Frequently Asked Questions

We have an experienced team at The Cat Hospital of Fairfax that is knowledgeable about other routes of administration such as transdermal gels (applied to bare skin such as the ear flap), flavored treats, medi-melts, mini-tabs, pill pockets of all flavors and consistencies, long-acting treatment injections under the skin, daily injections (which we teach owners to give), transdermal patches, and techniques for making medication administration a more positive experience for the cat. We also have an array of compounding pharmacists to fill prescriptions tailored to individual cat preferences. Flavorings can include chicken liver treats, beef chews, triple tuna flavor suspensions, and vanilla melts. Other items to utilize are butter, low-salt chicken or beef broth, cream cheese, salmon-flavored cream cheese, Kraft squeeze cheese, half-n-half, liver pate, ham cubes, greenie pill pockets, meat wraps, cantaloupe flavor, honey flavor, or meat baby foods (all prescribed cautiously with any allergies in mind).

Yes. One of the largest and most complete providers of veterinary pet insurance is VPI (Veterinary Pet Insurance) by Nationwide Insurance. Additional providers include Trupanion, FIGO Pet Insurance, and EMBRACE Pet Insurance.

Yes, there is an option for veterinary treatment care fees called CareCredit. This is a medical, dental, and veterinary medical financing service that has great options, including interest-free financing for a specified number of months. It is very easy to sign up for and utilize for acute and ongoing care.

Utilizing pheromone calming wipes or sprays such as Feliway on the carrier and covering the top with a carrier cover or towel helps greatly. It may also help to use a carrier that opens up on the top as well as the side and to use a carrier that is small so that the cat can have a snug, non-weaving ride in the car. Carriers that have a top portion that unlocks and separates are greatly helpful. Cats should have access to the carrier at home to become familiar with it; owners can encourage this by placing treats or catnip inside the carrier. Plan in advance how to pick up your cat the day of the trip to the vet without allowing them to start a fearful run-and-hide situation. The Cat Hospital uses Feliway diffusers in our rooms to release calming pheromones.

Yes. The basic FVRCP (“feline distemper combo”) is vital to protecting kittens and adults from specific serious viruses and keeping up their immunity to reduce the possibility of illness, especially the common cold virus strains that infect cats. In particular, vaccines protect against an extremely common cold virus among cats known as feline rhinotracheitis (in the herpes virus family), which remains dormant for life in cats but can re-emerge following a stress event. Immunization at proper intervals helps keep this virus from overtaking a cat and causing chronic, uncomfortable symptoms or more serious outcomes.

All cats must also be vaccinated for Rabies, both to protect them from the virus and to comply with legal requirements. Rabies is spread through animal bites, including cat bites on a human or other pet, and can infect any mammal. Fairfax City, Fairfax County, and the Commonwealth of Virginia all require rabies vaccination by law. According to public Virginia epidemiology, all these jurisdictions have reported Rabies cases every month in cats, raccoons, skunks, foxes, bats, or other species. Protect yourself and your cat by vaccinating them for Rabies early and scheduling boosters as necessary.

The CDC, the CAPC (Council on Parasite Control), the American Heartworm Society, and other epidemiology agencies report that indoor cats have about the same exposure to mosquitoes as outdoor cats. Infection can also happen in any geographic location, as amid climate change and the global movement of people and pets, flea and heartworm infections have spread throughout the warmest areas of the United States.

Flea eggs and larvae live in soil, wood piles, and mulch, and are carried indoors easily. Infected dogs and cats drop flea eggs everywhere they go, and visiting pets may unknowingly infect your home. Flea eggs, larvae, and pupal cocoons can remain dormant for over a year in a house. Once they emerge, they can infect humans, dogs, and other animals as well as cats, making preventative care  essential for the well-being of your entire household.

Choose cat foods that meet the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) feeding recipe standards for stages of life, have AAFCO undergone feeding control trials, and are supported by appropriate health testing and digestibility studies. Some of these brands include Royal Canin, Iams, Purina, and Science Diet. If a pet food company does not follow these science-based standards, then the purchaser is at greater risk of giving their cat an unbalanced diet.

Both the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) and the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommend against feeding your cat undercooked food or raw food, including frozen raw food, as they may contain harmful bacteria including Salmonella, E. coli, Campylobacter, Listeria, Toxoplasma, and other parasites. Regardless of what you feed your pet, the diet should be free of pathogens that can sicken you, your pet, or your family.

This is often due to an illness associated with discomfort in the litter box, such as constipation, diarrhea, urinary pain, or difficulty squatting due to arthritis. Other times, the box may be too small, too dirty, or located in an unattractive site (such as in a laundry room with washer and dryer noises or gushing water pipes, or in a cold, dark room with cement floors). Sometimes the cat prefers a different substrate for litter to hide odors, as most cats do not like to smell their own excrement when in a covered litter box. In multi-cat households, the cat may be worried about another more dominant cat, especially if they have had a spat with them near the litter box. However, the core issue is commonly a medical one, and it is best to first consult your veterinarian.

In the wild, cats live in the desert, and their kidneys are designed to excrete waste without filtering out much water. A young cat’s kidneys can save a great deal of water and return it to the bloodstream, so they may not need to consume much water during regular day activities.

Cats need about 22 ml (about a tablespoon and a half) of water per pound of body weight each day for basic maintenance needs. Part of their water needs are fulfilled with a canned food diet. Canned food is about 78 to 85% water, which helps to hydrate them during regular mealtimes. Dry foods contain a small amount of water as well.

For proper hygiene, water bowls should be cleaned daily and rinsed well to prevent the build-up of organisms, especially if you notice a pinkish line or stain on water vessels (which may indicate the presence of Serratia sp.). Encourage more water drinking by placing fresh, cool water in several sites around the home. If you have an older cat, watch for increased water drinking or urine output, as these can indicate health problems to discuss with your veterinarian.