Please note that by listing specific websites, The Cat Group is not responsible for any information or advice given or acted upon.
See FAB information sheet on finding a vet – www.fabcats.org
Also the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons website lists, by geographical area, veterinary practices and the species with which they deal: www.rcvs.org.uk e-mail: admin@rcvs.org.uk
Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, Belgravia House, 62-64 Horseferry Road, London SW1P 2AF Tel: 0207 222 2001
See FAB information sheet, as above and the RCVS website.
A vet may suggest seeking a second opinion if (s)he believes that alternative drugs, equipment or knowledge are required
If you wish to seek a second opinion (also known as a referral), this should always be done through your own vet so that valuable information about the feline patient can be relayed, avoiding unnecessary repetition of treatment and concerns about conflicting medication.
There are about a dozen veterinary practices around the UK which deal only with cats. Some will also see cats on referral (second opinion) or are referral-only practices.
Information on a number of feline diseases, including FIV, FeLV, cat 'flu, PKD, diabetes etc is available through the FAB website – www.fabcats.org
The Cat Group strongly recommends the routine vaccination of all cats against major infectious diseases.
Vaccination has played a vital role in reducing the prevalence and severity of several feline diseases including some that are associated with a high rate of mortality.
Some cats (eg those kept permanently indoors in single cat households) may not be at risk of exposure to certain diseases. For this, and other reasons, The Cat Group would support the use of discriminatory vaccine policies, where vaccines are not used unnecessarily in individual cats and risks and benefits of vaccination are carefully evaluated and discussed for each cat.
More detailed consideration of the vaccination question can be found in The Cat Group's policy statement on vaccination
Visit the Disabled Animals Club website: www.disabledanimalsclub.co.uk or
e-mail: disabledanimalsclub@hotmail.com
A number of people who favour complementary medicine for themselves and their family are also interested in its benefits for their cats. The following websites can be accessed for further and more specific information:
Homeopathic veterinary surgeons: www.bahvs.com – includes list of names and contact numbers.
British Association of Holistic Nutrition and Medicine: www.bahnm.org.uk – includes a free help desk.
Acupuncture: www.ivas.org – includes list of practitioners in UK
Physiotherapy: www.animaltherapy.co.uk
Diseases which can pass between animals and people and vice versa are called zoonoses.
Most feline zoonotic diseases are rare but common sense combined with good standards of hygiene can significantly reduce the possibility of transmission from cats to humans. Details on feline zoonotic diseases are available in a FAB information sheet.
If you are badly scratched or bitten you should visit a doctor as you may need a course of antibiotics. Worming of your cat and regular treatment to protect against fleas are also important for the wellbeing of you and your family.
Behavioural difficulties can range from out and out aggression towards humans and other animals, to wool chewing or spraying in the house. Many of the more common problems are addressed in fact sheets available through the FAB website. For full details of the information available, visit the FAB website - www.fabcats.org
For additional help and/or a personal consultation ask your vet to refer you to a member of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (APBC) - www.apbc.org.uk -
P O Box 46, Worcester WR8 9YS Tel: 01386 751151
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