House Training for Kittens and Cats
Learning to eliminate in a chosen area is a crucial skill for pet kittens and cats. Taking a proactive approach will ensure the development of excellent litter box habits. Getting Started: What Cats Like and Need Abundant research has been done to determine what cats prefer when it comes to a latrine. Most cats prefer: […]
Socialization and Fear Prevention in Kittens
What is socialization and why is it important? Socialization refers to a process in which kittens interact with and develop appropriate social behaviors toward other members of the same species. In practice, “socialization” is used more broadly and includes learning to how to interact with other social species and adjust to relevant environmental stimuli. The […]
Cat Behavior and Training: Enrichment for Indoor Cats
Why should I keep my cat indoors? There are many reasons to keep a cat indoors. One major benefit is that your cat will be safe from outdoor hazards. Free-roaming cats risk life-threatening encounters with vehicles and predators. They may also bring home parasites such as fleas and ticks. While outdoors, a cat may be […]
Internal Parasites in Cats
This handout provides an overview of some of the internal parasites that can infect your cat. For more detailed information, refer to the separate handouts “Roundworm Infection in Cats”, “Hookworm Infection in Cats”, “Whipworm Infections in Cats”, “Tapeworm Infection in Cats”, and “Heartworm Infection in Cats”. Are there different types of internal parasites or worms? […]
Ticks & Tick-Borne Diseases in Upstate New York
What CAPC and CDC Data Tell Us About Risk to People and Pets If you live in Upstate New York, ticks are not a “maybe.” They’re a reality. As a veterinarian practicing in our region, I can confidently say that tick prevention is no longer seasonal — it’s essential. Surveillance data from the CDC and […]
Ear Mites in Cats and Dogs
What are ear mites? The ear mite, Otodectes cynotis, is a surface mite that lives on cats, dogs, and ferrets. It is usually found in the ear canal, but can also live on the skin surface. Ear mites are highly contagious and animals become infested by direct contact with another infested animal. The mite is […]
Safe & Effective Flea, Tick & Ear Mite Treatment for Kittens
Kittens may be small, but parasites can cause very big problems. Fleas can lead to anemia. Ear mites can cause painful infections. Ticks can transmit disease. And once fleas enter your home, they multiply quickly. The good news? We have safe, veterinary-approved options specifically labeled for kittens. Starting early and using the correct product at […]
How to Properly Collect a Fecal Sample From Your Pet
Accurate Testing Starts With a Good Sample 4 Fecal testing is one of the simplest — and most valuable — diagnostic tools in veterinary medicine. It allows us to detect intestinal parasites like roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, Giardia, and Coccidia before they cause significant illness. But here’s the truth:A fecal test is only as good as […]
Vaccines for Cats
Vaccines are necessary to reduce illnesses in cats caused by infectious diseases. Improvements are continuously being made in vaccine safety and effectiveness. Veterinarians routinely recommend certain vaccines for all cats (called core vaccines), while others (called non-core vaccines) are used more selectively, according to the cat’s environment and lifestyle. In all cases, decisions about vaccine […]
Deciphering Cat Food Labels
Evaluating cat food labels can be challenging and confusing for pet owners. These labels provide an important way for pet food manufacturers to communicate nutritional information to consumers. However, food labeling requirements for cat foods vary significantly from those for human food. It is important to understand some of the rules regulating cat food labels […]