Preventive Care
for Your Cat

Vaccination:
Your Cat's First Line of Defense

Modern vaccine programs are divided into two categories: Core vaccines, recommended for every cat regardless of lifestyle, and Non-core vaccines, tailored to individual risk factors. Together, they form a protective shield against the most dangerous feline infectious diseases.

Core Vaccines — The FVRCP Triple

The FVRCP combination vaccine covers three critical diseases. Even strictly indoor cats are at risk, since viruses can be carried indoors on clothing and shoes.

Non-Core Vaccines — Lifestyle-Based Protection

Parasite Prevention:
Protecting Your Cat — and Your Family

Parasite prevention protects not only your cat but also your household. Several feline parasites are zoonotic — they can be transmitted to humans — making year-round prevention a matter of public health as well as pet welfare.

Heartworm Disease in Cats

Heartworm is often considered a dog disease, but cats are also susceptible. In felines, even a small number of parasites can trigger HARD (Heartworm-Associated Respiratory Disease) — a serious inflammatory lung condition that can resemble asthma or chronic bronchitis and is often misdiagnosed.

Fleas, Ticks, and Zoonotic Risk

Dental Health:
The Hidden Gateway to Whole-Body Wellness

Dental disease is among the most underestimated threats to feline health. Studies suggest that the majority of cats over age three have some degree of periodontal disease — yet because cats hide pain instinctively, it often goes undetected until significant damage has already occurred.

A Two-Tier Approach to Dental Care

1. Daily Home Care — The Omotenashi Approach

   Rather than forcing the process, introduce tooth brushing gradually in a way that feels comfortable to your cat. Use a soft brush and cat-formulated enzymatic toothpaste. Dental toys and functional chews also help reduce plaque buildup between brushing sessions. The Japanese principle of omotenashi — anticipating needs with gentle attentiveness — applies beautifully here.

2. Professional Cleaning — Under Anesthesia

   Home care alone cannot remove hardened tartar or detect subgingival lesions. A professional dental cleaning under general anesthesia, including full-mouth dental radiographs, is the only way to identify conditions like tooth resorption — a painful condition in which teeth are gradually dissolved from the inside out — before it requires extraction.

Microchipping:
A Lifeline — and Now the Law

In June 2022, Japan amended its Animal Welfare and Management Act to mandate microchipping for cats and dogs sold by breeders and pet shops. This was a landmark step for animal welfare, transforming microchips from a recommendation into a legal requirement for responsible pet ownership.

Health Screening:
Listening to a Cat Who Cannot Speak

A cat ages roughly four times faster than a human. One annual wellness exam is equivalent to a human visiting a doctor every four years. For senior cats, that gap is far too wide — biannual exams become essential.

Daily Life as Prevention:
Nutrition, Hydration & Environment

Preventive care does not end at the veterinary clinic. Every meal, every water bowl, every enrichment opportunity is an act of preventive medicine. The Japanese tradition of crafting tools with precise purpose — beautiful form supporting optimal function — resonates deeply here.

The Future of Feline Health:
Innovation on the Horizon

Feline medicine is advancing rapidly. Where previous generations of cat owners could only react to illness, today's owners have tools to anticipate, detect, and intervene earlier than ever before.

Your Cat's Preventive Care Checklist