Purina Cat Chow: Cat Care Center: Adult Cat Care Center

Physical. Emotional. Complete.® - That's the Purina® Cat Chow® Way of Life®

They're all grown up—it's time to start treating, and feeding, them that way. Just because they're older, however, doesn't mean they're completely self-sufficient. Adult cats have nutritional needs particular to their life stage just as kittens and senior cats do, and they need your help to meet them. The CatChow.com Adult Care Center will clue you in on what you need to know.

Search the library below by clicking a topic or by using our library search tool.



	Ask a Mentor

Topic: Kitten Health

There are no articles for this category.

Can a kitten really get pink eye?

My cat is 7 weeks old and is a stray. When do I need to take her for shots?

My kitten was vaccinated against rabies when she was four months old at the shelter. We had her spayed when she was six months old. They accidentally gave her another rabies vaccine at that time. What will this do? What are the symptoms I should watch for?

Please tell me when I can get my kitten’s vaccinations and spayed/neutered?

Do kittens need rabies shots if it is intended to keep them indoors?

My kitten has been treated for worms; how long will it take for them to be dead?

Could you tell me how we can estimate the age of a stray calico that has stationed himself/herself at our home?

Are there any flea treatments available for kittens younger than six weeks?

My 10-week-old kitten is having problems gaining weight but her energy level has never decreased. Should I be concerned about her low weight gain?

Our kitten's tail has been cut off half way. Will it grow back when it grows older?

At what age can you safely use flea control on kittens?

What does it mean when a kitten has blood in its stool?

My kitten attacked her own tail and continued to do so until I wrapped it with bandages. My kitten was actually hissing and biting severely at her own tail. Once the bandages were on she seemed to be okay, but the moment they are off she's at it again. Is this normal, or is there something seriously wrong?

My kitten is 12 weeks old and weighs 5.5 lbs. Is this normal?

I have heard of something called 'Soft Paws.' What exactly does this entail?

How many stools can I expect my kitten to have in a 24-hour period?

Friends told me I should start brushing my 4-month-old kitten's teeth now so that he gets used to it. I have never heard of this. Is brushing a cat's teeth recommended or even necessary?

What are the symptoms of leukemia in a kitten?

I have two kittens about 16 weeks old. When do they start coughing up hairballs?

Is it wise to put 'people' perfume or aftershave on a kitten? I think it could be dangerous for them because of their constant grooming.

I have two one-month kittens who have deformed paws or clubbed feet. They look like they are walking on their elbows. Someone referred to this condition as mitten paws. Is it treatable? Will they outgrow it? Do they need corrective surgery? They do not have extra toes and one leg seems shorter than the other. Their legs are not straight.

In September, our cat Kiki had 4 kittens and one was born without a front limb. He seems to get around okay but I'm worried about his survival chances. What do you recommend we do with him?

Should a kitten be de-wormed as preventive care whether or not the stool sample reads negative for internal parasites? If so, when should the second deworming be done in order to prevent the second cycle from hatching?

Our two 4-week-old kittens are going through oral and dipping treatments for ringworm. What precautions should we take to prevent spreading ringworm to our family and our 5-year-old cat?

I will be getting a kitten from the animal shelter that will give all the first shots, spay/neuter and test for diseases. Should I still take the kitten to the vet immediately or wait? If so, how long?

I have two kittens and the youngest purrs extremely loud at night. I'm wondering if she has a respiratory problem?

Is there anything that can control cat's shedding?

Why is it that the color of the cat's eyes is sometimes small with large pupils and then sometimes large with small pupils? What does this mean?

What is the easiest way to tell a male kitten from a female kitten?

About 3 weeks ago I purchased a new set of bowls for my kitten's water and food and now she doesn't seem to be eating or drinking as much as she used to. What can we do to help her? I threw away the old bowls.

Are kittens born with ringworm? Should I keep the other animals away? Should I stay away?

When my kitten meows it only blows out air but at the end it meows. Can you tell me if something is wrong with my kitten?

