FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How long is a cat pregnant for?
How often does a cat go into heat?
Ear Mites and my cat?
Why should I spay/neuter my cat?
How old should my cat be for spay or neuter?
Can a Pregnant Pet be vaccinated?
Can I give vaccines myself?
Why is a Feline Leukemia Test Required Prior to Vaccination?
Why is pre-anesthetic bloodwork recommended?
Why is pre-anesthetic bloodwork required for surgery/anesthesia if my cat is over 7 years of age?
Can’t you just give my cat the vaccinations? I don’t want the physical exam, all I want are shots.

Q: How long is a cat pregnant for?
A: 9 weeks

Q: How often does a cat go into heat?
A: Heat cycles may start as early as 4-5 months, and will continue until she is either bred or spayed. Heat cycles in cats last from several days to two weeks or longer, and repeat every two to three weeks.

Q: Ear Mites and my cat?
A: Most ear mite cases are found in cats. Dogs can be infected as well but, since dogs more commonly get ear infections of other types, ear infections in dogs rarely involve mites. A characteristic dry black ear discharge commonly said to resemble coffee grounds is produced by ear mites. If you suspect your pet may have ear mites, please contact Apple Grove Veterinary Care to schedule an appointment.

Back to FAQ List

Q: Why should I spay/neuter my cat?
A: All pets not intended for breeding should be surgically spayed / neutered for many important reasons. In addition to improving the health and behavior of your pet, you will be doing your part to reduce the high unwanted pet population in cats. Millions of unwanted animals are euthanized each year because good homes are limited and most pets simply cannot be adopted out.

Benefits - Females:

• Prevents signs of heat
• Prevents blood stains from heat
• Decreases chance of breast tumors
• Eliminates chance of cystic ovaries
• Eliminates chance of uterine infections
• No unwanted pregnancies or offspring
• Makes pets more affectionate companions and less temperamental
• They live longer

Benefits - Males:

• Prostate cancer incidence reduced
• Testicular disease eliminated
• Decreases roaming
• Decreases aggression
• Eliminates undesirable sexual behavior
• Prevents spraying / marking
• Decreases odor of urine
• Makes pets more affectionate companions and less temperamental
• They live longer

Your cat will not get fat or lazy because of this surgery. Diet, exercise and heredity have much more influence on the weight and attitude of your pet.

Surgery can be performed as early as four months of age, but can be done at any age thereafter. Surgery is performed while your pet is under general anesthesia. At Apple Grove Veterinary Care we require a pain management program. Surgical risk is minimal and your pet will go home the following day.

Back to FAQ List

Q: How old should my cat be for spay or neuter?
A: 4 months or 4 lbs

Q: Can a Pregnant Pet be vaccinated?
A: It is important that live vaccines NOT be used in pregnant pets. This is because a "modified" virus that will not cause illness in the mother may still be strong enough to infect the unborn puppies or kittens. Killed vaccines may be given during pregnancy though, as a general rule, it is best not to give any medical treatments during pregnancy if it can be avoided. While the administration of killed vaccines is commonly performed in large animals and food animals, it is not routine for dogs or cats.

Back to FAQ List

Q: Can I give vaccines myself?
A: It is physically possible to give vaccines yourself if you know how to give a subcutaneous injection. In many areas, some pet vaccines are considered over-the-counter medications and you can get them from your local pharmacy or by mail order.

We do not recommend this practice for the following reasons:

• It may be difficult for you to properly dispose of the needles.
• If there is any type of acute allergic reaction, you will not be prepared to address it.
• In cats, there are specific guidelines regarding where vaccines should be placed. This makes the process trickier especially with uncooperative cats.
• You may get bitten.
• If you do not know where to give each type of vaccine, you could be increasing the risk of vaccine-site tumor formation.
• You may not have kept proper records of vaccination should proof of vaccination be needed. Facilities requiring proof of vaccination may be unwilling to accept your own word that your pet is vaccinated adequately.
• Modified live vaccines are somewhat sensitive to proper storage. They cannot be mixed up in advance and their components must be kept at the proper temperature. This may be difficult depending on how vaccine is transported to your home.

Back to FAQ List

Q: Why is a Feline Leukemia Test Required Prior to Vaccination?
A: The feline leukemia virus has potential to be dormant in a carrier cat without any signs of illness, and this carrier state can persist for years. During this time, the cat is contagious and at risk for numerous problems. Many people want to skip the test to save money but, in fact, it is of great importance to know if a cat is harboring this infection. Knowing that a cat is positive allows you to save money by not unnecessarily vaccinating for feline leukemia. Furthermore, if an owner is aware of a cat's positive status, the pet can be kept away from other cats thus preventing the spread of the disease. An owner can prepare financially for expected treatments needed for this cat if the owner is aware of the positive test. We feel strongly that testing is important whenever a new cat is obtained as a pet.

Q: Why is pre-anesthetic bloodwork recommended?
A: For young animals it is used to detect congenital problems w/ liver or kidneys. If there are problems identified, they may not be able to withstand anesthesia. If bloodwork is determined normal it is used as a baseline for the future should medical issues arise.

Back to FAQ List

Q: Why is pre-anesthetic bloodwork required for surgery/anesthesia if my cat is over 7 years of age?
A: As pets age, they undergo many physical & mental changes, blood screens are necessary to monitor the health of senior pets and keep them as healthy as possible and prevent any complications that may arise with anesthesia and surgery.

Q: “Can’t you just give my cat the vaccinations? I don’t want the physical exam, all I want are shots.”
A: Short Answer “No.” We believe we have an obligation to do everything we can to ensure an animal’s health prior to administering vaccinations, it is essential that a veterinarian do a general health evaluation of each pet.

This provides three services:

Establishes safety. A Sick animal will be further stressed when exposed to a vaccination (an injection of foreign materials which is intended to generate an immune response). This increased stress often makes the animal more sick, causing discomfort and sometimes life-threatening complications.

Ensures efficacy. Animals that are not healthy may not mount effective immune responses to the vaccinations, diminishing the value of the vaccines. This is especially important for Rabies vaccination, as the first vaccination is typically not followed by a booster shot for one year. Additionally, when using Rabies vaccinations that are licensed for three years, declining immunity over time can render your pet (and your family, since unvaccinated pets can expose people to rabies) unprotected near the end of the vaccination period.

Enables detection of sub clinical problems. Often, a thorough physical exam allows us to detect health problems before they become threatening to the health and comfort of your pet. We can find (and treat) disease such as:

• Dental disease, including tooth decay, gingivitis, and tarter buildup
• Benign and malignant cancers, including mammary tumors, skin masses, and abdominal tumors
• Ear infections
• Heart disease
• EARLY detection is the key to successfully treating and/or curing many of these ailments.

Back to FAQ List