Your kitten's veterinary needs the 1st year of life

Congratulations on the adoption of your new feline! And now...

... you may be wondering, 'what comes next?' What kind of care will your newest, and youngest, family member require?

In addition to all of the TLC that your kitten will receive from you at home, there will be many ways in which your veterinarian will contribute to the health and growth of your kitten during their first year of life. It is important to establish a healthy beginning, and your veterinarian will be essential in this process.

PHYSICAL EXAMS:

Your vet will give your kitten a full physical exam, which means that your kitten's heart and lungs will be listened to, their belly (and all abdominal organs) will be palpated, their temperature taken, skin and coat health assessed, and their teeth, eyes, and ears checked. Your vet will check if your kitten is indeed a male or female (gender confusion is not uncommon in small kittens... sometimes the first trip to the vet means that "Alex" becomes "Alexandra!"). If your kitten is male, your vet will determine whether his testes have descended yet. They will check for the presence of umbilical hernias and other common congenital abnormalities, and will look for ear mites and fleas. If any of these unwanted visitors are present, they will be promptly dealt with by your vet!

VACCINES:

There are three types of vaccinations that kittens receive, and they are administered in a series of boosters, typically at 4 week intervals. FVRCP, FeLV, and rabies are the three vaccines types with which kittens are immunized. FVRCP stands for Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia. Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis is caused by the Feline Herpes Virus -1, and causes upper respiratory and eye infections which can range from mild to severe. Calicivirus is also an upper respiratory virus that can cause both 'colds' and eye infections, but which can have a greater severity of clinical disease, including sudden death in certain highly virulent (pathogenic) strains. Panleukopenia is also a very serious virus. It causes severe bone marrow suppression, intestinal disease, and commonly death. All three viruses in the FVRCP vaccine are extremely contagious. FeLV stands for Feline Leukemia Virus, which will be described briefly below.

On your kitten's first visit (8 weeks old), the first of three FVRCP vaccines will be administered, as well as the first of two FeLV vaccines.

On their second visit (12 weeks old) your kitten will receive an FVRCP booster and the second (and last) FeLV booster.

On their third visit (16 weeks old) your kitten will receive their third (and final) FVRCP booster as well as a rabies vaccine (which does not require additional boosters). This last set of vaccines never occurs earlier than 16 weeks of age, because otherwise there are still maternal antibodies present (viral immunity that was transferred through nursing) which interfere with your kitten's own antibody immune production.

DEWORMING & OTHER CREEPY CRAWLIES:

Your kitten will also be sent home with a broad spectrum deworming medication that is typically administered either orally or topically several times at anywhere from two to four week intervals depending on what type of dewormer your vet has dispensed. Your vet may also instruct you to collect a fresh fecal sample which you can bring to your kitten's next appointment; it will be checked for the presence of parasitic protozoan organisms which the deworming medication does not treat. If your kitten's fecal sample is positive for any of these other parasites, your vet will prescribe medication(s) to treat their infection(s).

VIRAL TESTING:

On the second or third visit, your veterinarian will likely recommend laboratory blood work tests for your kitten. Blood work is done for two reasons. One reason is to check your kitten's viral status (positive or negative) for Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). FeLV and FIV are retroviruses that spread between kitties, and are the most common causes of infectious deaths among domestic cats. Assessment of your kitten's viral status is particularly important if you have other cats within the household as well.

Kittens can test negative for FeLV and FIV during the incubation phase of infection, so if your kitten was tested at a young age, your veterinarian may recommend testing a second time several months later to ascertain your kitten's negative status.

PRE-ANESTHETIC BLOOD TESTING:

The second reason for which blood work is performed in your kitten's first year of life is to prepare for the general anesthetic that will be needed for your kitten to be spayed or neutered before they reach 6 months of age. A general blood work panel helps to assess the health of the kidneys, liver, and bone marrow so that your veterinarian knows in advance of any abnormal anesthetic and surgical risks your kitten may be affected by.

