A Health Guide To Your Kitten’s First Year
8-9 Weeks old
- 1st Vaccination (feline panleucopaenia (or infectious enteritis feline herpesvirus, feline calicivirus &feline leukemia virus)
- Primary health check and vet registration
- Weight Check
- Worming
- Start Flea and external parasite control
12 Weeks old (or 3 weeks after the first vet visit)
- 2nd Vaccination (feline panleucopaenia (or infectious enteritis) feline herpesvirus, feline calicivirus &feline leukemia virus
- Weight check
- Worming
- Microchip
4 Months old
- Flea & Worming Treatment
- Neutering Discussion (castration or spaying)
5 Months old
- Flea & Worming Treatment
6 Months Old
- Adolecent health check
- Weight Check
- Flea & Worming
1 year old
- Yearly vaccination booster
- Weight check
- Change to adult food
Feeding
Your kitten does not need a complicated diet. We recommend a good quality complete kitten food. Varying the diet by adding things like milk or raw meat can simply cause diarrhoea and is not necessary if you have chosen a complete food. With the right food, you can choose to feed just dry kibble or biscuits. Keep in mind that cheaper brands can be bulked out with fibre, fat or water, they often cause smelly breath and bigger stools and if your kitten has to eat more to get all the nutrients, they can work out no cheaper per feed. When changing food, always introduce it slowly over a week. They should be on a kitten diet until one year old unless the vet recommends otherwise.
Worming
Kittens have worms right from when they are born. They therefore need worming every 2-3 weeks until they are 12weeks old, followed by monthly treatment until 6 months old Then a minimum of every 3 months throughout their adult life, depending on what product you chose to use. Adult cats often carry worms that are not visible in their stools, some of which are a health risk to humans, so should be wormed regularly. If you have small children or your cat is a hunter, then they should be wormed more regularly.
Fleas
Fleas and ear mites are very common, particularly with kittens. They can be seen at any time of the year. Fleas like to breed in your home and it is the same flea that infests dogs, cats, rabbits and humans. Mites cause great irritation and black discharge in the ears. It is far better to prevent these problems than wait until they occur. There are many treatments for external parasites, the safest and most effective are those sold by vets. Beware of products on the market that are just repellents.
We run flea and worming consultations here at Sleaford Vets, where we can help advise you on the best parasite control regime for your pet.
Vaccinations
After the initial kitten course of two injections, your cat will need a yearly booster throughout their adult life.
Teething
You can expect your kitten to shed its baby teeth between 4 and 6 months old but this can vary between breeds. The vet will check the baby teeth at the first vaccination and the adult teeth at the adolecent health check.
Insurance
You are more likely to claim on pet insurance than car or house insurance, so we highly recommend insuring your pet. It is best to take out a policy as soon as possible as young kittens are prone to accidents or developmental problems. When getting quotes be sure to ask the following questions:
- Will an ongoing problem with my pet be covered for more than one year?
- Is there a limit to how much money I can claim back in one year or in my pet’s lifetime?
- How will my policy, premiums or excesses change when my pet is over 8yrs old?
- Can I claim for prescription foods, dental care or gum problems?
Beware of cheap deals that do not give lifetime cover, exclude many conditions or become very expensive as your animal ages.
Microchipping
This will give your pet a unique number that can be read by special scanners held by Vets and rescue centres. Your details will be registered with a UK wide company so if lost, your pet can be reunited with you anywhere in the country. It also aids in quicker and better medical treatment where required. It is also a requirement if you wish to get your pet a passport later in life.
Have fun! It might all sound complicated, but just a little planning now, means you can enjoy a lifetime of fun with your new pet. The staff at Sleaford Vets are more than happy to help with any questions you may have, so please feel free to ask.