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Top 19 Reasons to See Your Veterinarian

  1. Bleeding
  2. Breathing Problems
  3. Vomiting and Diarrhea
  4. Inability to Urinate or Frequent Urination
  5. Lameness and Possible Fractures
  6. Changes In Behaviour
  7. Increased Drinking
  8. Exercise Intolerance
  9. Bad Breath
  10. Marked Weight Gain or Weight Loss
  11. Itchy Ears or Itchy Skin
  12. Lumps and Bumps
  13. Not Eating
  14. Lethargy
  15. Seizures
  16. Vaccines
  17. Spay & Neuters
  18. Check-up Appointments
  19. Medical Emergencies

Edmonton's Cat Bylaw

  • Know the Bylaw Rules for Cat Ownership in Edmonton

    Animal Control Services strives to ensure the safe, healthy and peaceful enjoyment of Edmonton's neighbourhoods for all citizens by promoting responsible and considerate pet ownership. Please do your part to ensure your cat is a healthy pet and companion. Care for your cat for its lifetime.

  • License and Identify

    • Cats 6 months and older must be licensed by the City of Edmonton.
    • Register for your (spayed/neutered) cat’s licence for FREE the first year.
    • Licences and permanent ID - tattoo and microchip - help lost cats get home.
    • Indoor cats require a licence too.
    • Non-micro chipped cats must wear their licence at all times.
    • Update your new address at Animal Control Services and ID providers.
    • Fine for "unlicensed cat" is $250.

  • Keep Cats Indoors

    • Stop cats from roaming - they easily become lost.
    • Keep cats safe from vehicles, animal cruelty, dogs and wildlife – they live longer healthier lives indoors.
    • Prevent the spread of feline leukemia and parasites such as fleas, ticks and worms.

  • Spay and Neuter

    • Ensures happier, healthier companions.
    • Reduces over-population and unwanted pets.
    • Curbs your cat’s urges to fight, bite, spray and roam.
    • Saves on yearly licence fees.

  • Need our help?

    • If you lose your pet, register at www.petlynx.net, and call 311 for more information.
    • To register animal concerns, pay fees or fines, recover lost pets, and for more information visit www.edmonton.ca/bylaws or call 311.

Animal Care & Control Tips

http://www.edmonton.ca/bylaws_licences/bylaw_services/animal-control-services.aspx

Animal Care & Control helps ensure everyone's safe, healthy and peaceful enjoyment of Edmonton neighbourhoods.

We enforce the Animal Licensing and Control Bylaw which makes owners responsible for their pet’s actions, helps return lost pets to their owners, and ensures pets are a positive addition to the community.

  • Animal Care & Control Officers

    Animal Control Officers help owners ensure their pets are a positive addition to the community. This is done through education programs, mediating neighbour disputes, providing advice, and enforcement.

    Officers also patrol neighbourhoods for stray animals and return lost pets to their owners.

    Animal Control Officers are sworn peace officers, giving them the ability to write tickets and lay charges that require a pet owner to appear in court.

    They assist the Edmonton Police Service with aggressive or injured animals, Provincial Brand Inspectors with loose livestock, and provincial Conservation Officers with wildlife inside city limits.

  • Animal Care & Control Centre

    The Animal Care & Control Centre is where Edmonton’s stray and lost pets are housed. The facility takes care of animals until their rightful owners can be found or until they are transferred to an adoption agency.

    Staff at the facility is trained to look after the health and well-being of all pets in our care by providing:

    • First aid and veterinary care for animals that come in with an injury
    • Quality food
    • Kennels that are cleaned and disinfected throughout each day
    • Vaccinations to protect from infection
    • Speciality care for unique pets by consulting with the Edmonton Reptile and Amphibian Society, Alberta Ferret Society, Wildlife Rehabilitation Society and others.

  • For more information:

    Animal Care & Control Centre
    NEW ADDRESS: 13550 - 163 Street
    Edmonton, AB

What Are the Options for Identification of Cats?

  • Tattooing:

    This is a relatively simple and inexpensive way to have your cat identified. Tattooing requires the patient to be anesthetized. Therefore, it is usually done at the time of spaying/neutering or other surgical procedure. When your cat receives a tattoo, a number will be placed in the ear (usually the left) that will track your pet to a veterinary clinic, and therefore to you if it’s lost.

  • Microchipping:

    This is a good way of identifying any pet quickly without anesthesia. It involves placing a computer microchip under your cat's skin with a large gauge needle (much like a vaccination). The microchip number is then registered throughout north America and traced both to you and the clinic if your pet is lost. Unlike tattoos, a microchip signal doesn’t fade over time.

What is the Process for Registering a Cat?

