Are you looking for a holiday destination for your cat while you are away? Why not take a look at WCVH Cattery. We offer 16 spacious condos with en-suite bathroom. These are ducted so any nasty smells quickly disappear and fresh air is constantly circulated. The small size of our cattery means we can get booked up at peak times such as Easter and Christmas but allows for plenty of personal attention for our guests.
A comfortable temperature is maintained throughout the year by a combination of in floor heating and evaporative cooling and for those guests requiring a little extra warmth snuggle safe heat pads are provided. The large floor to ceiling window provides plenty of natural light, as well an excellent spot for sunbaking.
The cattery is located away from the hustle and bustle of the hospital providing a quiet retreat and Feliway Pheromone and Music to Calm Your Cat are used to provide a relaxing environment.
Besides enjoying the privacy of the en-suite the elevated shelves provide the perfect spot to rest and supervise the cattery attendants.
A separate litter area allows for privacy and keeps the rest of the condo clean and we offer a variety of litters so it feels just like home (Cats can be very fussy about their toilets and may choose to hang on rather than use a litter that is unfamiliar to them). Trays are cleaned twice daily to keep them fresh and clean ready for when nature calls next time.
We offer a selection of premium quality dry food, as well as a variety of tinned foods and fresh meat to cater to even the fussiest eaters. Food is served twice daily in whisker friendly twin bowls to separate dry food and wet. We also offer large water bowls to make sure fresh water is always available. All dishes are made from stainless steel for hygiene.
To ensure a comfortable rest we offer a variety of bedding options, from baskets, to fluffy mats and cat sack beds, that are perfect for cats that love to snuggle under blankets.
To stimulate and entertain a variety of interactive toys, from kitty kong active balls, to food puzzle toys, and ball mazes are always available. There is sure to be the perfect toy for your cat.
To maximise the health of pets in our facility, all cats must have been vaccinated in the last 12 months to be accepted into boarding. If we find any fleas on admission cats are treated with Capstar to ensure we remain flea free.
If you would like to view our cat boarding facilities, please ask one of our reception staff for a tour. We would also be happy to discuss availability with you.
Please note: As our facilities are popular with our clients, peak periods such as Christmas, New Year and Easter need to be booked well in advance to avoid disappointment.
One of the most common reasons pets are surrendered to shelters such as the RSPCA is behavioural problems. However early intervention with behavior problems can resolve the issue and help you and your pet have a happy life long term. Not only does your pet’s quality of life improve but yours will as well. So neither one of you need suffer in silence any longer.
Weston Creek Veterinary Hospital offers a Behaviour Consultation Service to help understand your pets behaviour and find effective to solutions to your problems.
Some of the more common problems include:
• Separation Anxiety
• Thunderstorm Phobia
• Toileting in inappropriate areas
• Aggression towards strangers (animals and humans)
• Repetitive or stereotypic behaviour
• Barking
• Digging
• Scratching inappropriate areas (cats)
Behaviour problems are not easy to solve and require a lot of information that you as the owner will need to supply, as your pet cannot tell us. So part of the consultation process involves filling out a questionnaire. The consultation will also be longer generally taking an hour for the initial consultation. Video footage or sound recordings can be especially useful to help us assess behaviour issues.
Treatments are generally not a quick fix, but will take time and dedication. However with the right training tools and in some cases medication both you and your pet will once again enjoy your life together.
Here are some tips and hints to provide some basic information:
Each time your pet comes to see us at WCVH he or she has an examination. It might be as simple as a wound check after surgery or may be a full physical exam if your pet is unwell or in for vaccination.
For a full exam we usually start at the nose and work back examining the mouth for any problems such as ulcers of the lips or gums, dental disease such as dental tartar and check that the gums are nice and pink (the gums can be pale with anaemia). Next we check the eyes to make sure the eyelids are normal and there are no inward growing lashes or growths on the eyelids, we make sure the cornea (the surface of the eye) is normal and that the iris (the coloured part of the eye) is normal. Occasionally dark brown-pigmented spots can appear on the iris and these can be age related or indicate a possible melanoma. We also check the lens of the eye to see if this is developing a cataract (cloudiness). Sometimes we use the opthalmoscope to examine the retina of the eye. Then it is on to the ears, we check that there are no crusts or scabs on the pinna (the ear flap) as sometimes flies can bite the ears causing sores and then we check inside the ear for any discharge. Often we use the otoscope to look down the ear canal to the ear drum, especially if the ear has a discharge or we suspect a grass seed is trapped in the ear canal.
Having completed the exam of the head we move on to the chest and listen to the heart and lungs with a stethoscope. We check that the heart rate is normal and there are no heart murmurs (caused by leaky heart valves) present.
If this is all normal we move on to the abdomen where we carefully palpate the internal organs such as the liver, kidneys, spleen and bladder as well as the intestines. An enlarged organ can indicate inflammation or a tumour. Sometimes organs feel small or irregular indicating disease and the need for some tests. Then we check your pet’s temperature with a rectal thermometer. At this point if there are any kids in the room the giggles usually start happening.
Finally we feel all of the lymph nodes situated under the jaw, the shoulders, and inguinal area and at the back of the stifle (knee) and examine the skin for evidence of fleas or infection and we also feel for any lumps or bumps. If we find any growths we often take a sample using a fine needle to assess if the lump is of concern or can be left without further investigation. We also palpate the muscles of the body to check for any swelling or loss of muscle or any unevenness of muscle from one side to the other.
If your pet has a problem with a limp or seems to be sore we do a much more thorough exam of the legs, back and neck to try to locate the source of the discomfort, although quite often the excitement of coming to the vet and the unfamiliar surroundings suddenly makes them very brave and it is much harder to locate the problem area.
During a routine health check we also make sure that all the relevant routine preventative medications such as worming, heartworm, flea control and vaccinations are all up to date and that your pet’s weight is healthy. Like humans pets these days are often overweight and can suffer similar health problems to humans as a result.
The examination is also the perfect time to raise and concerns or questions you have about your pet’s health or behaviour.