Spaying and neutering should typically be done between 4 and 6 months of age. This helps lessen the occurrence of certain types of cancers, lessens wandering behaviour, aggression, and also prevents reproductive activity, which is very important due to the high population of feral cats as well as the many unwanted shelter kitties in North America.

When you kitten is under general anesthetic for surgery, it is an opportune time to also give them a microchip. A microchip is a fail-proof form of identification, unlike tattoos which can be blurred over time and are only useful locally, and unlike collars and tags that can come off or become outdated. Microchips are implanted just underneath the skin between the shoulder blades, and then can be read using a scanner. If your kitten ever gets outside accidentally and becomes lost, any veterinary clinic or animal shelter will be able to identify your kitten via the microchip code.

All of this may seem like a crazy jumble of medical terms and concerns, but just keep in mind that you'll need to take your kitty to the vet four times in their first year. Three times for vaccinations, physical checks and bloodwork and once for spaying or neutering.

That is the end of your kitten's first set of health visits to the veterinarian!

At 1 year of age, your cat will be due for a health exam and their 1 year FVRCP and rabies boosters. If you have any questions or concerns before the 1 year milestone, you should not hesitate to contact your veterinarian.

To read more articles written by veterinarian Dr. Ko please visit www.catdoctorko.com

The information provided in this article is for educational reference purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice and care of your veterinarian, nor medical diagnoses or treatments. All questions regarding your cat's health should be discussed with your veterinarian.

Dr. Ko is a passionate believer in the importance of preventative medicine and educating cat owners about its benefits for their cats. It was this ideal which was the motivation for the creation of the Dr. Ko website.

catdoctorko.com is a brand new site dedicated to providing cat owners with information to help them provide effective and preventative health care for their cats. Within the site, Dr. Ko, a licensed veterinarian, has created Know-How Videos, Cat Health Articles, Ask Dr. Ko tips (in which she answers your cat health questions), information on toxic substances, product recalls, dangerous household items and much more! In addition, the website houses a store filled with products specifically selected for their benefits to optimizing your cat's quality of life!

All of the topics that Dr. Ko writes about are provided by members of her website. To suggest an article topic for Dr. Ko, please visit http://www.catdoctorko.com/ and set up a membership - it's fast and free!

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Why your Cat needs a Cat tree?

A cat tree is one of the very best things you can get your cat to provide a place to spend the majority of their time. These feline creatures will have fun going up and down, perching, Orange leaping and scratching on these structures and certain that you will protect other furniture in the home. In order to receive the largest tree on your purse, you will need to put some thought, to make sure you provide them with excellent comfort and at the same time you don't strain your budget.

Your cats should know before you buy:
Want ample space for your cats playing. If you have kittens, remember, developed quickly. If you have two or more cats, you may need a fairly large tree. make sure that there is enough space to add their favorite game. Choosing a good location to put the new playhouse.

All these will help you determine what size will fit your needs and the needs of your cat. While shopping, you will notice that cat trees may also be referred to as cat towers or cat condos.

The level of activity and personality of feline creatures will help supply the finest cat tree. The trees are a great way for your measurement to get the exercise you need on a daily basis. You will retain the happy and healthy at the same time. You can track your habits of pot, such as when their sleep, how and where they play scratch surfaces. This will allow you to determine if you need a tree with a mini house, high places to sleep and ranges for scraping. If you have more than two pets, remember all activity levels. Do you want to select the parts that will comfortably accommodate all of them simultaneously.

The cost of these structures should also be considered. You will be introduced with an extensive range of prices from costly inexpensive trees. It may be wise to go with the lowest cost tree, since most of them do not come with the quality desired. There are many websites that offer great discounts for all sizes. While buying a new playhouse our cats, remember the answer to your feline creatures will vary. Some of them will adapt quickly to their new play area and others may take a longer time to get used to it.

