By Dr. Theo Nelson, Veterinarian of Clinic Services

Why should I vaccinate my indoor cat?

The simple answer is for everyone’s safety. Even if your cat lives indoors, there is always a chance they may slip out an open door or window. Vaccinating is the simplest and smartest measure you can take to ensure the safety of your feline family member, other animals and yourself.

All cats are required by law to be vaccinated for rabies, which is transmitted from mammal to mammal. This means an unvaccinated cat has the potential to transmit rabies to their owner. Rabies can be fatal for both animals and humans – so a cat without a current rabies vaccine could pose a serious threat to themselves or others in the event of a bite.

While most cats spend their lives indoors, they can find themselves outside for various reasons and without warning, so they should receive their basic vaccines regularly. These include rabies and FVRCP – also known as the feline distemper vaccine – which protects against several common respiratory diseases. The feline leukemia vaccine is also recommended for all cats, especially those who may be exposed to the outdoors or other unvaccinated cats.

Is pediatric spay/neuter safe?

To prevent births of unwanted litters, pediatric spay/neuter started being performed as a means of avoid animals being adopted before they are altered. Pediatric patients require certain precautions to ensure their safety during the procedure. Fortunately, special techniques have been developed to minimize anesthetic and surgical complications.

At Animal Friends, all of our staff veterinarians have been specially trained in these techniques and we’re able to complete the surgery in a shorter period of time than a traditional spay/neuter. This lessens the time that the patient spends in surgery and under anesthesia. Pediatric patients actually tend to recover much faster and are awake and playing within hours of surgery. Pediatric spay/neuter allows young animals to find loving homes during their key socializing and bonding period, which helps them grow into happy, healthy pets.