Kitten Basics
Congratulations on your new kitten! There is nothing as irresistible as a playful kitten, but as with all babies, you wish they came with a handbook so that you would know what to do and what not to do for your youngster.
Below are a few topics that we receive the most questions about that may be helpful for you as you welcome a new kitty into your family.
Vaccinations
Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLuk) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) are both viral diseases that weaken a kitten/cat’s immune system. At Country Place Veterinary Clinic , we recommend testing your new kitten or cat for these viruses to ensure that he or she is healthy. Until your kitten is completely vaccinated (about 16 weeks of age), it is best to limit exposure to other cats (and their litter boxes) to those in your house and to those well vaccinated.
We typically start vaccinations around 9 weeks of age and vaccinate every 3-4 weeks until 16 weeks of age. Our recommended vaccination schedule is listed below.
9 Week Kitten Visit
- Physical Exam
- FVRCP Vaccine
- Intestinal Parasite Screen
- Application of a flea treatment and Heartworm preventive
- FeLuk/FIV combo test if warranted
12 Week Kitten Visit
- Physical exam
- FVRCP Vaccine
- Feline Leukemia Vaccine
- Intestinal Parasite Screen
- Application of a flea treatment and Heartworm preventive
16 Week Kitten Visit
- Physical exam
- FVRCP Vaccine
- Feline Leukemia Vaccine
- Rabies Vaccine
- Intestinal Parasite Screen
- Application of a flea treatment and Heartworm preventive
- Discuss continued flea control, Heartworm Prevention, spay/neuter
Annual Wellness Visit
- Physical exam)
- Rabies (1-year) Vaccine)
- FVRCP Vaccine)
- Feline Leukemia Vaccine )
- Intestinal Parasite Screen (Cats prefer if Owner Brings Sample)
Heartworm Prevention, Intestinal Parasites, and Fleas
Heartworm and intestinal parasite prevention are important things that pet parents can do for their pets. Heartworm larvae pass to healthy animals by a mosquito bite. Because of this, even indoor cats can be infected with heartworms and fleas. There is no heartworm treatment available for cats, so prevention is the key.
Kittens will have multiple intestinal parasite screenings during their juvenile checkups to ensure that they are parasite free. If intestinal parasites are discovered, a weight and age appropriate dewormer will be administered.
Flea and tick prevention is just as important to your health as it is to your pet’s. Fleas can lead to anemia and blood-borne infections in our pets, but they can also lead to bacterial infections in people. Ticks can cause several types of bacterial infections in both pets and people.
In Louisiana, it does not get cold enough for a long enough period of time during the winter months to kill off mosquito, flea, and tick populations. Year-round prevention is a critical part of controlling flea and tick infestations in our homes and yards. Our doctors and veterinary assistants will be glad to discuss preventative options with you.
Spay/Neuter
The surgery to “fix” a female cat is called an ovariohysterectomy (OHE) or spay. The surgery to “fix” a male cat is called an orchidectomy or neuter.
At Country Place Veterinary Clinic, we generally recommend neutering male kittens at about 6 months of age. We also advise spaying female kittens at about 5 months of age, before your pet goes through her first heat cycle. This helps decrease the risk of mammary cancer in the future and reduces the overpopulation of kittens and cats in our local area.
Nutrition
Our doctors recommend that kittens stay on a reputable, commercial, kitten food for at least one full year or maybe longer, depending on the specific breed. We prefer brands such as Hill’s Science Diet, Purina or Royal Canin kitten food. It is our belief that your kitten should be on a complete and balanced diet that includes grains unless your pet has a documented allergy to grains.
Additional Information
Use these links to learn more on raising a healthy happy cat, deterring aggressive play, destructive scratching, litterbox habits.
http://indoorpet.osu.edu/cats
https://catfriendly.com/cat-care-at-home/