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Fleas can quickly become a significant problem for cats, dogs and the rest of the family. Cats can pick up fleas anywhere - the bush, your own backyard, even your own house if a flea‑infested animal was there before. That’s because the adult fleas on untreated animals lay eggs that fall into the environment. Each female flea can produce 40 to 50 eggs a day – that’s up to 2,000 in her lifetime. These eggs develop into larvae and pupae in the environment. Inside these pupae are ready-to-hatch fleas which can remain dormant for weeks to months in their cocoons. When conditions are right— enough heat, carbon dioxide and animal activity — the fleas hatch as young, hungry adult fleas, ready to infest your pet. When we turn our heaters on we provide the optimum environment for fleas to hatch into. Since only adult fleas are visible on the pet, by the time they are noticed there may already be a large infestation in the home environment. This is why regular monthly flea control is so important. Fleas can also lead to health problems for your pets. Some pets develop severe allergies to flea bites (called flea allergy dermatitis) and may continue scratching their skin long after the fleas have gone. Fleas are also responsible for transmitting the dog tapeworm (Dipylidium caninum) to dogs, cats and even humans. Fleas can spread bacterial diseases, too. Choosing a flea control treatment that not only kills adult fleas but also breaks the flea cycle is important to get an existing flea infestation under control and to prevent a new one establishing. Activyl® is a new spot-on product that kills fleas before they bite and controls the egg and larvae in your carpets, lounges, beds and cushions. Activyl® is also the first flea control product that works through bioactivation If you were a dog or cat, you'd want a treatment that was effective at killing fleas, yet gentle*. Activyl®, a new spot-on flea treatment, works in a different way to conventional flea products. It works through bioactivation which means it only becomes fully active once inside the flea, to deliver full flea-killing power. It is applied to a small area of a pet’s skin and spreads throughout the lipid layer. Activyl® breaks the flea life cycle and prevents re-infestation Apply Activyl® monthly to break the flea life cycle. This: - Ensures that the fleas that jump onto your pet soon stop feeding, are paralysed and die - Kills eggs and larvae in the environment and prevents reinfestation - Helps in the management of pets that develop itchy skin (flea allergy dermatitis or FAD) due to flea bites Activyl® kills fleas fast Activyl® starts working within 8 hours and keeps working throughout the month. Activyl® is conveniently available in single and six dose packs

Marking or toileting? Spraying small amounts of urine against vertical objects such as chairs or walls is a territorial marking behaviour. Entire male cats are the most likely to spray. Male and female cats urinate in a squatting position leaving a greater volume of liquid. Medical problems such as cystitis, diabetes, kidney disease and obesity exacerbate abnormal toileting behaviour. Why do cats spray or mark? Anxiety and stress are the most common causes of spraying. Cats are creatures of habit and like to have their own space and toys. Even though they are willing to share a house and bed with you they need places and things of their own to be happy. If they think that something that belongs to them is being taken over by someone else they feel threatened. They have to let everyone know that it is theirs. The natural way to stake their claim is to mark it with the facial scent glands or urine. This is like writing their name on their things. Putting urine or facial scent on a thing or place makes a cat feel secure, especially if they feel out of place, nervous or afraid. What makes cats anxious? • A new cat or kitten. Introduce a new pet into the household gradually. Let them get used to each other through a screen or glass door. Exchange their bedding and let them sniff and sleep on it. Remember to reassure and cuddle the established pet as well as the cute new one. • A new baby. Let your cat hear the sounds and sniff the clothes of a new family member from a safe, private place. Give the cat lots of attention. • Changes in furniture or carpets and disruptions such as building or painting. Lock your cat in a room well away from tradesmen and the strange sounds and smells associated with their work. • A strange cat wandering in the garden or even through the cat flap. • The loss of a human or animal companion. Strongly bonded cats will need extra care and attention if mourning a friend who has moved or passed away. • Incompatible cats, especially if a lot of cats live together. Determine which cats do not get along and keep them in separate parts of the home with their own litter and sleeping areas. • Stress. Enriching a cat’s environment minimises stress Cat scratching posts, toys that mimic prey, tunnels, outside runs and a variety of high spots and hideouts will keep your cat happy and stimulated. Vertical space is often more important than horizontal space. Some cats appreciate an indoor garden sown with grass, cat nip and cat mint. Find several toys they like and rotate them regularly. Your company is important. Even an old cat will appreciate a game with a ribbon on a stick or a glittery ball. Make your cat work for food by hiding it in various locations around the house or in food puzzles such as plastic containers with holes cut in the sides. Routine is important for some cats. Ten minutes each day play and grooming your cat to provide regular predictable attention that helps reduce their anxiety. Feed them at a set time. What if I can’t identify or remove the source of the anxiety? If you cannot identify or remove the source of the anxiety then provide your cat with a safe haven. A room where your cat can safely retreat or relax without fear of disturbance is ideal. A small, enclosed and elevated space lined with your worn clothes is also good. Most cats will mark a limited space with facial rubbing and bunting only. Clean urine marked areas with a special enzymatic cleaner like Urine Off, available at Canberra Cat Vet, that eliminates the scent. If your cat can smell urine he will mark it again. You may have to lock him out of the room for a while to help him forget it. Protect a habitual spraying site by placing dry food or a bed at the base. Cats are usually reluctant to spray their own key resources. Food and beds are also reassuring and may reduce anxiety. However, a stressed cat may move to other areas and mark there instead. A natural pheromone spray called Feliway calms some cats and reduces the urge to spray and mark. Spray it on previously marked areas or plug a Feliway diffuser in or near the area he most marks. You might find useful more hints on The Litterbox Guru Never punish cats. If caught in the act they can be picked up and placed on the litter tray, stroked and calmed. Never ‘rub the cat’s nose in it’ as this will make a nervous cat even more likely to toilet indoors. Cats with anxiety related behaviours like spraying often need evaluation for anti-anxiety medications in addition to the above changes to resolve the problem. Call us on 6251 1444 for a behaviour consultation if you cannot sort it out.

Lots of happy faces at our Open Night last night. Congratulations to all the winners of lucky door and photographic prizes!