Vacation with your dog? For most animal lovers, that's a no-brainer. Vacationing with a cat, on the other hand, can be quite a risk. Cats are headstrong free spirits. Especially outdoor cats move around independently without humans in their familiar surroundings. Any change to their routine can be very unsettling for cats. Nevertheless, there are good reasons not to leave your beloved feline friend alone at home for too long. For example, if there is no one else who can take proper care of your cat and you want to go away for a longer period of time.
First, you need to decide on your destination. Once you have found a hotel or other vacation accommodation, check in advance that pets are allowed.
Your cat will probably have the most relaxing vacation if you go somewhere they already know and stay there for a longer period of time. For cats that are used to going outside, you will need to decide whether they are allowed to go outside at your vacation destination.
If you are traveling abroad, you will need to check the conditions of the respective country. Are cats allowed to enter the country and under what conditions? Your cat should always have adequate vaccinations and be fit enough for you to feel comfortable letting it travel.
Then you need to consider how you will get to your holiday destination: Is your cat used to traveling by car? Or will you be traveling by train or bus? You should only take your cat on a plane in exceptional circumstances. You will definitely need a secure transport box. The safest place for it in the car is behind a front seat in the footwell.
It is also important that you do not feed your cat too much in the last few hours before transport. Many cats suffer from travel sickness. It is best to consult your vet a few weeks before your vacation to find out how to best prepare your cat so that the journey causes as little discomfort as possible. The vet will tell you whether your cat should take something to calm them down before departure and what they specifically recommend. You should also have your pet's status checked in terms of vaccinations and prophylaxis.
It is also a good idea to have your cat microchipped or tattooed so that it can be identified and quickly returned to you if it gets lost at your vacation destination.
You should also have the following equipment with you:
Once you arrive, the excitement of traveling will quickly subside for both humans and animals. But remember that your cat doesn't know that vacation is supposed to be something wonderful for a certain period of time. She may even miss her home, her territory, or her four-legged friends at home. Maybe she just misses her cozy corners that she knows and can retreat to. So be forgiving if she is a little nervous and tense, or even aggressive. It's best to set up the "new" cat space for the vacation period close to you and show your cat how relaxing and enjoyable vacation can be so that they quickly feel at home. This will be easiest for your cat if you always travel to the same vacation home and your cat is already familiar with it. Then all that's left to say is: Have a wonderful vacation!
A cat's attempt to get outside through a tilted window can result in serious injury. In most cases, cats manage to squeeze their head and upper body through the window but then get stuck with their hindquarters in the slanted gap. Attempts to free them only make the situation worse, causing the cat to slide further down into the gap and become trapped. The consequences can include serious external and internal injuries, collectively known as tilt window syndrome, which can often lead to the death of the cat.
Periodontitis is an inflammation of the tissues surrounding and supporting the teeth. It is the most common oral disease in dogs. By the age of five, more than three quarters of all dogs have periodontitis. If left untreated, the disease can have serious consequences for the entire body.
Although this condition is often colloquially referred to as a stroke in dogs due to its similar symptoms, it is not a circulatory disorder of the brain as in humans, but rather a disorder of the balance organ located in the inner ear of dogs.
It is not uncommon for dogs and cats to develop inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), which is very painful and can quickly become life-threatening.
Elbow joint dysplasia describes a complex of hereditary developmental disorders of the elbow joint. It occurs primarily in fast-growing large dog breeds during the growth phase and leads to varying degrees of lameness.
Tumors of the oral cavity can occur in both dogs and cats. In dogs, about half of these tumors are malignant, while in cats, unfortunately, up to 90% are malignant. Due to the poor visibility of the oral cavity, these tumors are often detected at a very late stage.
High blood pressure, medically known as hypertension, is not usually a separate disease in domestic cats, but is often the result of other general illnesses. Older cats in particular often suffer from a pathological increase in blood pressure, which can have serious consequences.
You will probably be alarmed when your cat suddenly starts limping. There can be many different causes. Keep an eye on your cat now.
Prevention is better than cure: with this in mind, we offer age-appropriate veterinary care plans for a healthy life for your dog – from birth to old age.
Do you like rabbits? Then it's best to get two or more, as these little hoppers feel very lonely on their own. Before you bring your rabbits home, you should make sure you have enough space for them.
Does your cat suddenly seem unwell and lethargic? Or is it behaving differently than usual, perhaps avoiding being stroked? You should pay close attention to any unusual behavior. Keep a close eye on your cat's health and take it for regular check-ups at your veterinary practice.
Whether human or pet, preventive check-ups are important. Prevention is the best medicine, because when detected early, diseases can often be cured quickly. So be attentive, take your dog to your veterinarian for preventive check-ups, and keep a close eye on your dog's health yourself.