My cat is black and white and now that it's summer she's getting black freckle-like dots in the furless area in front of her ears. What is it?

What can I do for my kitten's bad breath?

What are some common ailments that a young kitten may experience within the first few months of life?

We are adopting a kitten that is paraplegic. Are there any advice book or orthopedic aides that you may know of?

How many hours per day should a 7-8 week old kitten sleep?

How do I deal with my cat's hairballs?

Do kittens hiccup?

My veterinarian did some experiments like dropping things on the floor that made a loud sound and my kitten didn't even move. He still purrs constantly, uses the litter box and eats, but that's all - very little playing. Is there something wrong with my kitten?

My one-year-old male cat's urine has a really strong odor. Can you help me to understand why?

How important is a cat's urinary tract to its health?

My kitten has horrible breath. I was wondering what could be causing this and how I can fix it?

How do you prevent bad breath on a cat?

When I went to have my kitten spayed, the vet told me it was a male with a penis but no testicles. Then after surgery I was told they removed a floating ovary. They still insist it is a male even though no testicles were found. Is this possible?

I was combing my 6-month-old kitten and noticed a flea. I was wondering how safe and effective are flea collars and sprays? Should I treat my home as well?

Why does only one of my kittens have fleas and the other doesn't?

I was thinking about getting pet insurance for my kitten but there are so many to choose from. How do I choose which one is best for me?

My 8 month old kitten refuses to chew her dry food - she just swallows it whole. She does not vomit it up but I'm afraid her teeth will suffer long term with her never chewing. Her littermate chews all his dry food. Is there anything I can try?

My newly acquired 3-1/2 month old kitten's fur seems to have thinned in front of her ears, above her eyes, and on her face. This has occurred in the same spot on both sides of her face. Otherwise she seems fine and I have not noticed any excessive scratching behavior. Is she O.K.?

A cat trainer recommended giving olive oil to my kittens to help keep fur balls under control. I have also heard it's good for giving kittens a shiny coat. If this is true, how much and how often should I give it to my two 5 month old kittens. They really do love it.

My kitten, now 9 months old, urinates only about twice a day. Is this normal? Everything else seems ok; it just seems to be infrequent.

My 9 week old kitten is a special breed that does not have a tail. It is called something like a Japanese bobtail or bobcat. Are there any special precautions or information that I should know about?

My cat is 15 years old; to have his teeth cleaned and checked requires he be put under sedation. I am afraid it could kill him, are my fears appropriate or groundless?

How do you know when your kitten is overtired? Will he close just one eye?

I have a 6-month-old kitten and the vet said that this cat is called many digits because she has extra toes. Do you have any info on this kind of cat? I need info on behavior and how to take care of her.

What exactly needs to be done to find out if a kitten has ringworm and how do you treat it? We found a kitten and 5 of the people who came in contact with this kitten contracted ringworm. After two different vet visits because she had no visible signs, the vet did offer me an anti-fungal shampoo. How do I know if she is cured since she had no visible signs of ever having the disease? What concerns me also is that my vet did not give any oral meds. We are afraid to touch her and I know she has become very lonely.

If I have a cold, can my kittens get sick from me?

I recently went to the doctor and was told I have a bacterial infection, not just a regular old cold. How careful should I be around my kitten? Can they catch these things too? What precautions may I need to take?

Is it detrimental to a cat’s health if you smoke cigarettes around the cat?

My kitten has started to meow all the time if she's not being held. Prior to her getting pregnant she was very independent. Should I be worried or even take her to her vet?

If a clumping cat litter is being used, will it hurt the cat or the clumping effect if you add baking soda to it to help control the odor?

Do kittens need to be wormed even if you do not see worms in their stool? And if so, at what age should this be done? Are there signs to watch for?

My kitten is 18 weeks old. She was dewormed once before we got her. Is it necessary to deworm her again? I did tell the doctor to deworm her again because many years ago I had a kitten from a farm and never could get rid of those gross worms that would show up squiggly around in her vomit and feces. (Sorry I hope I'm not spoiling a meal!) At any rate, I did not think it was necessary, but considering the past situation I thought it better to be on the safe side.

