What New Kitten Owners Need to Know

Hi, my name is Frankie, and I am Desi’s best friend.   I’m the Feline Co-Captain , and one of the four-legged family members of the Robinson Animal Hospital team.  My Dad, Dr. Tom Head, and his team will perform or address the following at your new kitten’s first visit with us at Robinson Animal Hospital: 

(If you are the new owner of an adult cat, please review the information further down the page.)

1.    We will take a complete medical history.  This will include discussing prior vaccinations and dewormings your kitten may have already received, any prior or current illnesses affecting your kitten, and any medications they may be taking.  We will discuss with you any problems you have discovered with your new kitten.  We will take the time to listen, and to address all of your concerns.

2.    Complete physical exam:  The doctor will examine your new kitten for any evidence of parasites, failure to thrive, infection, congenital defect, hereditary disease, or other illness.

3.    Testing for Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV), and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) antibodies:  This is important for all kittens because both of these diseases are fatal, and transmissible to other cats.  Kittens that have been confirmed to have either of these diseases must not be allowed to go outside.  

4.    Fecal Test:  Checks your kittten’s feces for evidence of intestinal parasites.  Intestinal parasites can be transmitted not only to other pets, but to people as well.
            
             *Bringing a fresh stool sample from your new kitten with you
           to your appointment will help make things a little easier for them*
              
5.    We will be proactive in the treatment of any problems found during the physical exam.  Little kittens’ immune systems are not mature and they are not as strong as they will be later, so illness and infection can progress quickly.  It’s therefore important to act fast to address problems.

6.    Intestinal parasites are very sneaky, and their eggs are not always present in the stool sample, even if a kitten has worms.  Kittens get worms directly from their mom (Thanks, Mom), and also from other kittens in the litter (Thanks guys).  Bringing a new kitten into a household with a dog poses a risk that the dog may acquire worms from the kitten.  Many dogs enjoy raiding the litter box and eating cat stool (“kitty brownies”).  Cats sharing a litter box with a new kitten are also at similar risk.  We will therefore be proactive in deworming your kitten and, if needed, your other pets, in order to protect the health of your family and of all your pets. 

7.    Vaccinations are very important to protect your new kitten’s health, in the prevention of disease. 
It is very important to start the FVRCP vaccination series at 6-8 weeks old.  This vaccination is boostered every 3-4 weeks until your kitten is 16 weeks old.  The FVRCP vaccination is boostered annually.  However, for cats are are completely indoor only, this vaccination can be converted to a 3 year vaccination, once a cat is 3 years old. 

Feline Leukemia vaccination is done at 12 weeks old, and repeated at 16 weeks old.  All kittens should receive the initial Feline Leukemia vaccination series.  Feline Leukemia vaccination is boostered annually.

Rabies vaccination is done between 12 and 16 weeks old.  Rabies vaccination for cats is boostered annually.

8.    Heartworm prevention, Flea/Tick protection:  These should be started as early as possible, to protect your kitten and family from these parasites.  We will discuss the proper use of heartworm prevention in kittens, as well as the best flea and tick control strategies, based on your kitten’s situation and environment.

9.    Spaying/Neutering/Declawing:  Unless your new kitten is specifically intended to be used for breeding, they should be spayed (female) or neutered (male) at approx. 6 months old.  There are many health and behavioral benefits in doing so, which we would be glad to discuss with you in detail.  If front declawing is to be done, it can be done at the same time as spay/neuter, and in this case, it is better to do surgery at 4 ½ to 5 months old.  Declawed cats must not be allowed to go outside.  Prior to surgery, your kitten should have a blood panel performed in order to assess the health of their internal organs that process the anesthetics.

10.    Microchip identification is a very helpful way to identify your kitten if lost or stolen.  The percentage of lost kittens returned to their owners is much higher for microchipped kittens than for those without microchips.

11.    Pet Health Insurance can help cover both unexpected expenses that arise due to illness or injury, as well as routine healthcare  Check out this link: www.petinsurance.com.


What New Adult Cat Owners Need to Know

1.    We will take a complete medical history.  This will include discussing any ongoing health problems your new cat has, reviewing current medications and any recent lab work, determine vaccine and heartworm prevention status, as well as discussing if your current flea/tick prevention is effective.  We will discuss any problems you have discovered with your new cat.  We will take the time to listen, and to address all of your concerns.

2.    Complete physical exam:  The doctor will examine your new cat for any sign of parasites, infection, chronic or metabolic disease, arthritis, heart disease, dental disease, cancer, hereditary disease, or other illness.

3.    Blood panel and urinalysis:  If not recently done, this is very important in order to help assess your new cat’s overall health, and to also look for evidence of organ dysfunction, endocrine disorders, metabolic disease, heart disease, or cancer.

4.    Testing for Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV), and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) antibodies:  It is very important to know the FeLV/FIV status of all cats because both of these diseases are fatal, and transmissible to other cats.  Cats that have either one of these diseases must not be allowed to go outside.

5.    Fecal test:  Check your cat’s feces for evidence of intestinal parasites.  Intestinal parasites can be transmitted not only to other pets,
but to people as well.
                    
                  *Bringing a fresh stool sample from your new cat with you
             to your appointment will help make things a little easier for them*

6.    Vaccinations:  We will determine your new cat’s vaccine status from previous medical records, and make sure they have the vaccinations they need to protect them from the diseases they may be exposed to.

7.    We will be proactive in treating any problems found during the physical exam or on the blood panel and urinalysis.  Early intervention is a key to achieving the best outcome possible.

8.    Treatment for intestinal parasites:  This is important in adult cats (even if their stool appears normal) under the following conditions:  parasites present in the stool sample; cats that go outdoors or have had fleas; cats exposed to other pets with parasites; cats that have had diarrhea.  We will be proactive in deworming your new cat and, if needed, your other pets, in order to protect the health of your family and of all your pets.

9.    Heartworm prevention, Flea/Tick Protection:  We will discuss the proper use of heartworm prevention in cats, as well as the best
flea and tick control strategies, based on your cat’s situation and environment, to protect both them and your family.

10.    Microchip Identification is a very helpful way to identify your cat if lost or stolen.  The percentage of lost cats returned to their owners is much higher for microchipped cats than for cats without microchip identification.

11.    Pet Health Insurance can help cover both unexpected expenses that arise due to illness or injury, as well as routine healthcare. 
Check out this link:  www.petinsurance.com