Upper Canada
Veterinary Services

Upper Canada Veterinary Services Upper Canada Veterinary Services Upper Canada Veterinary Services
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Services
  • Vet Store
  • New Patient
  • Resources
    • Cat Resources
    • Dog Resources
  • More
    • Home
    • About Us
    • Services
    • Vet Store
    • New Patient
    • Resources
      • Cat Resources
      • Dog Resources

Upper Canada
Veterinary Services

Upper Canada Veterinary Services Upper Canada Veterinary Services Upper Canada Veterinary Services
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Services
  • Vet Store
  • New Patient
  • Resources
    • Cat Resources
    • Dog Resources

Cat Resources

Overview

Preventative Medicine

Nutrition and Dental Care

Nutrition and Dental Care

Learn more

Nutrition and Dental Care

Nutrition and Dental Care

Nutrition and Dental Care

Learn more

Disease and Illness

Nutrition and Dental Care

Disease and Illness

Learn more

Happy Cat Homes

Identification and Lost Cats

Disease and Illness

Learn more

Identification and Lost Cats

Identification and Lost Cats

Identification and Lost Cats

Learn more

Preventative Medicine

From the experts

CatFriendly.com is maintained by the American Association of Feline Practitioners and has lots of great resources for pet owners. 

https://catfriendly.com/cat-care-at-home/need-visit-vet/

What is an annual exam?

My cat seems healthy, why should I go to the vet? Health or annual exams are how we can catch problems early, identify changes before they become problems and keep your cat as healthy as possible. Learn about everything that is included in an annual exam. 

https://www.pethealthnetwork.com/cat-health/cat-checkups-preventive-care/importance-a-yearly-physical-exam-your-cat


https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/importance-wellness-exams


https://catfriendly.com/veterinary-care/veterinarian-looks-exams/

Vaccines

We make vaccine recommendations based on the most up-to-date research available and tailor our vaccine protocol to your cat's needs. 

https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&catId=102902&id=4951406&ind=927&objTypeID=1007


https://catvets.com/guidelines/practice-guidelines/aafp-aaha-feline-vaccination


https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/WSAVA-Owner-Breeder-Guidelines-2015_1.pdf

Fleas, Ticks, Intestinal Parasites

From the experts: read what Canadian feline specialist veterinarians are recommending. 

https://www.petsandparasites.org/cat-owners/overview/


Up-to-date information: Concerned about new and emerging parasites? Dr. Scott Weese from the University of Guelph maintains a blog covering infectious diseases in companion animals. https://www.wormsandgermsblog.com/resources-pets/


Looking for more detail?

Companion Animal Parasite Control Council

https://capcvet.org/guidelines/general-guidelines/


Canadian Parasitology Expert Panel Guidelines

https://research-groups.usask.ca/cpep/index.php

Other viruses

Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV)

https://catfriendly.com/feline-diseases/felv/


Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)

https://catfriendly.com/feline-diseases/fiv/


Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)

https://catfriendly.com/feline-diseases/fip/

Bringing your cat to the vet

Many cats- and their owners- find trips to the vet stressful. There are many ways to alleviate this stress and make the experience more enjoyable for you and your cat. Ask us about options!

https://www.preventivevet.com/cats/cat-carrier-stress-tips


https://www.aaha.org/your-pet/pet-owner-education/ask-aaha/how-can-my-pet-have-stress-free-veterinary-visits/

Pet Insurance

Pet insurance lets you pursue the best treatment available for your pet, without worrying about the price tag.

https://www.ovma.org/pet-owners/pet-insurance/

Nutrition and Dental Care

From the experts

Bringing the veterinary nutritionist to you!

https://vetnutrition.tufts.edu

Feeding for Physical and Mental Health

Boredom and obesity are VERY common, especially in indoor cats and are the root cause of many behavioural and medical problems.


Often how we feed cats is just as important as what we feed them.

https://catfriendly.com/be-a-cat-friendly-caregiver/how-to-feed-a-cat/


https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/how-often-should-you-feed-your-cat


Feeding toys are a great solution to provide mental activity and exercise- reducing boredom eating and obesity! This website has all kinds of ideas- from the complex to the homemade, including for multi-pet households.

http://foodpuzzlesforcats.com


Play is great for exercise and quality time with your cat.

https://sites.tufts.edu/petfoodology/2017/04/19/whats-a-good-exercise-plan-for-my-pet/


https://indoorpet.osu.edu/cats/basicneeds/preypref

Obesity

If you know your cat is overweight and want to do something about it please contact us!

