Vaccinations

We recommend that kittens are vaccinated at 9 and 12 weeks of age. The vaccine will give protection against Feline Panleukopaenia Virus, Rhinotracheitis Virus, Calicivirus and Feline Leukaemia Virus. A booster vaccination is given annually as part of an annual health examination.

As part of your vaccine treatment we would like to offer you and your kitten a free six month health check. This involves coming to the practice to meet the nurses and discuss things like feeding, dentistry, insurance, neutering and anything else you would like to talk about.

Worming

Regular worming is strongly recommended throughout your cat’s life. Worming should be done monthly until 6 months of age, then every 3 months. We recommend using a wormer, which treats roundworms and tapeworms. Remember that fleas transmit tapeworm, so if fleas are seen it is important to worm as well as provide flea treatment. Cats that hunt are at a higher risk of getting worms and may benefir from more frequent worm treatment. If you cat puts up a fight when being wormed we now can offer you a product called Profender, which is a spot on preparation to be applied to the back of the neck. This should prevent more ‘war wounds’.

Fleas

There are now effective and safe flea treatments that can be used. There are numerous flea products on the market which all have their own pros and cons. We currently recommend using Program injection every 6 months or Effipro spot on monthly for the cat. About 90% of the flea’s life cycle is in the environment. For this reason it is important to not only treat your cat, but also your house. We currently recommend Indorex house spray for the environment. Please ask us if you would like some more information on flea treatments.

Neutering

There are many benefits to having your cat neutered e.g. a female cat can produce several litters each year. The best time for this to be done is:
Males: from 6 months of age.
Females: from 6 months of age.
Both neutering procedures are classed as ‘day cases’ and therefore he or she will be able to go home the same day. Whilst spending time with us we try and make them feel at ease by offering them a nice fluffy bed and food once they have come round from their anaesthetic.

Identification

Getting your kitten used to wearing a collar and tag from an early age will mean that it will be more easily accepted. Ensure a cat safety collar is used, which will break open if necessary. Another method of identification is the Identichip, which is permanent and cannot be lost. We prefer to do this a couple of weeks after the second vaccination. Each microchip contains a unique number which is readable using a scanner. Rescue centres, vets and police have scanners which helps you get your cat back if he or she goes walkabout. An identichip is required for the pet travel scheme. For more information on this see the enclosed leaflet

Diet

Ensuring that your cat receives the correct nutrition is important throughout its life and even more so during growth.
Kitten food should be fed until 9-12 months of age and then onto an adult food.
A good complete dry food has advantages of convenience for feeding and can help keep teeth cleaner.

Insurance

Having your cat insured allows us to do the best for your cat at times of accidents or illnesses without having the added worry whether treatment costs can be afforded. Please see our separate insurance leaflet for more details.

Dental care

Daily brushing of your cat’s teeth will help prevent dental disease. Start getting your kitten used to having its mouth handled and introduce toothpaste suitable for cats. Contact the surgery for a free consultation with a qualified veterinary nurse for advice and a brushing demonstration.

Grooming & handling

Early grooming and handling will help you to bond with your cat. It will also ensure that grooming can be done effectively when it becomes an adult, helping to prevent hairballs and/or knots.

We hope you will find this information is helpful but if anything is unclear or you have a specific problem please ask the one of our vets or nurses on your next visit or ring the surgery on 01451 830620 between 8.30am – 6.00pm Monday to Friday.