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A guide to vaccinations & recommended care

Kitten Care

We want your kitten to be healthy and happy. This guide gives recommendations and explanations about vaccinations, microchipping, declaw surgery and neutering.

CORE VACCINATIONS: These should be given to all cats.

• DISTEMPER (Panleukonia) Can cause vomiting and diarrhea and is often fatal to young animals.
  
  
• RHINOTRACHEITIS A highly contagious virus that can cause fever, sneezing, eye and nasal discharge and loss of appetite.
  
  
• CALICIVIRUS Similar to Rhinotracheitis, but can also cause sores or ulcers on the tongue, mouth or esophagus.
  
  
• RABIES A virus that affects the brain and central nervous system. Rabies can affect humans and is always fatal if left untreated.

NON-CORE VACCINATIONS.  These should be given to cats on an individual, as needed basis.

• FELINE INFECTIOUS PERITONITIS (FIP)  Primarily a disease of kittens, it can be difficult to diagnose because its symptoms mimic those of many other diseases. The available test are not 100% accurate, additionally the available vaccine is poorly effective and not routinely recommended.
  
  
• FELINE IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS (FIV) Very similar to the human aids virus, it’s primarily transmited through bite wounds involving blood transfer. Disease from mother to kitten is also possible. A reliable diagnostic test is available, however no vaccine currently exists.

EXCEPTION

• FELINE LEUKEMIA (FeLV) – This virus can produce a wide range of signs from respiratory to cancer. Feline leukemia virus is easily transmitted through saliva, urine and feces. The Feline Leukemia vaccine should be part of the original core vaccines for kittens and one-year old cats. Following the initial vaccinations for feline leukemia, the vaccine will be reserved for yearly use in cats that go outside.

The core vaccinations should be given in a series of three at the follow intervals:

        6 – 8 WEEKS OLD     10 – 12 WEEKS OLD     14 – 16 WEEKS OLD

          EXAM                        EXAM                           EXAM

          FDRTC                      FDRTC                          FDRTC

          FECAL EXAM                                                 RABIES

The CORE vaccines will be boostered one year from the final kitten vaccination and then on an every year basis for the life of the cat. Rabies can be given every two years if required by law.

INTRODUCING YOUR NEW KITTEN

If you are bringing a kitten into a household with other cats, we recommend testing your kitten for feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus before introducing the cats to one another. We recommend confining the kitten for a slow introduction to the other cat(s). Some patience may be required as it can take days, weeks or even longer, but most cats learn to live in harmony.

WE DO NOT RECOMMEND THAT YOUR CAT GO OUTSIDE.  There are many dangers outside for your cat. Most outdoor cats have shortened life-spans due to disease and accident.

MICROCHIPPING

A microchip is a form of permanent identification that is inserted under the skin between the shoulder blades. This unique method of identifying pets is being used in veterinary hospitals and humane societies all across the united States, Canada, and Europe. A microchip may be inserted at anytime and takes just a few seconds. Click here to learn more about microchipping.

DECLAW SURGERY

If you are considering declawing your kitten, we recommend you have it done at a young age. Kittens must be at least two months old and weigh at least two pounds, but the younger they are at the time of surgery, the faster they will heal.

NEUTERING

We recommend neutering your cat at six months of age. The benefits are numerous, including the prevention of most forms of reproductive organ cancer. It may also help to prevent undesirable behaviors such as urine marking and aggression.

It is possible to perform the declaw procedure and the neutering on the same visit.

For more information or to schedule an appointment,

please call us at 333-3847