https://sites.tufts.edu/petfoodology/2016/05/17/think-you-have-a-fat-cat-the-ten-things-you-need-to-know/


https://www.aaha.org/your-pet/pet-owner-education/ask-aaha/is-my-pet-overweight/


Body condition scoring- how we (and you at home!) determine if your cat is overweight, underweight or just right!

https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Body-Condition-Score-cat-updated-August-2020.pdf


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tf_-rwxqHYU&feature=youtu.be


Fat cats may be cute but the damage from that extra weight is not cute. https://catfriendly.com/cat-care-at-home/obesity/


https://sites.tufts.edu/petfoodology/2017/09/21/five-ways-being-overweight-can-harm-your-cats-health/


https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952934


The number of calories your cat needs to consume in a day may surpise you. https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Calorie-Needs-for-Healthy-Adult-Cats-updated-July-2020.pdf


https://petnutritionalliance.org/resources/calorie-calculator?type=cats


Frequently the barriers to weight loss lie within the humans, not the pets. It requires a transition in the way we think about our relationship with our pets and sometimes that transition is rough. With some creativity and time we are confident you can get there!

https://sites.tufts.edu/petfoodology/2017/07/21/battling-the-bulge-troubleshooting-tips-for-pet-weight-loss/

Pet Food Labels and Marketing- Fact or Fiction?

Sick of conflicting advice on the internet and not sure what to believe?

https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/The-Savvy-Cat-Owner-s-Guide-to-Nutrition-on-the-Internet.pdf


What to look for on a pet food label

https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Selecting-a-pet-food-for-your-pet-updated-2021_WSAVA-Global-Nutrition-Toolkit.pdf


https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Nutrition-Label-USA-16_9.pdf


https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-health-literacy/complete-and-balanced-pet-food


What is an AAFCO Label and why is it important? 

https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=8808771


How does my pet's food manufacturer measure up? (Pet Nutrition Alliance Manufacturer Report)

https://petnutritionalliance.org/resources/pet-food-manufacturer-evaluation-report/


Find answers to more of your questions

https://talkspetfood.aafco.org/faq


https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Frequently-Asked-Questions-and-Myths.pdf

Raw Diets

There are some health hazards to be aware of when feeding a raw diet to your pet.

https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-health-literacy/get-facts-raw-pet-food-diets-can-be-dangerous-you-and-your-pet


https://www.canadianveterinarians.net/media/3ysdgwxg/alternative-petfoods.pdf


What do "natural", "holistic" and "organic" actually mean in terms of pet food? What is a "by-product"?

https://talkspetfood.aafco.org/faq

Homemade Diets

From the experts

https://sites.tufts.edu/petfoodology/2019/10/16/reasons-to-avoid-a-home-cooked-diet/


Sources for home-made diet recipes:

Hilary's Blend

http://www.completeandbalanced.com


BalanceIt

https://www.balance.it/recipes

Home Dental Care

Why should we care about our pet's teeth?

https://www.canadianveterinarians.net/related-resources/oral-cavity-and-dental-disease-in-cats/


https://catfriendly.com/cat-care-at-home/routine-caregrooming/care-cats-teeth/


How to brush a cat's teeth:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgyMKAquGJOZHeMX7VmuAuCrujjBPPY1O


https://catfriendly.com/cat-care-at-home/routine-caregrooming/how-to-brush-your-cats-teeth/

Dental Products

Overwhelmed by the number of treats, rinses and powders on the shelves? 

Not sure which actually help? The Veterinary Oral Health Council  (VOHC) is here to help by awarding their seal of approval to products with evidence of efficacy.

https://vohc.org/accepted-products/

Disease and Illness

When to know to go to the vet?

https://www.onehealth.org/blog/how-to-know-when-to-take-your-dog-or-cat-to-the-vet

Disease Resources

These resources can help reliably and accurately answer your questions if your pet was recently diagnosed with an illness. 

https://veterinarypartner.vin.com


https://catfriendly.com/feline-diseases/


https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics

How to administer medication

If you are having trouble giving medication to your cat please let us know! If you don't say anything we can't offer to help. 


Sometimes oral medication can be hidden in food or a treat but sometimes this will change how they work. If you are not sure if you can give your cat's meds with food please ask us. Please note sometimes hiding medication in food can make the pet not want to eat.


How to give a cat oral medication (pills): 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnikCuQtFOw


How to give a cat oral medication (liquid): 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3meUkY2e4Y


How to apply a cat's eye medication: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doO7tE1UefY

Senior Cats

https://catfriendly.com/cat-care-at-home/senior-care/10-tips/


Wellness Testing or Geriatric Screening means checking blood or urine samples for early signs of disease, before they become apparent. This allows us to start treating diseases as early as possible, improving the chances of maintaining good quality of life for as long as possible.

https://www.canadianveterinarians.net/related-resources/performing-wellness-testing-can-prolong-your-pet-s-life/

Saying goodbye

In the last part of your cat’s life, it’s important to give them the care and comfort they need, as well as putting their wellbeing and happiness first. We are here to support you through this last part of your journey together.


