Poor lad isn’t even 4 years old and has had 2 life-threatening episodes of urethral obstruction - where a blockage occurs in the ‘wee tube’ preventing urination. His hoomans are doing everything they can to help him with this complicated stress-related condition. To find out more about FIC check the link in Bio

13/06/2024

If you start noticing your cat is catching on materials or furniture then it might be time to give their claws a trim.
If cats' claws become too long, they are at risk of curling round and becoming ingrown into their pads.
This is very uncomfortable and sore for your cat and will need a vet's intervention.
Normally, cats can keep their claws in tip-top condition by the process of scratching on objects to remove the outer layers of redundant claw tissue; a cat with outdoor access will do this on trees for example. If your cat is an indoor cat, it is important to provide them with the opportunity to scratch, using scratch posts/ mats / barrels. They will only use your furntiure and carpets otherwise!
This behaviour is ingrained in the brains of cats; as well as the mani-pedi function, it is also a means of communication & territory marking - leaving a visual sign of scratch marks and a scent mark from special glands in their feet. Ageing cats that are suffering from arthritis won't scratch as much, if at all, because it hurts their sore joints to do it; this is when the risk of in-growing into the toe pads occurs.
If you need your cat's claws trimmed, our nurse can do this at a visit.

12/06/2024

"Ah, I see you're fast asleep at 2am, let me just run across the room and jump on your head to wake you up. What do you mean you don't want to play!!"



Ever wonder what your cat really thinks? Don't worry, we may never truly understand our cats' thought pattern, but we wouldn't have it any other way! Register with us for expert care and endless laughs!

09/06/2024

What every cat owner needs to know about Feline Leukaemia Virus…
What is it? -This infectious disease (called FeLV) is one of the vaccinable diseases, and vaccination should be considered for every at-risk cat. ‘At-risk’ is the key phrase here, as not ALL cats are at-risk of catching this disease. As all medicines have some potential to cause adverse effects, why give it if they don’t need it!! But, through effective vaccination programs since the 1980’s, the prevalence of FeLV has reduced considerably.
How is it caught by cats? This virus needs transmission of bodily fluids from an infected cat to cause disease. Mum cats can pass it on to their kittens, otherwise for adult cats it generally requires a prolonged period of close contact and swapping of saliva - eg. sharing food/water bowls or grooming each other. Cat bite wounds may also lead to infection.
What does it do to cats? The most common problems are development of anaemia, suppression of the immune system and the development of a type of cancer called lymphoma. Other problems have also been associated with it, ranging from neurological signs to reproductive failure in breeding cats. Once infected, some cats will be able to fight it off and recover, but many will become persistently infected, and usually die within 2-3 years of diagnosis. There is no curative treatment, only some options which may extend survival time.
How do we protect our cats then?
Vaccination!!
And screening at-risk cats for the disease, to prevent spread.
Young cats need to be vaccinated annually until 3 years old then it can be given only every 2 to 3 years, to avoid unnecessary over-vaccination. There is a rare but very significant risk associated with FeLV vaccines of causing a type of tumour called a Feline Injection Site Sarcoma (FISS). In the UK it's only about 1 in 15000 vaccines given that this may occur, so please don’t panic! We at Vet2Cat also try whenever possible to vaccinate in a back leg, not the scruff, so if the worst happened, it would make removing the FISS easier.

Keep your cats safe with regular health checks and vaccinations!
Check the link in bio for more information!

08/06/2024

Being a vet’s cat doesn’t guarantee a clean bill of health - vet Claire’s cat T***s here suffers with gingivostomatitis, associated with a virus called Feline Calicivirus. She has already had half her teeth extracted (by Claire!) but the inflammation is back around the remaining half. Looks like poor baby T***s will end up toothless.

Read more about dental disease in our link in bio

07/06/2024

Facing the loss of a beloved feline friend is never easy. When it's time to say goodbye, we're here to support you every step of the way. Making this type of decision is devastating, but we offer the privacy and intimacy of saying goodbye in your own home with your friends and family around you.
We even help with the aftercare, we use an external cremation company which have multiple options of cremation and beautiful urns so your loved one is returned back to you safely.

Please have a read through our information and fees page on our link in bio.

31/05/2024

One of our lovely clients is doing an arduous hike over the Giant's Causeway to raise funds for MacMillan Cancer Support. Today is the 4 year anniversary of losing my amazing wonderful dad to cancer, so I have donated in his memory. Can you help support Demelza with this worthy cause?

