Books and Articles by Paul D. Pion

Veterinarians see every imaginable problem a cat can get into. Although every animal lost is a tragedy, some of those are a little harder to take than others. Into this class falls those cats whose deaths were the results of something an owner could have done to protect them but didn’t know about.We want you to know about them, so we’ve assembled in this list of the most common household dangers your cat may face.

With the evolution of the cat from semiwild hunter to loving companion animal has become a change not only in how cats are loved but also where cats are kept. Increasingly, more cats are living indoors (see the following figure).Still, even though litter boxes can be easy to care for and odor-free, some people refuse to deal with them.

Pedigreed cats are roughly divided by experts into two groups that are distinguished by body type and activity level: Oriental and non-Oriental.The breeds in the first group, the Oriental, are notable for their long, sleek bodies and active participation in the world around them. They’re not happy unless they’re supervising dinner, climbing to the top of the bookshelf, teasing that dopey dog, or seeing what every member of the household is up to.

Some signs of a healthy cat or kitten are obvious to anyone; others require a veterinarian’s help to pinpoint. Before you settle on a promising kitten or cat, perform your own health check, and be sure to follow up with your veterinarian within a day or so.Don’t fall in love with a sick cat. With so many kittens and cats available for adoption, it just doesn’t make sense to take a chance on one who may cost you a great deal of money in veterinary costs—and may not be with you long, anyway.

If your cat gets injured or becomes ill, you may need to make a quick trip to the vet or to the emergency care facility. Following is a list of some symptoms that require your cat to see a veterinarian now: Seizure, fainting, or collapse. Eye injury, no matter how mild. Vomiting or diarrhea — anything more than two or three times within an hour or so.

Preventive care for your cat — just like for you — is more cost-effective than crisis care, and easier on both your pet and your bank account in the long run. The following lists give you some preventive-care guidelines. Talk to your veterinarian to find out what is best for your pet.Kitten veterinary care Initial exam and feline leukemia test within 48 hours of adoption and prior to introduction to other cats.

Whether you’re adopting a playful kitten or a full-grown cat, you want to welcome your new feline friend to his or her new home by having all the essentials already in place. The following list contains the basic items you need to have on hand before you bring kitty home. (Any extra treats or toys will surely be appreciated.

Call them "shots" if you want, but vaccinations deserve a lot of respect for cutting the rates of infectious disease in cats. A series of vaccines for kittens and annual vaccines for cats are still believed to be one of the best ways to ensure good health for your cat. Be aware that the need for annual boosters beyond the initial kitten series and the first annual booster is being reevaluated for many of the vaccines given today.