First, pick up an application form at veterinary clinics, pet stores or the City of Edmonton Pound. Then fill it out and mail or fax it to the address/number on the application. The application contains valuable information about the bylaw, and numbers you can call for more information.

Canine Kennel Cough

  • What Is It?

    Kennel cough, or infectious tracheobronchitis, is a communicable disease that is transferred from dog to dog through airborne transmission. Since the disease is passed via the air, areas of higher population density such as boarding facilities or humane societies may have higher incidences, but any dog can contract it.

    The dog becomes infected by a virus that damages the nasal and lung passages. Then, a bacterial infection is able to take hold and cause even more damage.

  • What Are the Signs of Kennel Cough?

    If your dog has a dry, hacking or persistent cough, he/she may have kennel cough, and should be examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible. Inform the veterinary clinic you are bringing your pet in because you suspect kennel cough. Special precautions may be taken to avoid exposure to other pets in the reception area.

  • Treatment

    Kennel cough is usually quite easily treated with antibiotics, and it usually resolves within a couple weeks. During that time, do not allow your dog to have contact with other dogs, as he/she may still be contagious. Without treatment the damage to the lungs and nasal passages may become quite serious. This may leave permanent scarring that could affect your pet for life.

  • Prevention

    Protection against kennel cough is provided through your pet's annual vaccinations. The Adenovirusand Parainfluenza virus are often implicated in kennel cough.

    In addition to viral protection, a vaccine is also available for the bacterial cause of the disease,Bordetella bronchiseptica. This vaccine is available in a nasal spray.

    Most boarding facilities will require that the above vaccinations be up to date to protect both your dog and other dogs boarding there. They will often ask to see your vaccination certificate, so keep it handy.

Feline Leukemia Virus - Is Your Cat At Risk?

  • What Is It?

    Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) is a contagious disease of cats that severely compromises their immune system. This may leave them susceptible to other infections. Much like the human AIDS virus, cats may not show any clinical signs. Then they may suddenly get very sick and possible die. FeLV is spread by direct contact with an infected cat (mutual licking/grooming, shared food and water), or contact with an infected cat's urine or feces (sharing a litter box).

    • In many cats, few signs of infection may be noticed by the owner. Some of the following symptoms may indicate FeLV infection in cats:

    • fever
    • poor coat condition
    • loss of appetite
    • swollen lymph nodes
    • weight loss
    • diarrhea
    • sores on/in mouth
    • dehydration
    • pale gums

  • Which Cats Are at Risk?

    Any cat can contract the disease, but some cats are at greater risk than others. Cats that go outside are more likely to be in contact with other cats, and therefore are more likely to be in contact with the disease. Studies in the United States have shown that approximately 25% of cats carry the disease. Cats that live in multi-cat households may be more susceptible, especially if the cats are taken in as strays.

  • How Can You Know For Sure That Your Cat Has This Disease?

    A simple blood test, that can be performed in clinic, can tell us within 10 minutes if your cat is positive for FelV and/or Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). This test requires we take a small amount of blood from your cat.

  • Prevention of FeLV

    The best way to prevent this disease is reduce exposure to infected cats. This is one of the many reasons that your veterinarian may suggest your cat remain indoors. Spay/neuter your cat, not only for the many health benefits and over population problems, but to reduce the desire for your cat to roam. The more your cat roams, the more cats he/she will come into contact with, and therefore the greater the chance of infection.

    If your cat goes outside, vaccination against FelV may be recommended. Vaccination is best started as a kitten prior to exposure. Prior to vaccinating, the veterinarian may suggest that a blood test, to check for previous exposure, be performed. There is no benefit to vaccinating a cat already infected with the disease.

    Vaccination can be started as early as 8 weeks old, and should be boostered 3 to 4 weeks after the initial vaccine. Thereafter, the vaccine should be given annually to ensure complete protection.

  • Treatment of FelV

    If your cat tests positive for FelV and is already showing signs of illness, Treatment options are aimed at controlling clinical signs. Antibiotics and medications to boost the immune system may be used fro this purpose. Like the human AIDS virus, there is no cure for this disease, and sometimes it can be fatal.

    If your cat tests positive for FelV, but still appears healthy, several options are available. There is a possibility that your cat will be able to fight off the virus, and if he/she remains healthy, he/she may be retested in 3 months.

    Cats that remain persistently positive should be monitored closely for the development of clinical signs. You may choose to monitor your cat until he/she shows signs of sickness. Ensure that your cat does not come into contact with other cats as it may pass the disease on to others. Also keep your cat away from sick cats as your cat is more likely to get bacterial diseases. If you have other cats in your household, you should have them tested also. If they are negative, ensure they do not come into contact with the cat that is positive.