With spring's arrival, you may take your cat outside with you, or allow your cat to go out more often. Now is the time to prepare him for the outdoors so that both of you can enjoy the spring and summer seasons more safely. By taking note of the following information, you can prevent or catch problems before they become serious.

Of course, taking care of your cat is a lifelong, year round responsibility. You should keep a detailed medical file on each of your cats to remind you of important dates such as vaccinations, grooming, and when your next fecal sample needs to be checked.

Parasites

Parasites proliferate in warm weather, the warmer it gets, the more of them that there are. With a little planning and some medical help, your cat can be kept parasite free. Ticks, fleas, heart worms and intestinal worms are the primary culprits. Your veterinarian has medications available to prevent these parasites from infesting your cat and to eliminate the parasites if already present. Talk with them to discover the best treatment option for your cat.

Fleas

Preventing fleas is much easier than treating an already established flea infestation. Topical and oral medications are quite effective in keeping your pet's flea problem to a minimum. If fleas are allowed to proliferate, your pet and your entire environment – home and yard – must be treated. Once they have settled in, it can be very hard, and expensive to get rid of them. A little work to prevent them from coming in the first place is ALWAYS worth the effort.

Ticks

Ticks can carry lime disease, which makes early prevention or removal very important. Several topical and oral medications are available to prevent and treat tick infestations. If you find a tick, remove it carefully with a tweezers or tick removal instrument.

Heart worms

Though more common in dogs, heart worms are still a preventable parasite in your cat. For cats at risk of infection, monthly preventative medication is strongly recommended, based on geographical location and lifestyle. Since mosquitoes transmit heart worms, the risk of heart worm infection is increased in the warmer months. Talk with your pet’s veterinarian to find out what the best course of prevention is for your cat.

Intestinal Parasites

Roundworms, hookworms, and coccidia are common intestinal parasites. At least once a year, you should have a fecal sample microscopically evaluated for these parasites. Early treatment can reduce the chance of serious illness.

Currently, there are monthly medications available that help prevent some of these parasites from developing. Even if your cat is on medication to prevent parasites, annual fecal evaluation is still recommended. The sooner worms are discovered, the more likely your cat is to get better. It is important to have your cat’s fecal matter tested after a flea infestation, as fleas can carry tapeworms.

Vaccination

In addition to parasite control, preventing contagious disease is also recommended. During the warmer months, if your cat is allowed outside, it can be exposed to many things that are outside of your control. Making sure that your cat is up to date on vaccines can help prevent illness. Several vaccines are available to help reduce your cat's risk of acquiring diseases such as feline upper respiratory infections, gastrointestinal viruses, feline leukemia and rabies.

Kitten vaccines are generally started around 6-8 weeks of age and are given every 3-4 weeks until the kitten is 16 weeks of age. Feline leukemia vaccine is given to those kittens at risk of exposure. At risk kittens include those that spend time outdoors and kittens that live in multi-cat households. Talk to your veterinarian to determine your kitten’s risk factor. Rabies vaccination is given at 3-4 months of age and then one year later.

Annual revaccination (booster shots) is recommended the first year after the "kitten shots"; thereafter, you should discuss the benefits and risks of annual vaccination with your veterinarian. There is no national accepted standard at this time. Many veterinarians stagger booster immunizations over a number of years. The rabies vaccines should be given as recommended by local law. Taking preventative measures can greatly improve the quality of your cat’s life. Making sure that they do not get sick in the future, can greatly improve yours!

Nutrition

Proper nutrition is essential in maintaining health. As the temperatures rise, some of our cats become more active. With this increase in activity, more calories are needed to provide the necessary energy. If your cat is not as active and tends to get sluggish in the heat, reduce his caloric intake. Always make sure to provide lots of fresh cool water.

If your cat is going outdoors, place several dishes of water out for her to be able to find for easy access to hydration.

Grooming

In the springtime, some owners of cats with long hair choose to have them professionally groomed, trimming their hair even to the point of shaving. These owners feel that their cats greatly benefit with less hair during the heat of the spring and summer. Other owners prefer to leave their cats natural. Talk to your vet to make sure you cat’s skin can handle the sun exposure a hair cut can give her before you get it done! Sometimes in trying to help them, we can make the problem worse.

In all cats, routine combing and brushing is recommended. As the mercury rises, shedding usually increases. This leads to more accumulation of hair and the formation of mats and tangles if your cat is not frequently brushed. Start brushing your cat when it is young, and it will learn to love the attention.

Outdoor Exploration

Though keeping your cat indoors at all times is the safest, some choose to allow their cats periodic access to the outdoors. Be aware that as the outdoor temperature increases so do the activities of people and other animals. The incidence of motor vehicle trauma and animal attack increases in the spring and summer. You can prevent these by either taking your cat outdoors on a leash and harness or constructing an outdoor enclosure that your cat can safely enjoy.

Be a responsible pet owner. If you choose to let your kitty go outside, try to do so in a way that you can monitor to prevent your pet from getting injured, and to also protect other pets from your cat.