Help Demelza Currie raise money to support Macmillan Cancer Support

31/05/2024

If you cat is insured and a treatment/ procedure is ongoing, you can claim on your insurance. Make sure you check with your insurance company how much cover you have, what type of cover and any exclusions.

To do so, ask your insurance company for a claim form, fill in your details, and send it back to us. Depending on the company some are done via online or on paper. The rest we will do for you with a admin fee of £17.50 per claim.

Email: [email protected], for any insurance enquiries and claim submissions.

29/05/2024

Tortoiseshell cats, sometimes called ‘torties’, are known for their uniquely beautiful multi-coloured coats. Tortoiseshell is not the name of a cat breed, it refers to a coat pattern, similar to how 'tabby' refers to striped or spotted coats.

Why is it that most tortoiseshell cats are female?

Tortoiseshells have two co-dominant colour genes (black and orange) to make up their unique coat patterns. Most tortoiseshell cats are females because the two X chromosomes are the ones that carry the genetic information for coat colour. The Y chromosome that males have, doesn’t impact on their coat colour. But sometimes a male cat can be born with XXY chromosomes, making it possible but very unusual for an outwardly male cat to have a tortoiseshell coat!

If you do find yourself with a male tortie, they will be born sterile and can sometimes have Klinefelter's syndrome, which causes:
Developmental issues, behavioural issues, bones that damage easy, increased body fat and possible diabetes and heart disease.

27/05/2024

Happy May Spring Bank Holiday! Time to relax, soak up the sun, and watch your cats lounge around like they own the place... oh wait, they do! During the hotter season, ensure your fur-babies are up to date on their flea/ worming and vaccinations when they go out and about. Fleas, ticks and worms appear in higher numbers as the weather warms.

Also, seasonal allergies can affect cats, they occur when a cat's immune system overreacts to foreign substances or particles called allergens. Environmental allergies increase during certain seasons, especially the spring when everything starts to bloom. Some signs to look out for are :-
-Skin irritations
-Respiratory issues
- Eye problems
- Ear infections

As the flowers bloom in the spring, please be mindful as some flowers are toxic to cats.
-Lilies
-Azaleas
-Irises
-Dahlias etc....
Please check our link in the bio for full list of toxic plants and symptoms to look out for.

24/05/2024

7 things all cat owners should know about "Cat Flu"

1. It is not ‘Flu’ as in an influenza virus; it is an umbrella term for a number of upper respiratory tract infectious bugs!

2. There are 2 viruses that can cause ‘Cat Flu’ Feline Herpesvirus 1 (FHV1), and Feline Calicivirus (FCV), and a number of bacteria that can join the infection party

3. The viruses are covered by vaccinations, and although no vaccines are 100% effective, vaccinated cats are well protected against new infections

4. Once a cat has caught FHV1 the virus will generally stay in the cat for life (similar to human herpesviruses - but don’t worry - we cannot catch the feline form!). Stress can then cause relapses to occur.

5. If a cat gets FCV, they can overcome the infection, but some will remain infected in a ‘carrier state’.

6. “Cat Flu” is highly infectious, spread by close contact with infected cats, aerosolised virus particles (eg from sneezes), AND importantly - via FOMITES - this means objects/materials that can carry the virus from one cat to another - e.g. clothing, shoes, utensils.

7. Treating a cat with ‘cat flu’ is mostly about supportive care; cleaning their snotty faces, encouraging fluid and food intake, sometimes antibiotics are needed for secondary infections, decongestants, eye drops if required, and - only if eating ok - anti-inflammatory medication. Lots of TLC!!

If you need to know more about our vaccinations click link in bio!

24/05/2024

Cats may chatter away to us, but it’s not a language we fully understand! They can’t tell us directly when something is wrong. But if your cat has started doing something odd that they didn’t do before, it is often is a cry for help.

Whether it is that they’re feeling insecure, frightened or frustrated within their environment, or possibly that a medical problem has started up.

For example - a cat may start peeing up the curtains or by the door edge of the patio doors; this is most likely a form of territory marking if there are other cats lurking about that it can see through the glass doors. A simple solution for this is to block their view through the bottom half of the doors.

Has your older cat started yowling loudly, especially at night? This behaviour is more likely to indicate a clinical problem, as it can be associated with high blood pressure, urine tract infections or sadly dementia, and they would benefit from a health screen.

