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Congratulations on your new kitten! As your Partner in Pet Health, our goal is to support the health and well-being of your new addition. Our Kitten Wellness Guidelines make it easy for you to learn about and follow our recommendations.
Hillside Animal Hospital Kitten Wellness Guidelines
VACCINATIONS
 Certainly routine vaccinations are essential for prevention of infectious diseases in kittens. Kittens receive immunity against infectious disease in their mother's milk; however, this protection begins to disappear between 6 and 20 weeks of age. The exact sequence cannot be predicted without specialized blood tests.
To protect kittens during this critical time, a well-researched approach is taken: a series of vaccines is given every 2-4 weeks until the chance of contracting an infectious disease is very low. The typical vaccine is a "combination" that protects against rhinotracheitis, calcivirus, and panleukopenia (the three viruses are commonly abbreviated FVRCP. Other recommended vaccinations are feline leukemia vaccine (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV).
Rabies vaccines are given at 15 weeks of age. All vaccines require booster immunizations ("shots") that are given one year later.
SURGICAL STERILIZATION
The Benefits of Spaying
Spaying removes the risk of pregnancy.
Pet overpopulation is a serious issue and by allowing your cat to have litters, you are adding to the problem. Finding homes for your new family additions is not as easy as you may think. Even if you choose to keep the kittens, you now have the additional cost of vaccines, parasite control, toys and food for several pets. In addition to costs, the health of the mother can be in jeopardy during delivery. Some new mothers can have serious complications delivering kittens and can even develop health problems during nursing. All these potential problems can be avoided by spaying your cat.
Spaying makes for a cleaner, calmer cat.
Without the drive to mate, your cat may be quieter and not prone to an incessant need to seek out a mate. The spayed cat no longer attracts males and their annoying advances and serenades. Cats wonÕt have a bloody discharge for several days while they are in heat. Without proper protective products, the discharge can stain sofas, bedding and carpets. Spayed pets are also easier to get along with. They tend to be more gentle and affectionate.
Spaying keeps your cat healthier.
A final positive aspect of spaying your cat is that spayed pets tend to have fewer health problems. Spaying is the removal of the ovaries and uterus. Without these organs, ovarian cysts, uterine infections and cancer of the reproductive tract are no longer a concern. Studies have shown that cats spayed before puberty have a significantly lower chance of developing breast cancer than unspayed cats or cats spayed later in life.
The Benefits of Neutering
Neutering removes the risk of pregnancy.
Pet overpopulation is a serious issue and by allowing your cat to breed, you are adding to the problem. Although you may not own the female cat, and you are not burdened with finding homes for those new kittens, someone else is. Even if you accept your responsibility and choose to keep the kittens, you now have the additional cost of vaccines, parasite control, toys and food for several pets.
Neutering makes for a calmer cat.
Another positive aspect of neutering your cat is that neutering can result in a calmer, and sometimes cleaner, home. Without the drive to mate, your cat may be quieter and not prone to an incessant need to seek out a mate. The neutered cat no longer feels the need to seek out and serenade females. Neutered pets are also easier to get along with. They tend to more gentle and affectionate. Neutered males tend to roam less and typically are not involved in as many fights with other animals.
Neutering keeps your cat healthier.
A final positive aspect of neutering your cat is that neutered pets tend to have fewer health problems. Neutering is the removal of the testicles. Without these organs, testicular cancer is no longer a concern and the risk of prostate problems is reduced. For those people who would like to sterilize their cat but do not wish to alter his appearance, testicular implants are available.
MICROCHIP IDENTIFICATION
Occasionally, cats may decide to go exploring without their ownerÕs knowledge. In these instances, there is a solution called microchipping to ensure that your pet is able to find his or her way back home. Unlike tags and collars that can come off, a microchip is permanent and can never be misplaced. Each microchip has a distinct identification code. This code is registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC) Companion Animal Recovery (CAR) program, which maintains a national database and is available 24-hours daily, 365 days a year. Every time a lost dog or cat is found and taken to an animal shelter or animal hospital, they are scanned for a microchip. The microchip identification number appears and is called into the AKC-CAR so that its owner can be notified.
The microchip is about the size of a grain of rice and cannot be seen once it has been implanted. It has been extensively tested and has been shown to be safe for pets. The procedure is simple and is similar to administering a vaccine. The microchip is injected underneath the skin between the shoulder blades.
FECAL CHECK: TESTS FOR INTESTINAL PARASITES
Intestinal parasites are common in kittens. Kittens can become infected with parasites almost as soon as they are born. For example, the most important source of roundworm infection in kittens is the mother's milk. The microscopic examination of a stool sample will usually help us to determine the presence of intestinal parasites. We recommend this exam for all kittens, if we can get a stool sample. Please bring one at your earliest convenience. Even if we do not get a stool sample, we recommend the use of a broad spectrum deworming product that is safe and effective against almost all of the common worms of the cat. It is given now and repeated in about 3-4 weeks, because the deworming medication only kills the adult worms. Within 3-4 weeks the larval stages will have become adults and will need to be treated. Cats remain susceptible to reinfection with hookworms and roundworms. Periodic deworming throughout the cat's life may be recommended for cats that go outdoors.
WELLNESS VISIT SCHEDULE:
| 6 - 8 weeks |
1st FVRCP vaccination (rhinotracheitis, calcivirus, panleukopenia)
1st fecal check (to check for intestinal parasites)
COMBO blood test to test your kittenÕs FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus) and FeLV (feline leukemia) viral status |
| 9 - 11 weeks |
2nd FVRCP vaccination |
| 12 - 14 weeks |
3rd FVRCP vaccination
1st FeLV vaccination |
| 15 - 16 weeks |
4th FVRCP vaccination
2nd FeLV vaccination
2nd fecal check
1 year rabies vaccination |
| 5 - 6 months |
Spay/neuter
Microchip
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After the initial series is finished, vaccines are recommended annually. |
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The first rabies vaccination is effective for one year. Subsequent ones are effective for 3 years. |
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Cats that go outdoors unsupervised are recommended to have the FIV vaccine and a microchip. |
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After the initial series is finished, vaccines are recommended annually. The second rabies vaccine will be good for 3 years. Cats that go outdoors and are unsupervised are recommended to have an FIV, an FIP vaccine and a microchip.
Our staff will contact you with a reminder to schedule a visit for the appropriate service. For further information call 480-391-7297.
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