Considering a New Furry Addition to Your Family? This Kitten Season, Make Sure Your Feline is Fit.WESTBROOK, Maine -- Early Detection of Dangerous Diseases is a Pet Owner's Best Chance to Ensure a Long, Healthy Life for Their Cat One in three U.S. households owns at least one cat, making cats the most popular pet in America. According to the Humane Society of the United States The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is a Washington, D.C-based animal welfare advocacy group. It is the largest animal welfare organization in the world, with nearly 10 million members and a 2006 budget of US$103 million. , cats outnumber dogs by more than 16 million in the U.S., with over 90 million cats as pets. With kitten season approaching, even more people will be welcoming new feline friends into their lives, making this the most important time of year to ensure new kittens get off to a healthy start. New cat owners should work with their veterinarians Veterinarians and veterinary surgeons (vets) are medical professionals who operate exclusively on animals. Well-known and notable veterinarians include:
feline immunodeficiency virus. ) and feline leukemia virus feline leukemia virus n. A retrovirus that primarily affects cats, is transmitted through saliva, and causes suppression of the immune system and anemia, leading to opportunistic infections and diseases such as leukemia and lymphoma. (FeLV). "The easiest way for a person to help ensure a long, healthy life for their cat is to implement a total wellness program as early as possible and to stick to it throughout their cat's life," explained Lynn Buzhardt, D.V.M., a national veterinary expert. "Early detection is key when it comes to deadly diseases like FIV and FeLV, so testing when you first get your kitten is very important. If we know a cat has a serious disease, we can implement routine follow-up visits to help that kitty live a long, healthy life." It's estimated that 31 million cats in the U.S. are at risk for FIV and FeLV. However, since cats infected with these diseases often show no visible symptoms - especially young kittens - many cat owners are not aware their cat has been exposed. Testing is the only way to tell if your pet has FIV or FeLV. These diseases are transferred from cat to cat so it's especially important to have new kittens - and strays - tested before bringing them into a home that already has cats. The American Veterinary Medical Association American Veterinary Medical Association a nonprofit, professional organization of veterinarians in the USA, whose stated objective is to advance the science and art of veterinary medicine, including its relationship to public health and agriculture. recommends that cat owners visit their veterinarians twice a year. For more information regarding FIV and FeLV, cat owners should contact their veterinarian veterinarian /vet·er·i·nar·i·an/ (vet?er-i-nar´e-an) a person trained and authorized to practice veterinary medicine and surgery; a doctor of veterinary medicine. vet·er·i·nar·i·an n. . The American Association of Feline Practitioners also provides information about FIV and FeLV online at www.fivtest.com/kitten. For more information on dental health, visit www.petdental.com. |
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