Cats make wonderful, loyal companions, offering love and affection for many years. With an average lifespan of 15-20 years, they are a long-term commitment that requires thoughtful care and attention. At Avoca Drive Animal Hospital, located on the border of Green Point and Erina, we are passionate about providing Fear-Free veterinary care to ensure your cat’s health and wellbeing throughout their life.
Before bringing your cat or kitten home, it’s important to familiarize yourself with local regulations in the Central Coast area, such as night curfews, compulsory containment, desexing, and microchipping requirements. We recommend contacting your local council in Gosford to stay informed about any pet laws.
Cats can adapt to a variety of living spaces, but they thrive in environments where they feel safe and secure. Whether you have an indoor or outdoor cat, it’s essential to provide a comfortable and protected space for them. Many cat owners in Green Point and Kincumber are opting for cat enclosures—weatherproof, netted spaces that allow their pets to enjoy the outdoors safely, while also protecting wildlife and preventing conflicts with other neighborhood cats.
For indoor cats, a scratching post is essential for keeping their claws in top condition while avoiding damage to your furniture. We offer expert advice on how to care for your cat's specific needs and ensure they remain healthy and happy in your home.
Cats like to be clean at all times. As a result, cats can easily be toilet trained if a litter tray filled with a suitable cat litter is available. The litter tray should be cleaned daily to remove faeces and the litter itself changed frequently. Ensure the litter tray is placed in a quiet and private location. You may even need multiple trays if you have more than one pet cat. A good rule of thumb is one tray for each cat plus one extra.
All cats need to exercise. As cats naturally like climbing and perching themselves up high, trees and fences, for example, provide good opportunities for them if they have outdoor access. Indoor cats, however, will use furniture to climb and perch. Once again, having a scratch pole or indoor cat gym will give an indoor cat an effective alternative. Providing higher perching locations will also give your cats a more enriched environment.
All cats need to exercise. As cats naturally like climbing and perching themselves up high, trees and fences, for example, provide good opportunities for them if they have outdoor access. Indoor cats, however, will use furniture to climb and perch. Once again, having a scratch pole or indoor cat gym will give an indoor cat an effective alternative. Providing higher perching locations will also give your cats a more enriched environment. As the only fully accredited Fear Free veterinary hospital in Australia, Avoca Drive Animal Hospital is proud to offer a compassionate, low-stress environment for your cat’s veterinary visits. Our hospital is also the first in Australia to achieve full hospital accreditation, ensuring that every aspect of our care meets the highest standards. Whether your cat needs a routine check-up or specialized treatment, we’re here to help with a gentle, fear-free approach.
Most cats require grooming assistance from their owners to remove excess hair. This helps in the reduction of furballs/hairballs and matted or tangled fur, which if left, may result in a visit to us. Except at moulting time, short haired cats are able to groom themselves adequately. In contrast, long haired cats require daily grooming by their owners. Furballs or hairballs can cause appetite and weight loss, and in a worst case scenario, result in surgery. During the moulting season daily brushing is essential and food designed specifically to assist with the reduction of hairballs will also help your cat process shed hair. Unlike dogs, you should not need to bathe a cat under normal circumstances.
When it comes to feeding, most cats like to graze, so we recommend offering small amounts often. Young, healthy cats require a high protein and fat diet. There are many formulations of cat food available and we recommend discussing your cat’s individual nutritional needs with us to choose the most suitable formula. Older cats and those with certain medical conditions may require a prescription diet, which we can discuss with you as part of a treatment plan.
Ensure a fresh water bowl is accessible at all times, especially if they have a dry food diet. We recommend that you avoid offering cow's milk for your cat to drink, as this can cause stomach upsets.
Cats require a minimum of one health check per year. Regular visits help us diagnose, treat or even prevent health problems before they become life-threatening. Routine vaccinations, worming and flea control form the basics of feline medical care. We can also provide additional guidance on nutrition, behaviour, training and life-stage treatments available.
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