Even if your cat is indoors most of the time, he is still at risk of contracting one of the many serious illnesses that claim a large number of the feline population. In order to help stave off illnesses, you should have your cat vaccinated by your veterinarian. Read on to learn about when your cat should be vaccinated and what diseases a cat is most likely to contract.

Kittens receive antibodies from their mother through the milk they eat. Once a baby is weaned from his mother’s milk the protection from these antibodies begins to lessen. After a kitten reaches 20 weeks of age, there is usually no protection whatsoever from feline diseases without the help of a vaccination.

The first set of vaccinations is referred to as the “core” vaccines. These protect your cat from common feline diseases such as:

Distemper – a potentially fatal disease that most cats will be exposed to in their lifetime. Brain damage and other issues can remain permanently in a kitten or cat who contracts and survives the illness.
Rhinotracheitis – a virus that causes respiratory infection. Vaccination does not prevent a cat from contracting this illness, but it can tone down the symptoms.
Calicivirus – respiratory virus that can cause symptoms of runniness in a cat’s eyes and nose for the rest of its life, even after treatment.
Rabies – a horrible disease that attacks the central nervous system, which can be spread through bites or scratches and is capable of being contracted by any mammal, including humans.

Your vet may recommend other “non-core” vaccines to protect your cat against diseases that are likely to affect him based on his breed or the area in which you live.

The vaccination schedule usually begins when a kitten reaches 6 weeks of age. Most veterinarians prefer to offer the first injection between 6 – 8 weeks of age. Two more injections will be administered three to four weeks apart, so most kittens are about four months old once at the last injection of the core shots. The vaccination process isn’t anything to worry about, for the most part. Your veterinarian will simply pinch a bit of skin from a fatty area and inject the vaccination there. The cat rarely feels anything save for a pinch or slight itchiness at the site of injection. You will need to take your cat back to the vet a year later for a “booster” shot, and then again every few years after that.

For more information about raising a pet, or to purchase pet stairs, visit Help Your Pets.

Your dog loves to sleep at the foot of your bed, and you love having it there. But what happens when your furry companion can’t get up to your level? Do you risk injuring yourself by lifting your pet onto the bed? No, a much better answer is dog steps for beds.

Dog steps for beds are important for small breeds, which can easily break a leg bone jumping down from a bed. They’re also helpful for older dogs with health conditions such as arthritis, blindness or hip displacement. Some owners start their dogs using steps at a fairly young age to reduce repetitive stress on the joints that could lead to arthritis later in life.

However, choosing dog stairs is different from choosing other types of pet furniture, as many people prefer both practicality and pleasant appearance in their steps.

The fun part of choosing dog stairs is getting to browse through all the different styles. You wouldn’t’ believe the different colors and materials you can find! If your dog stairs are going to remain by the bed, you might choose a nice wooden set that matches your headboard, dresser, and night stand. Or, if you want the steps to remain in the family room near the sofa, you could find a carpeted set that matches your furniture suite or flooring. There are so many possibilities!

Pet stairs specially intended for beside use are going to need to match up to the height of your bed. Having steps higher than your bed could result in your dog tripping and hurting himself, yet steps which are too small will end up in him still needing to jump onto the bed, which defeats the purpose of the steps altogether.

When you choose your dog steps, you must be sure that the steps are right for your dog. Not only must the steps be suitable in both width and height, but they must also be able to hold your pet’s weight. You can easily find out this information on the site you want to order from, or if you’re browsing in a local store, you can find details on the packaging of the steps.

The health of your pet is extremely important to you, right? You worry about their teeth, their diet, and make sure that they get adequate exercise. If you are like many people, you consider them a natural extension of your family. If this fits your feelings toward your pet, then there are three big reasons to consider bed pet steps a necessity, not a luxury.

Have you ever stopped to think of the toll that jumping on and off of beds can have on your pet’s joints? While older and sick pets should most definitely use pet steps, this piece of furniture is not only for those particular pet scenarios. When a younger pet is constantly forcing impact onto his joints, he can become hindered far too early in his life.

It is quite common for injuries to pets as well as owners to occur when a pet has to jump up and down from a high bed. To avoid broken bones or collisions with your pet, you will need steps so they can crawl up in a more safer manner.

Have you ever been jarred awake by the pounce of your pet on or off your bed? This is particularly an issue if you have a larger dog who is naturally less graceful than a smaller breed. By placing a pet step near your bed, you minimize any excess movement from your pet.

You could compare the jostle of a pet on your bed to the same situation involving another person. If your partner tosses and turns throughout the night, you are more apt to take precaution by purchasing a mattress that minimizes motion transfer. In the case of your pet, you can easily minimize his excess movement by keeping pet stairs nearby.

You can sympathize with the amount of stress your pet’s joints go through to absorb the shock from jumping. Pet steps are a healthier, safer alternative to jumping on a bed. When searching for pet steps, you can choose from a variety of designs and styles, such as wooden pet steps and carpeted pet steps.

Maybe you love adorable toy breeds that fit in a handbag. Perhaps you prefer to romp around with a sturdy big breed. Maybe your beloved longtime companion has grown old and frail. Whatever your dog’s size and situation, finding the right dog steps matters to you and your pet.

Dog stairs can be a terrific solution to many disabilities or conditions that ail dogs of all breeds and ages, such as dysplasia, obesity, and arthritis. Dog steps can enable your pet a level of freedom you both will have thought long gone.

The first factor to consider when choosing a set of dog steps is the dimensions your dog requires. There really isn’t a set of dimensions that work as “one-size-for-all.” As pets come in all different sizes and weights, you must choose a set of steps that conforms to the size of your dog. Many sites sell both small dog steps and large dog steps. Dogs weighing less than 20 lbs should use steps measuring about 12 inches wide and dogs weighing more than 35 lbs should use steps that are 16 inches wide. If you have a medium-sized dog, or one who weights under 35 lbs, but more than 20 lbs, 14 inch-wide steps should do well.

The next item to take into consideration is the height of the steps. Smaller dogs generally have shorter legs, therefore each step’s height should be shorter, but the overall height of the stairs should be tall enough to reach your bed, couch, or other desired furniture. Larger dogs should have stairs whose steps are a bit taller so they don’t trip over small, more frequent steps.

Dog steps particularly intended to bedside use should range between 17 to 29 inches high, again depending upon the height of your pet and the length of his legs.

Finally, choose pet stairs made of good quality material. Steps for small and large dogs should be washable and made of lightweight, portable material. Some styles can be taken apart and carried along, while others have compartments in the treads to store doggie dishes and toys.

Your pet can go with you anywhere when you invest in a good quality set of small or large dog steps.