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2 Short Street, Bankstown

(02) 9709 6844

Fairford Road Animal Hospital

All about fabulous felines!

At Fairford Road Animal Hospital we have a particular interest in cats. We celebrate their uniqueness, their importance in the animal kingdom, and their special place in our history and our hearts.

So, what would you like to know about cats? Our team of animal lovers is a great place to start if you want to learn about caring for a kitty.

Cats belong to the family Felidae which comprises three genera:

• Felis – Non-roaring cats (except for the cheetah)
• Panthera – Roaring cats such as lions, tigers, jaguars and leopards
• Acinonyx – Cheetahs only (they don’t roar, but they don’t have retracting claws like other cats either).

Modern domestic kitties belong to the genus Felis. They are believed to have evolved from the African wild cat and are the only domesticated species. There are approximately 60 recognised breeds.

With approximately 61% of households in Australia owning pets we have one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world. The RSPCA estimates that of the more than 29 million pets in Australia, 27% are cats.

Cats are not native to Australia and are thought to have arrived with early European settlers, however some of the feral population may have arrived with fisherman or come ashore from shipwrecks hundreds of years ago. They were introduced into the wild in the 1800’s to control the rabbit, rat, and mice populations, but with their uncontrolled spread throughout most of Australia the feral cat population has become a menace to native species.

Ask any cat owner and they’ll tell you that cats make great pets. They offer companionship, affection, entertainment, and they’re trainable! Cats can live indoors, they’re clean and are self-groomers, can use a litter box without training, and they’ll make you laugh!

Cats will live happily with kids and many other animals including dogs, and can make a valuable contribution to your health and happiness. If you’re thinking of getting a kitty, remember that due to ongoing medical and dietary advancements, some live up to 20 years and longer!

Ten interesting kitty facts...

Thinking about a new addition to your family? Why not adopt, and give a loving animal a home for life? Australia has a huge homeless animal problem and adopting a pet makes space for another in a rehoming shelter. Adopting provides the advantage of many choices of breed and age, therefore you’ll be able to find the kitty of your dreams.

We are proud to work with Monika’s Doggie Rescue (which re-homes dogs and cats) and Cat Rescue Mission. If you’re thinking of getting a new furry family member we encourage you to check with these hardworking and caring animal-lovers to see what animals they have.

Monika’s Doggie Rescue at run by volunteers at Ingleside, is a no-kill shelter and registered charity, that rescues and re-homes abandoned animals from death row in Sydney’s pounds.

See Pets Looking for Homes

Cat Rescue Mission based in Western Sydney, encourages responsible pet ownership, helps with desexing of homeless cats and re-homes stray and abandoned cats.

See Pets Looking for Homes

Next time your kitty’s looking for a great place to stay with comfy beds, great food, and room service from cat-crazy attendants, look no further than our cat boarding.

Our cat condos have been purpose-built so that cats have privacy and comfort and thanks to sophisticated climate-controlled air conditioning, kitties receive only clean air and they can’t smell each other!

They don’t need to worry about those pesky dogs either, as canine guests stay in a different wing of the hotel!

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What are some of the most important aspects of kitty care? Check these out…

Cats need an age-appropriate quality diet, and being carnivores they need a source of animal protein for good health. They will therefore not thrive on a vegan diet.

Clean litter for cats is essential as it’s extremely important for your cat’s kidney and urinary health. Aside from dirty litter trays smelling dreadful, they’re likely to discourage your cat from going to the toilet.

Cats need more than shelter, food, and a clean litter box to have a fulfilling life. They also need environmental enrichment which means creating an environment where a cat’s instinctual needs are met

Preventing illness and disease where possible and detecting and treating problems early, are key to good feline health care, which is why we recommend they visit us at least annually.

Variety can be achieved by offering cooked or raw fresh meat, and whilst cats usually love fish it’s not appropriate as a full-time diet due to high levels of fatty acid which can cause a deficiency of vitamin E.

If you have any questions please check with us. We carry a range of high quality diet products for cats of all ages.

This can cause serious health issues resulting from urine becoming very concentrated which can lead to lower urinary tract disease. That’s why you need to ensure that your kitty’s litter is cleaned daily (preferably more frequently).

otherwise they can become stressed, anxious, and bored.

They need a safe space where they can hide to feel safe and relaxed. They need to hunt to be physically and mentally healthy, and they need positive and predictable human interaction, so we should play with our cats for at least approximately 15 minutes each day. Play (where they “catch” the prey), followed by food, can help to satisfy their natural hunting, catching, and eating cycle.

Seniors (from 10 years) or cats with health concerns, should visit more often. Routine exams help us to better understand your cat’s needs, and provides us the opportunity to spot problems before they become serious.

We will recommend certain vaccines and parasite preventatives based on your cat’s risk factors. We will also recommend various tests. Routine blood and urine testing are some of the tests which are important for maintaining a kitty health.

Dental disease is an often-overlooked threat to the health of cats and regular dental checks and cleaning are essential in order to maintain your cat’s dental health.

Would you know if your kitty was a little on the portly side? We often like to spoil our cats, and cats like to eat, so it can be easy to overfeed them, but just a couple of extra kilos can increase the chances of health problems

Not that long ago, cats were considered seniors at eight years old however thanks to improved nutrition and advances in veterinary medicine, cats live longer and are now considered senior from 10 years, with some living into their 20’s.

