Domestic Cat Care 100 Hours Certificate Course

There are 9 lessons in this course:

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 problem based learning 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 problem based learning 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

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.