New Kitten Information

Congratulations on your new kitten! Here's what to expect at your kitten's first veterinary visits.

A veterinarian will complete a wellness examination to evaluate the health of your kitten. Listening for a heart murmur, an oral exam, inspection of reproductive structures, and evaluation for ear mites and internal parasites are just a few parts of the exam. Your kitten’s first visit will include a complimentary nail trim.

Visit #1: Ages 8 Weeks: (Initial Visit)

  • Wellness physical examination: To make sure that your kitten is healthy and developing normally.
  • Check for Intestinal Parasites and Deworming as necessary. Please bring a fresh stool sample for us to check.
  • Initial vaccination :  Distemper (Feline Rhinotracheitis-Calici-Panleukopenia-Chlamydia Psittaci) – This protects your kitten against the most common viruses that can plague cats and is considered a necessary vaccine for all cats and kittens.
  • FIV/FeLV testing and vaccination should be considered. Feline Leukemia Virus can be life threatening and so the vaccine is recommended in all cats and kittens that have access to the outdoors.
  • We will go over common questions such as on feeding, behavior, or even dental care.
  • Flea and tick preventative (Revolution) may be started at this time.

Visit #2: Ages 10-12 Weeks: (2nd visit 3-4 weeks after the first visit)

  • A short wellness physical examination.
  • Appropriate vaccination boosters: Distemper(Feline Rhinotracheitis-Calici-Panleukopenia- Chlamydia Psittaci), FIV/FeLV.
  • Another dose of Revolution can be given to prevent fleas and ticks.
  • Another fecal flotation check for internal parasites may be recommended depending on the kitten’s history.

VISIT #3: Ages 14-16 Weeks: (3rd visit)

A Brief Wellness physical examination to ensure that he/she is healthy for surgery is you choose to spay/neuter your kitten. (Spaying a female or neutering a male cat is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! As it will make your kitten a better and more manageable pet.)

Appropriate vaccination boosters:

Distemper Booster: With this 3rd vaccination, the protection will be good for a full year.

Feline Leukemia Booster: This vaccine is good for one year after the second dose is administered.

Rabies: This first dose of Rabies will be good for only 1 year. The following doses that will be given in the future will be good for 3 full years.

IMPORTANCE OF BOOSTER VACCINATIONS

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It is essential that your kitten make it back on time for his/her booster vaccinations. The immune system requires the vaccines to be given at certain intervals in order for the vaccine to be effective. Failure to booster within the 3-4 week window will result in incomplete protection and the series will have to be re-started. This is also true of adult cats which have not received kitten vaccinations. If boosters are not administered on time, more money will be spent. Please remember to schedule your follow up appointments after your visit!

If you have any previous vaccination records, please bring these to your appointment as we may not need to booster vaccines previously given.

ADVERSE VACCINE REACTIONS

Vaccines can have adverse reactions including, but not limited to: lethargy, loss of appetite, or pain at the injection site. If any of these signs occur and do not resolve after 2-3 days, please contact us. Swelling of the face or at the injection site can indicate a severe allergic reaction and requires immediate veterinary attention.

Vaccinating pregnant cats can be dangerous to unborn kittens. Please inform the vet if you think your cat may be pregnant.

MORE INFORMATION

We offer brochures on many of the diseases vaccinated for. Please ask for more details.
As always, if your veterinarian/veterinary technician did not go over something you have questions or concerns about, please ask us. We will be happy to address any questions or concerns.

SPAY AND NEUTER INFORMATION

We recommend that all cats not intended for breeding be spayed or neutered. Spaying and neutering reduces the risk of several diseases including, but not limited to testicular cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, or uterine cancer and life-threatening uterine infections.  Females should be spayed between 4-6 months so that we catch them before they come in heat. Males should be neutered/castrated at 6 months to catch them before they start spraying urine.

*For your kitten’s surgery appointment, please do not allow him/her to eat or drink after 7PM the night prior to surgery or drink after 7am the morning of surgery.
*If your pet is to be spayed (females), please make sure she has not been in heat or had vaginal bleeding in the last two weeks.
*If you think your pet may be pregnant, please inform the veterinarian or technician prior to administration of any vaccinations or admission for surgery.