CAT CARE BAG107

Course Structure

This course is broken down into nine lessons as outlined below:

1. Introduction

• Basic Feline Needs - Basic Duties of the Cat Owner
• Food and water
• Shelter and Containment
• Health care for sick cat
• Grooming
• Claw trimming
• Bathing
• Travel
• Housebreaking
• Introducing a new cat at home
• Cats with babies and children
• Cats and dogs
• Cat breeds – pedigrees and non-pedigrees

2. Feline Biology

• Skin
• Eyes
• Ears
• Nose
• Mouth
• Digestive system
• Reproductive system
  
  

3. Breeds

• Domestic cat breeds
• International and national associations
• Long haired breeds – characteristics, common health problems, temperaments, care, history
• Semi-long haired breeds - characteristics, common health problems, temperaments, care, history
• Short haired breeds - characteristics, common health problems, temperaments, care, history
  
  

4. Feline Health Care

• Preventative care
• Vaccinations
• Recognising illhealth
• Dealing with emergencies
• Artificial breathing and heart massage
• How to induce vomiting
• Specific situations to deal with e.g. burns, wounds, dehydration, hypothermia (and many more)
• Poisoning
• Wounds
• Bandaging
• Restraining for treatment
• Transportation of the injured cat
• Desexing
  
  

5. Feline Illnesses

• Internal parasites
• Roundworms
• Hookworms
• Tapeworms
• Whipworms
• Lungworms
• Stomach worms
• Bladder worms
• Flukes
• Worm control
• External parasite
• Ticks
• Fleas
• Mites
• Common ailments and diseases (numerous)
• Skin disorders
  
  

6. Feline Diet

• Introduction to foods and feedings
• Dietary options
• Free feeding
• Scheduled, portion controlled feeding
• Understanding dietary requirements
• Kittens (0-12 months)
• Pregnant and lactating cats
• Fussy cats
• Obesity and overweight cats
• Underweight cats
• Geriatric cats
• Raw diets
• Toxic foods

7. Feline Behaviour

• Understanding the cats mind
• Personality and temperament differences
• How cats communicate
• Body language
• Sleeping routines and circadian rhythms
• Play
• Behavioural problems
• Recognise and understand aggression
• Dealing with aggression
• Inappropriate elimination
• Excessive vocalisation
• Geriatric dysfunction
• Controlling killing wildlife
• Eating disorder
• Abnormal suckling
• Separation anxiety
  
  

8. Breeding and Raising Kittens (includes PBL Project)

• Cat breeding industry
• Ethics in animal breeding
• A brief look at genes
• Sexual behaviour
• Socialisation of kittens
• Problem based learning project – Improving Standards for Ethical Breeding
  
  

9. Feline Services (includes PBL Project)

• Grooming services
• Professional training and handling
• Day care or boarding facilities
• Rehoming and fostering
• Using cats as therapy pets
• Health care industry
• Feline therapy services – hydrotherapy, physiotherapy, massage
• Retail and manufacturing industry
• Pet funerals and memorials
• Business basics for self-employment in the feline industry
• Laws and small business
• The importance of keeping records
• Buying an established business
• Buying a franchise
• Approaches to business planning
• Problem based learning project – Starting a Small Business in the Cat Industry

Course Duration - 100 hours

What are the Duties of the Cat Owner? 

Responsible cat ownership starts with:  

• ensuring your cat is de-sexed (neutered) unless being used for breeding, micro chipped and if required registered with a local council authority 
• providing a safe, clean and comfortable shelter 
• regularly carry out internal and external parasite control measures 
• maintaining health with annual veterinary checks and vaccinations 
• ensuring the cat is free from pain or suffering
• providing adequate nutrition and access to clean drinking water
• providing an enriching environment such as scratch boards or toys to avoid boredom 
• ensuring someone can attend to your cat in your absence 
• provide adequate affection and human contact. 

If you are going to keep a pet cat, you need to be prepared to provide for its basic needs as an absolute minimum: food, water, shelter, stimulation (mental and physical) and appropriate health care.  Additionally, it is responsible to control cats within reason, reducing any impact upon neighbouring property or wildlife. This is called containment.   

To properly meet each of these responsibilities requires knowledge, and the capacity to adapt and apply that knowledge to different situations as you encounter them. It is this capacity to provide for the needs of a cat, that you will develop by doing this course.