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a 501(c)3 organization
HEALTH and WELLNESS
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Preventive Health Care
FVRCP Vaccine
(Feline 3-in-1 Distemper Combination):
The FVRCP vaccine is considered a core vaccine and helps protect cats and kittens against three serious, highly contagious diseases:
Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (FVR) – A contagious upper respiratory infection caused by feline herpesvirus. Young kittens are especially vulnerable and may develop severe illness, including pneumonia.
Calicivirus (C) – A common viral infection that affects the respiratory tract and mouth, with the possibly of affecting the joints or cause more severe illness.
Panleukopenia (P) – A highly contagious and often fatal virus that attacks the immune system and intestinal tract.
Vaccination Schedule - Kittens should receive a series of FVRCP vaccinations beginning at approximately 6–8 weeks of age. Booster vaccinations are typically given every 3–4 weeks until 16–20 weeks of age. After the kitten series is complete, your veterinarian will recommend a booster schedule based on your cat's age, lifestyle, and risk factors.
Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) Vaccine:
Your veterinarian may recommend the FeLV vaccine based on your cat's age, lifestyle, and risk of exposure. FeLV is a contagious virus that weakens the immune system and can lead to serious illness. After the initial vaccination, within 3-4 weeks, a booster is typically administered later. Your veterinarian will then recommend an ongoing booster schedule based on your cat's individual needs and current vaccination guidelines.
De-worming and Parasite Prevention:
Protecting your cat from parasites is an important part of keeping them healthy. Regular deworming and year-round parasite prevention help protect against fleas, ticks, intestinal parasites, and other common pests. Talk with your veterinarian about the deworming and parasite prevention plan that is right for your cat based on their age, lifestyle, and risk factors. Your veterinarian can recommend the safest and most effective products to keep your cat healthy year-round.
Veterinarian Care
Regular veterinary care is essential to keeping your cat healthy throughout every stage of life. If you do not already have a trusted veterinarian, we invite you to explore the recommended veterinary practices listed in our Resources section.
A Few Words About Declawing
DreamCatcher Feline Rescue does not support the declawing of cats. Declawing is an irreversible surgical procedure that removes the last bone of each toe, not just the claw. Because of the potential for long-term physical and behavioral complications, we believe declawing should not be performed as a convenience to prevent scratching.
Potential complications of declawing include:
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Pain and changes in gait. Removing the last bone of each toe can alter the way a cat walks, potentially contributing to chronic pain and increased stress on the joints over time.
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Loss of a natural defense. Cats rely on their claws for climbing, balance, stretching, and self-defense. A declawed cat is at a significant disadvantage if it becomes lost or escapes outdoors.
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Litter box avoidance. Some cats develop an aversion to the litter box if they assciate digging in litter with discomfort following surgery, which can lead to inappropriate elimination.
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Behavioral changes. Because scratching is no longer an option, some declawed cats may become more likely to bite when they feel frightened or threatened.
Fortunately, there are many safe and effective alternatives to declawing, including:
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Regular nail trimming
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Providing sturdy scratching posts and scratching pads
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Training and rewarding appropriate scratching behavior
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Vinyl nail caps
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Furniture protectors and deterrent products
Scratching is a normal, healthy feline behavior that helps cats stretch, maintain healthy claws, mark territory, and relieve stress. With patience, training, and appropriate scratching surfaces, most cats can be successfully redirected to scratch acceptable items instead of furniture.
If you have concerns about your cat's scratching behavior, talk with your veterinarian or a qualified feline behavior professional. They can help you develop a plan that protects both your cat's well-being and your home.
Microchip Identification:
For Your Peace Of Mind
We strongly encourage every cat owner to have their pet microchipped. A microchip provides permanent identification that can greatly increase the chances of reuniting a lost cat with its family. Animal shelters, veterinary clinics, and many animal control agencies routinely scan found pets for a microchip in an effort to locate their owners.
The microchipping procedure is quick, safe, and relatively inexpensive. Your veterinarian or a low-cost spay/neuter clinic can provide this service. Once your cat is microchipped, be sure to keep your contact information up to date with the microchip registration company so you can be reached if your pet is found.
Although a microchip is one of the best forms of permanent identification, we also recommend that your cat wear a properly fitted breakaway safety collar with an identification tag whenever appropriate. A visible ID tag allows someone who finds your cat to contact you immediately without the need for a microchip scanner.
Even indoor cats can accidentally slip through an open door or window. Taking these simple precautions can greatly increase the chances of a happy reunion should your cat ever become lost.
Check out these resources for
additional information on any
Health & Wellness topics.
The Truth About
Feline Immunidefiency Vires (FIV)
FIV+ Cats are Pawsitively Adoptable!
FIV is a widely misunderstood condition. Many people think that it's easily spread, makes cats very sick and that they have a lower life expecancy, so they are often overlooked for adoption. That is far from the truth!
What is FIV?
FIV stands for feline immunodeficiency virus. This virus compromises a cat's immune system, meaning it's easier for them to get sick and harder for them to fight off illness. It only affects cats - it cannot be spread to people, dogs, or other animals.
How do cats get FIV?
FIV is spread through deep, penetrating bite wounds inflicted during serious fighting. It is not spread through
casual contact such as playing, sharing food/water/litter, or mutual grooming.
Kittens may test positive due to maternal antibodies, rather than actual infection, but they will almost certainly test negatvie after 6 months of age.
Can FIV+ cats live with non-FIV+ cats?
Yes! As long as the cats get along and don't fight, there is very little risk of transmission. Spaying or neutering decreases the risk of fighting, and introducing cats slowly helps them
learn to get along.
How long do FIV+ cats live?
Studies show that most FIV+ cats live normal lifespans and remain healthy. This doesn't mean they will never get sick, but with proper care, chances of illness are greatly reduced.
Do FIV+ cats require
special care??
FIV+ cats have the same basic
needs as any other cat: high quality nutrition; a clean, stress-free, strictly indoor environment; regular veterinary visits; and lots of love!
Please consider opening up yourheart and home to an FIV+ cat!