Some pet owners may think that keeping their cats indoors will prevent them from contracting infectious diseases, so they may not see the need for vaccination. As veterinary professionals, it is important to inform cat owners about the risks their purring pals may face without adequate vaccination, even if they don't go outside. In this month's Kitty Insider, Dr. Kelly St. Denis offers advice and recommendations on how cat owners can be made aware of the prevalence and importance of core...

GET THE LATEST SCOOP ON TICKS! Once temperatures reach above freezing, ticks begin to emerge. The diseases they carry not only affect cats and dogs, but they can also affect humans. Therefore, it is important to inform cat owners about tick activity in their area as well as prevention options available for their furry feline. In this month's Kitty Insider, Dr. Kelly St. Denis offers advice and recommendations on how cat owners can prevent ticks year-round. She lists some of the common diseases...

GET THE LATEST SCOOP ON FELINE DENTAL HEALTH! Thinking of cleaning their cat’s teeth might seem quite daunting for pet owners. However, there are some great tips and tricks to help them acknowledge the importance of dental care to keep their favourite feline happy and healthy. In this month's Kitty Insider, Dr. Kelly St. Denis offers dental care advice and recommendations to get cat owners on board with annual preventive care under general anesthesia as well as an at-home dental care routine....

GET THE LATEST SCOOP ON FELINE VACCINATION GUIDELINES! One might think that vaccination protocols for cats are much simpler than those for dogs, but think again! Individual feline vaccination protocols can become more complex when taking into consideration factors such as lifestyle, life stage, vaccine design and efficacy. In this month's Kitty Insider, Dr. Kelly St. Denis reviews the most recent feline vaccination guidelines as updated by the AAHA/AAFP. From injection sites to core versus...

GET THE LATEST SCOOP ON FELINE ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS! Cats are known for being able to sneak around just about anywhere. Unfortunately, this isn't always a good thing. Curiosity killed the cat, as they say. Therefore, pet owners need to be aware of environmental hazards in and around the home to ensure their beloved feline doesn't get into anything harmful. In this month's Kitty Insider, Dr. Kelly St. Denis offers practical advice and recommendations on feline environmental hazards and what...

GET THE LATEST SCOOP ON FEEDING CATS IN A MULTI-CAT HOUSEHOLD! Pet owners in multi-cat households may think that cats enjoy sharing their food when they see them wandering around their fellow felines as they eat or swapping dishes with them. On the contrary, it is their nature to be solitary eaters … and hunters. Luckily, there are ways to support pet owners in creating an eating environment for their cats that somewhat replicates what they would experience if they had to fend for...

GET THE LATEST SCOOP ON THE ROLE OF STRESS ON FELINE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL WELLBEING! Some people may think that cats are easy pets to care for because all they need to be happy is food, water, shelter, and a litter box. But think again! Keeping our fabulous felines happy and healthy requires more than that. If some of their most basic needs are not being met, this can lead to stress and affect their mental and physical wellbeing. In this month’s edition of the Kitty Insider, Dr. Kelly St. Denis...

GET THE LATEST SCOOP ON YEAR-ROUND PARASITE PREVENTION! Some cat owners might be under the impression that parasite protection is less important in cooler weather. However, at least one study has shown that the number of fleas on animals in the fall is at least 70% higher than in the spring. This surge is mainly explained by the humidity and temperature change. Felines are meticulous groomers and tend to erase all evidence of adult fleas and flea dirt. This makes it extra challenging for...

GET THE LATEST SCOOP ON REGULAR PREVENTIVE CAT CARE! Statistics show that 83% of cats visit their veterinarian before their first birthday, but over 50% of them don’t return until they become sick or are in pain. Cats are masters at hiding their sickness and pain, so it’s important to encourage clients to come in regularly to make sure their furry pal is in good health. In our feline-focused segment on regular preventive cat care, in honour of Take Your Cat to the Vet Day, Dr. Kelly St. Denis...