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What a Kitten Needs
In addition to good food, some training, lots of love, grooming, petting sessions, proper litter boxes and daily litter box hygiene, regular play and exercise, and more, kittens need routine veterinary preventive care during their first 4-6 months of life. Preventive care includes items, services, and procedures that are planned and that help keep your kitten healthy now and for the rest of his/her life! In many cases, some preventive care will have already been done before the kitten comes home with you.
Dewormings: treatments for roundworms & hookworms (these parasites are passed directly from mother to kit) are given at 2, 4, and 6 weeks of age to kittens. If your kitten has not had these treatments, expect lots of dewormings. Kittens can be stunted from worms, and can even die due to parasites.
Stool tests: to be sure all parasites/worms have been removed. Usually done between 8 and 10 weeks of age, and repeated 3 to 4 weeks later or until we have two consecutive negative tests. If your kitten has more parasites, he/she will need additional dewormings.
Feline Leukemia & FIV blood test: This test is done on the kitten’s blood (or on the mother’s blood if the kitten is still nursing or too small for blood testing). These diseases are fatal, can be passed from mother to kitten, are contagious to other cats, and are not treatable. All kittens should be tested.
Physical examinations or checkups: the first kitten checkup should be done at 7 to 9 weeks of age. Additional checkups are due every 3 to 4 weeks until the kitten is 3-4 months old. Any abnormalities (respiratory infection, ear mites, runny eyes, etc.) will need treatment. Many breeders, rescue leagues, and shelters do not have a veterinarian examine their kittens before sale/adoption. Ask if your kitten has had a veterinarian’s exam - serious problems like bad knees or heart defects can be found during exams!
Monthly doses of Flea/tick control products if any pets in the household go outdoors at all. Frontline or generic Frontline is best.
Vaccinations for HCP (Feline Distemper & Upper Respiratory Viruses): given in a series, starting at 7 to 9 weeks of age and repeated every 3 to 4 weeks until the kitten is 12 to 15 weeks old (two or three HCP vaccines total). Our last vaccine in this series is good for 3 years; other places give 1 year HCP’s.
Vaccination for Rabies: given as a single dose at 12 to 16 weeks of age (good for one year).
Additional vaccines: Feline Leukemia vaccines are strongly recommended for your kitten IF he/she will be going outdoors OR if you will be fostering other cats/kittens. Ask the veterinarian if you should consider these vaccines for your kitten.
Spay or neuter: usually at 4 to 5 months of age. This surgery prevents unwanted kittens as well as helping prevent serious medical issues for your cat as he/she gets older. It also helps prevent behavior issues from being in heat, getting into fights, and spraying or urinating around the house. Some rescue leagues, shelters, and a few breeders do early spay/neuter surgeries, as young as 8 to 10 weeks of age.
Microchip – this is ID your cat can’t lose and will allow him/her to be returned to you from anywhere in this country; it is a very wise investment for your cat! Especially helpful for indoor-only cats who don’t have good survival instincts if they accidentally get outdoors…
Kittens from all reputable breeders, some shelters, and most rescue leagues will have had a significant portion of their routine preventive care done already. However, unless your kitten is already 5-6 months of age it is unlikely to have had all that is needed. If you are not sure what your kitten still needs, bring a copy of his/her records to us and we can look them over and tell you. Remember that no matter how much preventive care your kitten has already had, he/she has not completed the kitten preventive care program until the age of 4 to 6 months (depending on the kitten and the circumstances)!