Cat Advice

Learn about weight issues, common cat diseases and parasitic treatments

Vaccination

Cats need to be vaccinated before they are allowed out in the big wide world, this is to protect them against diseases and infections such as feline leukaemia and feline calcivirus.

At South Wales Vets we use Veterinary Licenced vaccines manufactured by MSD for our cats, and can vaccinate kittens from 9 weeks old. Kittens need to have 2 vaccines given 3 weeks apart to give them the maximum protection when venturing outdoors. They cannot go out until at least 7 days after their 2nd vaccination.

All cats then need a yearly booster vaccination given 12 months after their 2nd kitten vaccination, for the rest of their lives. If you do not get your cat’s annual booster done, you are risking them picking up infections even though they have received their kitten vaccinations. If you run over due on your cat’s vaccinations, they can be re-started by having 2 vaccines given 3 weeks apart – just like when they were a kitten.

We offer a kitten package which includes: 

  • 1st and 2nd vaccine
  • microchip
  • 1 x flea treatment
  • 1 x wormer

Please contact the branch you would like to visit to make an appointment.

Feeding

There are many different ways that you can feed your cat, whether it be 2 small meals a day, 1 large meal or ad-lib. The most important thing is that it suits you and your cat, and your cat is healthy.

Diet plays a massive part in your cat’s health, and it’s important to feed a diet that is correct for their size and life stage.

At South Wales Vets we stock Eukanuba diets. They offer a variety of diets for all stages of life but at an affordable cost.

Even though adult cats are fine to have 1 large meal a day, kittens are very different. It’s best to spread your kitten’s daily food allowance over 3 - 4 small meals per day, this is because they need a lot of nutrients to help them grow and simply cannot intake enough in 1 large meal. They must also be on a kitten diet as this contains higher amounts of the nutrients that they require, while adult diets are much lower.

We offer a kitten package which includes: 

  • 1st and 2nd vaccine
  • microchip
  • 1 x flea treatment
  • 1 x wormer

Please contact the branch you would like to visit to make an appointment.

Worming

Worming your cat is extremely important to protect not only your cat against unwanted parasites, but also yourself.

We use Veterinary Licenced wormers in South Wales Vets which protect your cat against the following worms:

  • Roundworm
  • Hookworm
  • Tapeworm
  • Heartworm

This wormer can be given to kittens from 6 weeks of age or 0.5kg in weight, whichever comes first. This is extremely important as kittens are highly susceptible to worms, and some can be passed to kittens from their Mother. Nursing queens can be treated safely with this treatment.

We recommend the following worming schedule:

  • Kittens from 6 to 12 weeks – worm every 2 weeks
  • Kittens from 12 weeks to 6 months – worm monthly
  • Cats from 6 months old – worm every 3 months as a minimum

If you have small children in your house hold we recommend monthly worming for all cats until the children are old enough to wash their hands after playing with the cat, to prevent eggs being ingested.

We also recommend that you bring your cat in to one of our branches for a Free weight check every time you require worm tablets as their dosage requirements will change as they get bigger. Once they are fully grown weight checks every 3 months are sufficient.

We offer a kitten package which includes: 

  • 1st and 2nd vaccine
  • microchip
  • 1 x flea treatment
  • 1 x wormer

Please contact the branch you would like to visit to make an appointment.

Neutering

At South Wales Vets we have a strong belief in neutering all pets to prevent unwanted litters. We work closely with a number of different charities to help encourage people into neutering, and neutering early.

We neuter dogs from 6 months of age, and cats from 16 weeks. This is because cats can breed from a much earlier age than dogs, and are usually pregnant by the time owners realise they can breed. 

We do not spay bitches in season. This is because it can cause complications during surgery and added risks to your dog’s health, we will spay them 12 weeks post-season. Males can be castrated any time after the 6 month mark. Many people do not believe in castrating males, however neutering can prevent many health problems in dogs and also prevent many behavioural issues. Please visit Dogs Trust for more information.

When dogs and cats are neutered, they will have stitches that need to be removed in 10 - 14 days and a buster collar to prevent them pulling out their stitches (not male cats).

To book your dog or cat in please contact the branch you would like to visit.

We offer a kitten package which includes: 

  • 1st and 2nd vaccine
  • microchip
  • 1 x flea treatment
  • 1 x wormer

Please contact the branch you would like to visit to make an appointment.

Microchipping

Budget Vets recommend that all pets are microchipped, especially dogs and cats. Microchipping is a wonderful way of ensuring that if your pet gets lost and found, it can be traced back to you. Collars and tags can get lost and broken, but once microchipped it stays under their skin for life.

