Boarding for Cats in Polokwane

Boarding for Cats in Polokwane

catboarding
Do your cats need a place to stay while you are on holiday??  Well, why not send them to a cattery where they can get some rest and relaxation, while you are enjoying your break at the same time?

There will be no need to worry about your feline friends while you are away, because you will know that they are well loved and taken care of.

We accept cats of all ages, sizes and of any breed.

Elizabeth Kennels & Cattery is a family run business on our own property, with owners and staff living on the premises so there is supervision 24 hours, 7 days a week.  There is also veterinary assistance nearby, 24 hours a day, if the need arises.

ALSO NOTE – FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE WE ARE WILLING TO HELP YOU ON A SUNDAY AND/OR PUBLIC HOLIDAY – WE HOWEVER DO CHARGE A ONCE-OFF FEE FOR OVERTIME.

Tips for the successful boarding of your cats

  • Bring your pet’s blanket or bed or tuck in a t-shirt or sweatshirt you’ve been wearing. Your scent will comfort your pet when it’s time to curl up for a nap.
  • Be sure your pet is up to date on her vaccinations (see specifics in categories below).
  • Always let us know if your pet has any special needs.
  • Provide your pet’s regular treats. Include a couple extra days’ worth in case your travel is delayed. (This must be labelled properly with your cat’s detail like: Name, Breed, M/F, Colour.)
  • If this is your first time boarding, allow for a few extra minutes at check-in, in case you have questions or issues you want to discuss.
  • Travel with your cat in a carrier. It’s safer, it’s less scary if there are other animals in the lobby when you arrive, and holding your cat too tightly actually makes arrival more stressful.
  • Introduce your cat to the carrier a few days ahead. Put favorite toys or treats in it so kitty won’t find it so alarming.
  • Pack your cat’s favorite blanket or bedding.
  • Consider a pheromone treatment (spray, collar or wipe), if your cat is stressed about leaving home. Pheromones are a form of chemical communication in animals. Calming or appeasing pheromones have been found to help relieve their stress and anxiety.
  • Cats are required to have up to date rabies, Cat Flu and distemper vaccines.

PLEASE FIND ATTACHED ON OUR APPLICATION FORM – INFORMATION REGARDING FLEA TREATMENT AVAILABLE FROM PIETERSBURG DIEREKLINIEK AND/OR WOLKBERG DIEREKLINIEK.

Rules and Regulations

Cats to be brought in a small pet cage or proper box from which it will not escape or injure itself or people handling it during transit!

The following proof documentation to be copied and a set given to us for record keeping as required by the SPCA.

  • 5 in 1 Injection that is to be done yearly.
  • Rabies inoculation
  • Please treat your pet with Frontline or a similar product before bringing it to our Kennels. (If we have to do this there will be a charge.)
  • Cat Flu – all cats to be inoculated before allowed into the Cattery.

PREVENTION IS BETTER AND CHEAPER THAN CURE!!

CAT FLU

http://www.icatcare.org/advice/keeping-your-cat-healthy/vaccinating-your-cat

The most commonly available vaccines are used to provide protection against the following infections:

  • Feline panleukopenia virus (FPV, feline infectious enteritis; feline parvovirus)
  • Feline herpesvirus (FHV-1, cat flu)
  • Feline calicivirus (FCV, cat flu)
  • Feline leukaemia virus (FeLV)
  • Rabies
  • Chlamydophila felis
  • Bordetella bronchiseptica

CORE AND NON-CORE VACCINES

Vaccines can be divided into core vaccines and non-core vaccines. The core vaccines are considered essential for all cats (including indoor-only cats) because of the widespread and/or severe nature of the diseases being protected against. Non-core vaccines are only given to cats if there is genuine risk of exposure to the infection and if vaccination would provide good protection. Decisions regarding requirement for non-core vaccines may be based on the cat’s age, lifestyle and contact with other cats. You should always discuss with your vet what vaccines your own cat may require.

CORE VACCINES

FELINE PANLEUCOPENIA

Feline panleucopenia virus (also known as feline parvovirus or feline infectious enteritis) is a severe and frequently fatal cause of haemorrhagic gastroenteritis. Outbreaks of infection with this virus are common and a high proportion of affected cats can die.

Vaccination against this virus is highly effective and has a critical role in protecting cats against infection, especially as the virus is highly contagious. The virus can also survive for long periods in the environment so vaccination is the only real way to protect cats.

FELINE HERPESVIRUS AND FELINE CALICIVIRUS

Vaccines for feline herpes virus (FHV-1) and feline calicivirus (FCV) are always combined, as these two viruses together are the main causes of upper respiratory tract infections in cats (cat flu).