Cats are often misunderstood; perceived as opposite to their warm and affectionate counterpart the family dog, and considered to be selfish and aloof.

Bad breath is a sign of dental disease and left untreated it can lead to threatening illnesses. As many as 80% of pets over the age of two have some form of dental disease. Signs include:

• Bad breath
• Yellow, brown, or discoloured teeth
• Loose teeth
• Red, inflamed gums
• Swollen mouth, jaws, or gums
• Pain when eating

such as type -2 diabetes and make others like arthritis worse. Depending on how overweight they are, it can also even prevent them from grooming themselves properly. Keeping off excess weight will help to make your kitty healthier and happier.
We can let you know if your cat is overweight, but there are some signs you can look for yourself. Cats should have an hourglass figure when you’re looking down at them, they shouldn’t have a saggy belly hanging down, and you should be able to feel their ribs.
Weight gain usually comes down to the type and quantity of food cats are fed, and boredom eating can also lead to obesity. We can provide advice on an appropriate weight and diet for your cat. We also carry a wide range of premium diet products.

Growing older is not a disease yet older cats tend to be less active and playful, they may sleep more, gain or lose weight, and can have trouble reaching their favourite places. It can’t however be assumed that health and behaviour changes are related as they can be signs of common diseases or problems that need veterinary attention.

Making sure older cats have easy access to the things they enjoy and/or need is critical. Medication and preventatives are sometimes the easier things to remember yet we tend to forget about addressing food, water and litter box issues and the practical things we can do for older cats. To help them enjoy their golden years we recommend six monthly checkups to help us detect and treat problems early.

While it’s true that kitties tend to possess an independent streak, their personalities can vary considerably, and cats do bond and become affectionate with people.

The human-cat bonding experience can be complex and cats don’t necessarily bond equally with every person in their home but social interaction and companionship are important and if cats don’t get to share proximity and time with their preferred companions, they get lonely. With a balanced approach and patience you can establish a bond with your cat that’s based on mutual respect.

Cats like to share affection in a feline fashion and proximity is an important way they show it. Trying to interact with cats in human way such as hugging, kissing, and prolonged petting can bother cats. Respect and companionship are essential for your kitty’s happiness and wellbeing.

Cats of course don’t actually have nine lives, therefore we need to protect them from diseases caused by viruses and bacteria with vaccinations.

It’s important to keep your cat healthy and free of parasites. Fleas and worms not only affect your cat, but the health of you and your family. It can be relatively common for a cat to become infected with an internal or external parasite at some point in its lifetime

Desexing is an effective strategy to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Animal shelters receive thousands of animals every year, and many of these unwanted animals are the result of unplanned breeding.

Microchips are an effective way for cats to be reunited with their owners if they become lost, and vets and pounds routinely examine strays for microchips. They are a permanent ID and last the life of the pet.

We can help you figure out which vaccines are appropriate for your kitty and how often they should be vaccinated which is usually determined by age, overall health, and lifestyle. Consideration will be given to how long vaccines last and how likely your cat might be to come into contact with a certain diseases.

Kittens should start getting vaccinations when they are 6 to 8 weeks old, until they are about 16 weeks old. Then they must be “boostered” a year later. The shots come in a series every 3 to 4 weeks. Adult cats need shots less often, usually every year or every 3 years, depending on how long a vaccine is designed to last.

and they can affect your cat in a variety of ways, ranging from a simple irritation to causing life-threatening illnesses if left untreated. All parasites, particularly internal parasites (worms), can carry and transmit diseases to people.

We recommend having your cat tested for parasites annually and protecting them and your family by maintaining your cat’s preventative treatments. We can provide advice on what’s suitable for your cat.

Cats can become pregnant by four months of age, so it is important to desex them before this time to protect them from unwanted pregnancies.

In addition to helping to address Australia’s significant homeless animal problems, desexed animals are generally less likely to suffer from certain diseases and illnesses such as mammary cancer and uterine infections in females and prostate problems in males.

It helps to reduce behavioural problems such as roaming, aggression and urine marking in males, and in females it prevents mating behaviour and false pregnancy. Reducing the desire to roam also reduces the risk of being injured in a fight or a traumatic accident such as being hit by a car. Research shows that desexed animals can actually live longer.

Microchips are about the size of a grain of rice and they are usually inserted at the back of the neck between the shoulder blades.

Owners’ information must be kept up-to-date in the recovery program database for vets and pounds to be able to link cats with their owners and there are a number of registers that record this information such as The National Pet Register http://www.petregister.net/forms/change-address/form.html, and Pet Address : www.petaddress.com.au.

Feliway®

Feliway® is a synthetic copy of the feline facial pheromone used by cats to mark their territory as safe and secure. By mimicking the cat’s natural facial pheromones, Feliway® creates a state of familiarity and security in the cat’s local environment thereby helping to calm them down and help relieve stress and anxiety.

There a a number of Feliway products available for use at home and we carry Feliway spray. If you would like to learn more about how Feliway might help your cat or purchase it, please pay us a visit.

Call us on 9709 6844

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