Kittens

Caring For Your New Kitten

Here is some useful information about your new kitten:

Vaccination

We recommend routine vaccination of all cats and kittens. The first vaccination is due at 9 weeks and the second at 12 weeks. Your kitten will not be fully protected (and should not venture outside) until 11 days after the second injection. To maintain protection it is essential that cats receive an annual booster. We are very happy to discuss with you which diseases your kitten or cat may at risk from and to discuss the most appropriate vaccine for your situation.

Worming

You should worm your kitten every 2 weeks from 4 - 12 weeks; and then once every month from 3 to 6 months. Thereafter cats should be wormed four times a year.

Fleas

Kittens can come to you with fleas. In addition kittens that grow into being active cats will often bring fleas into your home. If you are not treating your cats against fleas then these will breed in your home and can lead to a mini population explosion of fleas! The more pets you have the more easily this can happen. We are very happy to advise on the most appropriate products for your kitten at vaccination or any other consult. Alternatively please feel free to contact our consulting nurse at any time.

Feeding

We recommend a premium quality kitten food which will provide your pet with an excellent, well balanced and nutritional diet, specially designed to provide all the requirements of a growing kitten. Because these diets are nutritionally balanced they should not be added to in any way.

Neutering

We recommend that female cats are spayed between 5 and 6 months of age. Male cats can be neutered from 5 months onwards.

Insurance

Unexpected illness or accident can be costly so we strongly recommend pet insurance for all kittens. There are a number of excellent policies on the market.

If you need advice or want more information about any aspect of pet insurance or about the difference between policies then please ask one of the practice team.

Dental Care

Dental care is as important for cats as for people. Bad teeth cause pain, bad breath and infection, which can spread to other parts of the cat's body. Start at an early age to get your kitten used to having its teeth cleaned. It is important to use a specially formulated toothpaste. Gently hold the mouth closed with one hand and lift the side of the mouth and brush the teeth and gums with a circular motion. The whole process should only take a minute or two and shouldn't be a great struggle. This should be done once a day.

In addition to actual brushing there are a number of other ways of helping to keep your cats teeth as healthy as possible including chews, diets, gels etc. These can be particularly useful if you are not able to brush your cat's teeth.

Socialisation

It is important to get your new kitten used to being handled from the very beginning. Run your hands over the kitten, look in its ears and mouth, and brush its coat with a soft brush. This is particularly important for long coated cats who will need regular grooming to stay comfortable and clean.

House Training

Cats have a natural instinct to use litter or soil and therefore are readily trained to use a litter tray. Often a kitten has learned to use a tray by watching its mother. If not, place the tray in an easily accessible place, making sure the cat is aware of it. Clean it regularly as a cat may reject a dirty litter tray. Do not place the litter tray close to where the cat eats. If you wish your cat to eventually go in the garden, gradually move the tray towards the cat flap and then outside.

Safety

Kittens get underfoot so care should be taken not to step on them. Slamming doors can also be very dangerous. Cats may climb into drawers, washing machines and fridges so make sure they are all firmly shut. Your cat may be attracted to a car because of the warmth from the engine, so check underneath before driving off.

Always feel free to contact us with any concerns or queries you may have.