The microchip is placed under the skin between the shoulder blades with a microchip “gun”, the gun has a long sharp disposable needle on the end that goes under the skin, but is thick enough to allow the microchip to pass through. It is a very quick process, and usually only takes a couple of seconds.

The microchip can be read through a microchip reader, which when passed over the microchip lets of a loud beep and displays an identification number. This number is then entered into a database which brings up your details. This means that you can change your details as many times as required, but we never have to microchip your pet again.

We offer the microchip as part of our puppy and kitten pack’s, and recommend Microchipping as soon as possible before you start to allow your pet outside.

We offer a kitten package which includes: 

  • 1st and 2nd vaccine
  • microchip
  • 1 x flea treatment
  • 1 x wormer

Please contact the branch you would like to visit to make an appointment.

Dental

Dental care in animals is a very important area to keep on top of. You can do this by bringing your pet in for dental checks in any of our branches and getting some advice on the dental care that your pet requires.

Starting early on in your pet’s life will help to prevent the majority of dental issues that older pets now face

We have many dental kits available for both cats and dogs which include a small toothbrush, a finger brush and a tube of toothpaste that is flavoured like fish for cats and meat for dogs to encourage them to enjoy it. Daily or at least weekly brushing can help prevent them needing a general anaesthetic and full blown dental when they are older and at a higher risk from anaesthetics.

If an older pet does require dental treatment, we can offer a pre-anaesthetic blood test to ensure that the liver and kidney function is at a high enough level to support the body under an anaesthetic.

Rabbits require things to chew on, such as blocks of wood. This helps them to wear down their front and back teeth. If they do not get worn down they can become overgrown, causing health problems due to them not being able to eat. Overgrowing teeth is a common problem in rabbits, and can be treated by having the teeth burred off every couple of months if chewing doesn’t help.

Fleas

At South Wales Vets we use a Veterinary Licenced flea treatment for all of our cats and dogs, and give it as the flea treatment in our kitten and puppy packs.

This is a spot-on treatment that is dosed based on your pets weight, so is very accurate and runs no risk of under or over dosing your pet.

If your pet already has fleas it is very likely that they are also in your home. We would therefore recommend a household spray such as Indorex.

We offer a kitten package which includes: 

  • 1st and 2nd vaccine
  • microchip
  • 1 x flea treatment
  • 1 x wormer

Please contact the branch you would like to visit to make an appointment.

Fat Fighters

Like the rest of us our pets often overindulge and it's never too late to think about a weight loss regime. There are several health risks associated with overweight pets including diabetes, heart disease and joint problems.

There are several health risks associated with overweight pets including diabetes, heart disease and joint problems. Often weight loss can be achieved with simple steps such as reducing treats and adding in extra walks. Some animals find it more difficult to lose the weight and we may advise starting a prescriptions weight loss diet to aid the weight loss.

Have a look at your pet, is their tummy sagging? Can you see an obvious waist line? Can you fell any ribs? Please come and have a chat with one of our vets or nurses to discuss a weight loss plan. We like to get to know our patients and owners well to come up with the best plan for you. We advise regular free weight checks and chats to monitor progress and give support. As your pet begins to lose weight the benefits can be seen quite quickly with an increase in vitality and energy.

In some cases excess weight may be due to a medical problem such as low thyroid levels. This can be screened for with a simple blood test.

We offer a kitten package which includes: 

  • 1st and 2nd vaccine
  • microchip
  • 1 x flea treatment
  • 1 x wormer

Please contact the branch you would like to visit to make an appointment.

Pet Travel Scheme

Does your pet deserve a holiday? The Pet Travel Scheme has been under operation for about 10 years and allows your pet to travel with you between affiliated countries without the need for quarantine.

The rules have recently changed and there is no longer a blood test required.

Step 1: Get your pet microchipped.

Step 2: Come in for a health check and a Rabies Vaccination with one of our “LVI” Vets. We can then issue your pet’s passport.

Step 3: Your pet may travel 21 days after the rabies vaccination. NB some transport operatives will require a health check prior to travel.

Step 4: A tapeworm treatment is required before travel back to the UK by an affiliated vet.

We would always advise all vaccinations are up to date prior to travel as well as routine flea and worm treatments.

For all travel enquiry's please contact us on our designated email address: travel@southwalesvets.co.uk. Please note we cannot deal with any travel enquiry's direct in any of the branches.  If you are planning to travel to a country outside of the PETS Travel Scheme please contact DEFRA (08459 33 55 77).