It is best to hold a cat or kitten by putting one hand under his chest and supporting the rest of his weight with your other hand. Kittens, in particular, must be handled gently as their bones are fragile. Contrary to popular belief, picking up a feline by the scruff of the neck can be painful.

There are two main types of worms that infect cats - roundworms and tapeworms. Most cats will suffer from roundworms at some point in their lives and infection is not always visible. It is advisable to treat for roundworms in adult cats and for kittens.

Tapeworms, if present, will be noticeable, as segments are passed in the cat's faeces and can be seen clinging to the animal's legs. When dry, the segments are cream coloured and look like grains of rice. Good treatments for both tape and roundworms are available from veterinary surgeries. Please consult your vet for advice on treatment frequency, as this depends on the preventative product used.

Fleas often affect cats, even meticulously clean ones, because the eggs can survive in the environment for a very long time. Fleas can be present all year round especially in milder climates. The good news is that they are easily prevented and treated using the very effective flea treatments now available from vets.

An infected cat or kitten will scratch his ears, shake his head and sometimes damage the skin on his ears and temples. Ear mites live on dead skin, inside the ear and brown wax will be seen in the outer ear. Treatment is required to eliminate them so it is best to take your cat to the vet.

Neutering

Some of the benefits of neutering can be:

Neutered male cats
* Will become less likely to roam (reducing the risk of being run over).
* Will become less likely to fight, thus improving their chances of avoiding serious diseases, like feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) which are transmitted by cat bites and reproductive activity.
* Will be less likely to mark their territory with urine (spraying).

Neutered Female cats

* Can avoid unwanted pregnancies (It is NOT beneficial for a female cat to have a litter before spaying, this is a myth).
* Won't call and wail during their sexual cycle.
* Will be less likely to contract diseases spread by bites and reproductive activity.
Cats recover very quickly from neutering operations but we'd recommend following your vet's advice on how to look after your cat after his operation.

Vaccinations

Routine vaccination has greatly reduced the extent of several feline diseases (including some that can prove fatal). It is vital that your cat has all the necessary vaccinations and boosters.

What vaccines does my cat need?

Cats Protection, as a member of The Cat Group, recommends vaccines for the following feline diseases:

Feline infectious enteritis (FIE)
- a vaccination must

Feline infectious enteritis (a severe and often fatal gut infection) is caused by the feline parvovirus (or feline panleukopenia virus). Vaccination against FIE has been very successful. Unvaccinated cats are at great risk because the virus is widespread in the environment.

Cat 'flu
- a vaccination must
Two types of cat 'flu are vaccinated against feline herpesvirus (FHV-1) and feline calicivirus (FCV). These viruses are very common and vaccination will protect your cat against prolonged illness, but because there are many different strains of cat 'flu the vaccine will not totally eradicate the threat.

Feline leukaemia virus (FeLV)

- a vaccination must for outdoor cats
FeLV is a lifelong infection and unfortunately most cats will die within three years of diagnosis, usually from a subsequent disease like leukaemia, lymphoma (tumors) or progressive anaemia. It is not an airborn disease and can only be passed on via direct contact between cats (usually by saliva or bites). Because of the serious nature of the disease, CP recommends FeLV vaccination.

Feline chlamydophilosis

- depends on your circumstances
This bacterium, which causes conjunctivitis in cats, can't survive in the atmosphere and is thus spread by direct contact between cats (affecting multi-cat households and kittens predominately). Your vet will discuss your situation and advise as to whether this vaccine is necessary.