Cat Care (Domestic Cat Care)

• Learn about cat behaviour.

• Understand the requirements for a heathy cat - diet, nutrition, preventative care and treating of illnesses.

• Learn from our expert tutors.

• Course Duration: 100 hours of self paced study.  Start at any time!   Study from home or where you want to.

Lessons: The course comprises 9 lessons as detailed, 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
   • 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