Many people will assume that you only need to take your cat to the vet if they're unwell or have injured themselves and require emergency treatment.

However, if you are going to be a responsible cat owner, it is important that your feline friend makes routine trips to the vet in order to have their vaccinations and get regular health check-ups.

Therefore, it is essential that you register your cat with a vet as soon as you bring them home. One of the first things your vet will recommended is that you get your cat neutered, which can be done from four months old and is important in order to prevent unwanted kittens.

You will also need to get your furry friend vaccinated to protect them from conditions such as flu, feline parvovirus, Chlamydophila and feline leukaemia.

Indeed, these sorts of illnesses can be very serious or even fatal for cats, so it is essential that you take the time to get them vaccinated and avoid any future problems.

In addition, although you can get some of these products from pet shops, your vet is the best person to advise you on flea and worming treatments, which your cat should receive from an early age.

These come in different forms such as powder, pastes, collars and drop treatments, and your vet can advise you which is most suitable for your pet.

Finally, it is worth remembering that your vet is also the person who is best placed to give you advice on everything from how to train a naughty moggie and how to prevent excess moulting to the best cat food to feed your pet.

Therefore, it can bring any owner great peace of mind to register with a vet that they trust, and to know that if problems do arise there is always someone who can help them out and give a second opinion on the issue.

Written by: Hannah