Our Vet2Cat Purrfect Health Club plans cover at least 2 visits a year, where not only do we assess your cat’s more obvious clinical data we can discuss any of these ‘odd new behaviours’ and give you advice.

Click the link in bio for our health plans!

23/05/2024

Register your cat with us via our link in bio! We welcome you and your fur babies to our expert team!

22/05/2024

This month’s special kitty patient is…
TIGER!!
In true cat style, 11-year-old tabby and white Tiger decided to have a run in with another cat while his hoomans were away on holiday. Luckily for Tiger and his mum & dad, he was being well looked after by a lovely couple of friends. They noticed his face had swollen up on one side, so arranged for us to come and see him. Tiger was really looking worse for
wear, with multiple painful, infected bite wounds all over the right side of his head, right near the eye, and he was dehydrated. After Face-Timing with his hoomans in the Maldives to
explain the situation, we gave Tiger a sedation to allow us to clean up the wounds and give him some fluids, some antibiotics and pain relief, healing gel and a silly (soft) cone of
shame. He had a rough patch but with time and TLC Tiger has made a full recovery .
If you want to read Tiger´s full story please check our link in bio!

21/05/2024

Thank you to everyone that raised a catcocktail to celebrate with us and contributed to this great result for ! We are grateful to have such an amazing community supporting us!

20/05/2024

Under new legislation, from 10th June 2024, all cats over the age of 20 weeks will be required to be microchipped.

If your cat is found to be without a microchip, you will be given 21 days to get them microchipped or you could face a fine of up to £500.

Microchips are very useful to reunite cats with their families if they go walkabout or if they are injured and taken to a vet.

In 2022, the RSPCA said that 83% of cats handed into their care did not have a microchip so could not be reunited with their families.

Having your cat microchipped and keeping your microchip details up to date with your current contact details is so important to increase the chance of getting your cat back in case they go missing.

17/05/2024

May is Feline Hypertension Awareness MonthFeline hypertension is hard to detect as there are no obvious signs in the early stages, or they are confused with age-related situations. It can present as a condition on itself or it can be a symptom of underlying disease. In any case, it is important to check, as it affects approximately one in five cats over nine years old. When detected early, it can be treated, as well as any underlying conditions. Left undiagnosed and untreated, it can damage the kidneys, heart, brain and eyes. That is why we are offering a special discount on blood pressure checks. Check out our stories and highlights to find out more details!

16/05/2024

"Human, you believe you're the boss, but we all know who really rules the roost... and it's definitely not you!"



Ever wonder what your cat really thinks? Don't worry, we may never truly understand our cats' thought pattern, but we wouldn't have it any other way! Register with us for expert care and endless laughs!

12/05/2024

On International Nurses Day, we want to give a round of applause to the unsung heroes of veterinary care – our incredible vet nurses! From soothing nervous pets to assisting in surgeries, their dedication and compassion keep our furry friends happy and healthy every day.

We couldn't do what we do without their expertise, empathy, and tireless efforts. So let's join together in celebrating vet nurses worldwide and thanking them for their invaluable contributions to animal welfare!

Read about our team on the Link in bio!

12/05/2024

The extended team of Vet2Cat making this event possible and celebrating!
We look forward to the next one!

11/05/2024

The day is here! We are celebrating our 5th anniversary with a fun-d-raiser for . More pics to follow as we go!

10/05/2024

Ever wonder why cats love to knock things off counters and tables? It's not just random mischief – it's their way of exploring and interacting with their environment!

Cats are very curious creatures with natural hunting skills. When they knock objects off surfaces, they're often mimicking hunting behaviour or testing whether that item is prey or not. Many cats love to be up high to survey their surroundings from a safe space, so if you have any valuable ornaments, we'd recommend displaying them in a cat-safe place!

So next time your kitty sends your belongings flying, remember, it's just their way of staying entertained and engaged! There are many reasons why this can be the case.
The questions that need to be asked are:-
Has anything changed outside, e.g. building works? perhaps more cats in the area?
Sometimes cats may be fearful of something outside, often never known by the owner, and feel it is safer to toilet indoors. When cats urinate or defecate, it puts them in a very vulnerable position with any potential attackers. Other questions to ask are about your cat's health:- Are they getting older and arthritic? Is their vision or hearing not what it used to be? Do they have a urinary tract or bowel problem making them need 'to go' more frequently?
Providing your cat with the option of an indoor loo can not only help your cat's mental wellbeing, but can also save you a lot of cleaning!