Assessing your pet's Quality of Life can help determine when it is time to say goodbye.

https://vmc.vet.osu.edu/sites/default/files/documents/how-will-i-know_rev_mar2024ms_0.pdf


Cats tend to hide their pain so it can be hard to identify and sometimes they show pain in ways you wouldn't expect.

https://www.aaha.org/globalassets/02-guidelines/pain-management/painmanagement_cats_web.pdf


Claire Place Veterinary Hospice provides at home hospice care for pets in the Ottawa area.

http://www.hospicevet.com

Happy Cat Homes

Kittens!

We've compiled some of our favourites resources on raising a kitten but if you have any questions reach out to us! 

https://www.vetstreet.com/care/kitten-basics-101-taking-care-of-your-new-kitten


https://catfriendly.com/cat-care-at-home/first-year-life/

Become a Cat Whisperer - Understanding your cat

https://catfriendly.com/why-does-my-cat/


https://catfriendly.com/category-page/behavior/


https://indoorpet.osu.edu/cats/problem-solving


https://indoorpet.osu.edu/cats/understanding-cats

Exercise and Environmental Enrichment

Providing exercise and enriching experiences keeps your cat mentally (and physically) healthy. Environmental enrichment is anything your cat sees, smells, hears or interacts with during their day. 

https://www.catschool.co/enrichment-for-cats-13-ways-to-improve-their-lives/


https://indoorpet.osu.edu/cats


https://fearfreehappyhomes.com


Feeding toys are a great solution to provide mental activity and exercise- reducing boredom eating and obesity! This website has all kinds of ideas- from the complex to the homemade, including for multi-pet households.

http://foodpuzzlesforcats.com 


Play is great for exercise and quality time with your cat.

https://sites.tufts.edu/petfoodology/2017/04/19/whats-a-good-exercise-plan-for-my-pet/

Cats and Kids

Teaching children how to safely interact with cats sets them (and the cat!) up for a lifetime of happy, loving feline companionship. It is extremely important to supervise children when they are interacting with your pet and intercede when the cat is showing stress before a bite or scratch happens.

https://catfriendly.com/be-a-cat-friendly-caregiver/cats-kids/


https://cats.com/cats-kids-rules-safe-play

The Secret Life of Cats

Minimizing Stress

We don't always realize we are doing things or expecting things from our cats that are causing them stress. Read about common stressors here.

https://indoorpet.osu.edu/cats/feline-life-stressors


https://www.preventivevet.com/cats/cat-stress-the-signs-to-look-out-for


Litterbox Habits

Put litter in a box...seems simple, right? There's more to litterboxes that that. House-soiling is one of the most common reasons cats get relinquished to shelters so make sure you're meeting your cat's needs before a problem develops.

https://catfriendly.com/cat-care-at-home/litter-box/


Scratching Habits

https://catfriendly.com/cat-care-at-home/living-clawed-cat/


Declawing used to be a routing procedure for indoor cats but it is now viewed as a last resort. Read the American Veterinary Medical Association position statement to learn why we are moving away from this procedure.

https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/literature-reviews/welfare-implications-declawing-domestic-cats

Nail trimming

If you would like to try trimming your own cat's nails at home remember to go slowly to avoid injuring your cat and treats make everything better.


One person: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1XisXBVe8g

Two people: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDbmgt6PrVo


Even if you don't want to try trimming just looking at your cat's nails every few weeks can help you spot problems early (like ingrown or broken nails).

Essential Oils

More information on the risks of essential oils for cats. https://www.canadianveterinarians.net/related-resources/cats-and-essential-oils/

Identification and Lost Cats

Microchipping

A microchip is a small device located under the skin. It is a permanent ID that your cat will have for life and cannot be lost. If they end up in a shelter it is the best way to ensure they get back to you.

https://www.aaha.org/animal-identification/

Ontario SPCA

If your cat has been picked up as a stray there is a good chance they were taken to a local OSPCA.

https://ontariospca.ca

What to do if your cat is lost

This handy checklist can help make sure you don't miss any steps when a pet goes missing. https://indoorpet.osu.edu/cats/pet-identification


If a found pet has a microchip but you're not sure which company it is from use this search function from AAHA to figure out which company it is registered to. 

http://www.petmicrochiplookup.org

Copyright © 2025 Upper Canada Veterinary Services - All Rights Reserved.

Powered by