This article has been viewed 42 (s).
Article submitted on: May 12, 2011

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Every Cat needs a box

Your cat has a game? Have a preference for a little mice or balls or something that moves with its own? The root around the game box and select a game of their choice? Try a variety of games and see what suits their fancy. A cat can never have too many games!

My cats love the cat games. The game box is filled with balls, toys, toys that Jingle to be terminated and even a remote controlled mouse! Their mouse games are stored on a small cardboard box, so that they can help themselves to the item you wish to play with.

When playing with a small mouse and disappears under the stove or washing, I sit in front of the device and stare at this saddest investigation for wearing just their faces. The stretches the arms trying to retrieve it until you get so tired, often fall asleep right where they are!

It is important to rotate the player matters to keep them challenged and interested in things that holds the box. If a paperboard or plastic container, the play should be always available, to select a play when they want to play. Encourage your cat to play promotes healthy exercise. Cats often amuse easily, but playing with your cat is important as well. Playing with your cat will not only encourage regular game, but helps to create a bond of trust, faith and love.

Change of the games, the rotation of the choice to play with will help to keep their interest in rooting around in the game for the right game at the moment. Periodically receives some games from the game's box and to save them when the kitties cannot see or smell. Every few weeks to those who have stored and exchanged for some who have active play items. Although I see the same items at different times, believe that it is a new game and play along with the interest they had when you first arrived. While the new things have a new perfume and will attract their attention immediately. Rotate the older games work much the same way. Save games in a scented catnip bag zip lock to keep the smell fresh and inviting catnip.

If you want your feline friend healthy and happy, don't let them turn into couch potatoes. Cats do not have enough exercise are often overweight, cute but not healthy. Cat NAPS are essential and play time is equally important.

It is a great exercise for them and great laughter therapy for you. Track the game with the games are more entertaining than I hit movie. Their cat toys and yours would too love my cats. Keep plenty of toys by hand to exercise them and keep them healthy.

Cat games for less offers a continuously growing selection of fun games that Gata will retain your special friend (and active) busy for hours. Keeping your indoor cat actively helps to prevent health hazards, such as obesity. http://www.cattoysforless.com/

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Cat aggression: What about my needs!

My whole life, you'd like a Siamese purse. Finally, in October of this year, my dream came true when I ran into a litter while running errands a boring day. I was so excited to bring this nice house cat to join my other cat, 3 crazy lapdogs and the Parrot. Visions of seal point cuddles ran through my head! It turns out, however, that my teen has ever Siamese kitty whatcha call a love bug.

Even as a kitten, he would dictate how, when, where and-especially-could touch him. It is very stable at the top of his head and only half of the back. Typical for a cat, who wants the love of his own. The difference is the discomfort is highly exaggerated. In fact, what is excessive in this! He plays more, it meows harder and this belongs as a log. While we are grateful for the fact that this is not the new claw is hell for furniture, curtains and bed sheets. This is a noisy, eat a Hyena that is starving and quick as all get out. We, however, to come to terms with all of them and his love for beauty (these eyes!) funny antics and new approach to life. Recently, however, is just down right mean. Means.

The oldest coffers (Q) adapted quickly to his presence and immediately is the "alpha" cat, even when they were teeny. Thus, there is no real reason for this, Thai badger to steal the food, and-worst of all-kick ass to the neighbors can hear the screaming. As a good pot MOM, I got this evening on the Internet to resolve the issue. Surf. Surf. As expected my pit through pieces of advice (he is not sick, I have separated and become, etc.), I came across some humdingers: play soothing sounds for this Ocean. provides them with a soft, dark, comfortable rest area free from distractions. give food treats. give pot to give particularly tranquilizers, massage, etc. OK, I'm more devoted pet owner on the planet, but what the HELL? I have the stress of adjusting the behavior of the Middle ass and he gets rewarded with a home spa? Plan! Tomorrow I will be extra aggressive-yet with other nasty-and bite often co-wokers and members of my family. Yes. I wonder how long before you go on a chaise lounge and get a care and enjoy a refreshing Mojito?

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