We have two kittens, one is 9 months old and the other is 3 months old. We have their feeding schedule down to once a day since our 9 month old eats his food and the 3 month old's food if we don't control the situation. Is there anything we can do to better control our 9 month old's eating habits?

My kitten has horrible breath! What can I do?! Could something be wrong? Or is this natural?

Why does my kitten's eye sometimes glow different colors like green, yellow and blue?

My cat is one year old. Is there any thing I should do?

My 5 month-old kitten has been diagnosed as having a rodent ulcer on his lower lip. My vet has given medication to heal it twice now as the first time didn't work. When asking about what "rodent ulcer" was she said to look it up online. Too many complicated answers were found. Can you please give me a simple explanation what this is and is it curable.

This is our first kitten, and I want to know is there any kind of disease or parasite that humans can catch from cats?

My kitten is 5 months old now. His Veterinarian said it was not necessary to use any flea treatment during the winter months. I'm trying to make a decision on flea prevention. I know there is combination flea treatment/heartworm prevention. Do you recommend this treatment? How necessary is heartworm treatment for cats?

My cat is 3 years old. With the high cost of heating the apartment, I have been turning the heat back to 62-64 during the day when I am at work or before I go to bed at night. Sometimes when I stroke my cat, her coat feels cold and I worry that I am keeping it too cold for her. I am very hot blooded by nature so I hate to turn the heat up much past 68 degrees. What is a healthy indoor temperature for a healthy indoor cat?

What kind of diseases can kittens get? I just got my kitten and I worry.

We are getting a kitten that is around 7 weeks old. We never had any experience in caring for cats before. Can you give me a rough estimate on how much am I looking for on veterinary care, exams, shots, etc. for the lifetime of the cat?

How do you bring down a kitten’s fever?

My kitten has horrible breath. I've taken her to the vet, and there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with her. It's not an odd odor; it smells just like cat food, but it's so strong that it's overwhelming to have her near my face. My other cat never experienced such a problem. Can I do anything to make the breath go away? It's awful.

How can I calm my kitten down when he is excited?

My vet told me that my kitten has a belly button hernia. She said it was a small one and that she would fix it when the kitten gets spayed. What causes hernias in cats? Is there anything I should avoid doing with the kitten that may worsen the situation? She's not scheduled to be spayed for another month and a half.

Do kittens dehydrate easily?

I have a 10-month-old neutered, female cat. On a couple of occasions when I have been stroking her she has secreted a funny smell. It tends to be when she is very happy and enjoying being petted. Her whole fur smells of it, especially on her back, and it ends up on your hand too. I presume its some kind of musky oil? Is this normal and what's it all about? Also, after doing a poo, her fur smells bad for about 5 minutes. Is this just the smell trapped in her fur from her hooded litter tray, or should I be worried?

I have gotten two calico/Siamese mixes at five months old from a lady who was taking care of them for her sister until they found a good home. The only problem is they don't know if the cats have had immunizations and the lady is out of the country. The kittens are now 9 months old - should I get all the immunizations done just in case they haven't received them?

We got our kitten from a shelter that had neutered him at two months. We are aware that a blocked urethra, a very serious problem, can be a result of this but we are not sure how to tell if a cat has this problem. What are the symptoms?

Library Main Page

Adult Care Index Page

Back

Purina® Cat Chow® brand Cat Food Recommends:

Balanced nutrition for cats of all ages

Created for the unique needs of indoor cats

If at any time your cat is in and out of the litter box or straining to urinate, but not producing much urine it is a sign that he needs to see a veterinarian ASAP. This could be the sign of a urinary obstruction and could potentially have life-threatening consequences. If you notice these signs, don't wait, see a veterinarian.

Home

All trademarks and other intellectual property on this site are owned by Société des Produits Nestlé S.A., Vevey, Switzerland