There is something very special about bringing home a furry little kitten and welcoming these cute little pets in to our homes. Bonding with a kitten is wonderful and ensuring they live a long and happy life should be very important to any pet owner. Vaccinating and treating you kitten for parasites can help achieve this goal.
Vaccinations for kittens:
It is important that kittens and cats be vaccinated against the serious feline diseases such as calicivirus, feline viral rhinotracheitis and panleukopenia. Certain other vaccines may also be recommended such as feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). We will need to know your cat’s living situation and habits to put together the best vaccination protocol for your kitten. Kittens are generally vaccinated at: 6 – 10 weeks, 11 – 14 weeks and 15-17 weeks to complete the 2-3 shot regime. Adult cats should be vaccinated every 1-2 years depending on the vaccines given.
Kitten Worming:
Worms can cause irreparable harm to kittens. Kittens and cats can contract lungworms, hookworms, roundworms and tapeworms. Most kittens pick up roundworms from their mother’s milk and older cats can become infested by coming in to contact with faeces containing worms or eggs. Tapeworms are often contracted from tapeworm fleas. Hookworms can be contracted from skin contact and ingestions. Lungworms are a lot less common and are usually contracted from eating birds or rodents. It is important to treat for worms regularly and if you suspect an infestation, contact us to arrange for treatment. We may check stool samples and assist with the correct wormer to clear your kitten of the worm infestation.
It is recommended that kittens be dewormed every second week from 2 weeks to 3 months and then once a month until they are 6 months old. Older kittens and cats should be treated straight away and then a dose 2 weeks and 4 weeks later to clear any infestation. Adult cats should be treated every 3 months.
Nutrition and behaviour
We can also assist with guidance on optimal nutrition for your new kitten. We can advise on litter box training and other behaviours and what to take note of to determine illness versus usual cat behaviour.