Ringworm is not a true worm, rather name for a type of fungus, related to fungus that causes athlete's foot in humans. It usually causes no discomfort, but is highly contagious to other cats and humans. If left untreated it weakens immune system and leaves your cat vulnerable to other, more serious diseases.

Fleas are perhaps most infamous pet parasite. Although they eat no more than a drop of blood each, a flea infestation can cause anemia in adult cats and death in kittens. In addition to literally sucking life from your cat, fleas often transmit tapeworms, as serious internal parasite. Just a few fleas can cause great discomfort to your cat, especially if she is one of many animals allergic to fleabites. The best way to conquer a flea invasion is to prevent it in first place.

Daily grooming, especially if you allow your cat outdoors will help you keep one step ahead of flea hordes. As you flea-comb your cat, dip comb into a container of soapy water to kill fleas. The soap film coats and suffocates fleas.

Ask your veterinarian about preventative flea medications. These are given to your cat orally. The chemical they contain is harmless to your cat, but makes fleas sterile. It is absorbed into your cat's blood, so when a flea bites her it cannot reproduce.

If your cat has had fleas in past, it is very likely that you have flea eggs and larvae in your carpet and upholstery. Your veterinarian can suggest a "flea bomb" based on how bad infestation is. It is important to follow package instructions carefully and repeat treatment as directed in order to make sure all generations are eliminated.

One of biggest benefits of spaying/neutering is that it dramatically reduces cat's risk of developing cancers of reproductive system. A female cat spayed before her first cycle, or heat, has a greatly reduced chance of mammary cancer. Less than a decade ago, conventional wisdom dictated that pets should be neutered at between 5-7 months of age. Recent studies have found that it is not only possible to spay/neuter cats at a younger age, it actually is better for them. Today, cats undergo spay/neuter procedures at about 7 weeks of age. They recover much more quickly than if it was done later, and ensures that a female does not become pregnant with her first heat.

In past spaying was limited for a number of reasons

* It was better to let a female cat give birth to one litter of kittens before spaying. * That female cats in particular, might later develop incontinence as a result. * That certain behavioral problems might result.

However, these theories have since been disproven.

In past, animal shelters and humane societies sent unaltered cats/kittens to their new home because they wanted them to start their new life as soon as possible. Usually, owners signed documents promising to have animal neutered. Some facilities took it upon themselves to follow up with phone calls to make sure owners were living up to their commitment. The overwhelming number of animals coming and going in a shelter today makes this unfeasible. Instead of allowing their charges to add to overpopulation problem, most animal welfare/adoption groups routinely spay and neuter animals before they are made available for adoption. A number of municipalities have passed laws so that no animal can leave a shelter unless it has been spayed/neutered.