Affected cats typically show sneezing, nasal discharge, conjunctivitis, eye discharge, and mouth ulcers. Clinical signs vary from mild to extremely severe, and occasionally other complications may develop including viral pneumonia. With FHV-1, even after the initial signs subside, most cats will remain permanently infected with the virus and some go on to develop recurrent eye infections or other signs.

The viruses are often transmitted by direct or close contact between cats (e.g. in sneezed droplets), but they may also survive for short periods in the environment.

Both these viruses are ubiquitous in cat populations, and because infection is so common, and can often be quite severe (especially in younger cats), vaccination is considered important for all cats. Although vaccination does not always prevent infection with these viruses, it will help greatly in reducing the severity of disease if a vaccinated cat does become infected.

See feline herpes virus and feline calicivirus

RABIES

Rabies is an important disease and although it is more common in dogs (and more commonly passed from dogs to humans than cats to humans) cats can be infected and can be a source of human infection.

For these reasons, where rabies is present in a country or in a region, it is recommended that all cats should be vaccinated against this disease. Vaccination is very effective in preventing disease.

Non-core vaccines

Other vaccines are regarded as ‘non-core’ and used when vaccination would provide valuable protection for an individual cat.

FELINE LEUKAEMIA VIRUS (FELV)

FeLV is an important disease that can be spread through fighting, through mutual grooming, and through sharing of food/water bowls and litter trays. Kittens may also acquire infections from the queen before birth.

FeLV is an important disease, causing a wide variety of problems in persistently infected cats including immunosuppression, anaemia, and lymphoma. Most persistently infected cats will die as a result of their infection.

It is possible to perform blood tests to identify cats that are infected with this virus, and isolating such cats and preventing them coming into contact with others is one way of preventing infection. A number of FeLV vaccines are also available and are effective in protecting cats. Generally cats that go outside and may come across other cats of unknown status may be at risk of being exposed to FeLV, and vaccinating such cats may be very valuable (although the risks will vary between different regions). It has also been strongly recommended that all kittens are vaccinated against FeLV on the basis that younger cats are more susceptible to this infection and it cannot usually be predicted what the risks for the cat would be as it grows up.

For further information on FeLV, see Feline leukaemia virus

CHLAMYDOPHILA FELIS

Chlamydophila felis is a type of bacteria that mainly causes conjunctivitis in cats. Young kittens in multicat households (e.g. breeding households) are most likely to be affected and there may also be mild upper respiratory signs.

Affected cats can be treated successfully with appropriate antibiotics, but vaccination may be helpful in some circumstances as part of a control programme in an infected household

For further information on Chlamydophila felis, see Chlamydophila felis infection in cats

BORDETELLA BRONCHISEPTICA

Bordetella bronchiseptica is another bacterial infection that can be a part of the upper respiratory infection complex (cat flu) in cats. It is not as common as FHV-1 or FCV (see above), but can sometimes be a problem especially in stressed cats and cats from large colonies. The bacterium can also be an occasional cause of pneumonia in young kittens.

Cats with Bordetella bronchispetica can be treated effectively with appropriate antibiotics, and vaccination is not required in most cats. However, in colonies of cats with repeated outbreaks of disease, vaccination may play a role in helping protect cats.

FELINE IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) vaccination is available in some, but not all counties. This virus is quite common among cats, especially cats that go outdoors and are involved in fighting (infection is mainly spread through cat bites).

There are many different strains of the FIV virus and it is not entirely clear as yet how well the available vaccine protects against all these different strains, but studies suggests that it is able to provide a valuable degree of protection for cats at risk of exposure. A potential problem is that vaccinated cats will also test positive on the routine tests used to detect FIV-infected cats, but newer diagnostic assays are becoming available that may overcome this problem.

For further information on FIV, see Feline immunodeficiency virus

HOW FREQUENTLY SHOULD MY CAT BE VACCINATED?

All kittens should receive their core vaccinations, and any others that are agreed between you and your vet. The initial vaccine course is often srated at 8-9 weeks of age, with a second injection 3-4 weeks later. It is now common also to recommend a third vaccination (especially for FPV) at 16-20 weeks of age to ensure the kitten is properly protected.

A first booster vaccination should be given 12 months later to ensure a good level of continuing protection. However, after that, the frequency of booster vaccinations may be only every 1-3 years depending on the vaccine, disease and risk of with the individual cat.

Cats that stay at a boarding cattery will generally require an annual vaccination (or booster vaccine before the cat goes into the cattery) as this is a higher risk situation