Advice & Information
Download Leaflets
The Blue Cross has set up a website containing loads of useful information for pet owners, and have given us permission to link to their comprehensive 
collection of free leaflets:
To view or download each leaflet, simply click on the title to be taken directly to the download area of www.allaboutpets.org.uk, the Blue Cross' dedicated pet care website.
Select from the leaflets below:
Choosing the right cat - Caring for your kitten
- Caring for your adult cat
- Caring for the older cat
- Time to say goodbye
- Basic health care
- Staying in shape
- Getting back in shape
- Hidden Danger
- Basic first aid
- Caring for your sick cat
- Skin and ear care
- Coping with cancer
- Cats and human health
- Health issues with the older cat
- FIV
- FeLV
- Cat flu
- Nervous and aggressive cats
- Scratching or clawing in the house
- Spraying and soiling indoors
- Moving or travelling with cats
- Introducing your cat to other pet
Download the complete series here!
Each month we intend to put a number of popular questions to our vets relating to general pet health and care. Whilst in no way intended to replace a professional diagnosis, we hope that the information and advice provided on these pages are useful. There is also a number of excellent fact sheets created by the Blue Cross pet charity, to the right of this page.
Cat Questions
At what age should my kitten be vaccinated and neutered/speyed?
The best age to receive a kitten into the house is between 7 and 8 weeks old. The first vaccination is given at 9 weeks and the second vaccination at 12 weeks. They can be allowed out unsupervised 7 days after the last vaccination but kittens are usually desperate to explore their surroundings and venture outside before this time has elapsed. In this case, then you can allow them out in the garden, but only with somebody who can prevent contact with other cats occurring. This is best achieved either by playing with them on the lawn then carrying them inside or using a harness to walk them around. They certainly need to be familiar with their garden before being allowed out on their own so they recognise how to get home.
They best age to have kittens neutered is 5-6 months old. Male cats will tend to begin scent marking (spraying)in the house if left much after this time, and of course female cats may become pregnant from about 7-8 months of age.
More Questions:
Why should I vaccinate my cat?
How often should I have it vaccinated?
What diseases does the vaccination guard against?
What are worms and how can I tell if my cat has them?
Should I use off the shelf worming products from supermarkets?
How can I protect my cat (and home) against fleas?
My cat’s claws are really sharp! Can I trim them?
My cat has fair skin – is it safe for her to be lying in the sun for long periods?
How can I cut down the amount of hairballs my cat suffers with?
At what age should my kitten be vaccinated and neutered/speyed?
My cat kills birds and mice, which I find upsetting – is there a way to stop them from doing this?