Kitten Health Recommendations

Kittens come to our hospital from various previous settings.  Some will come with all of their core vaccinations and others may have not had any, or minimal, veterinary care.  During your initial kitten visit, one of our team members will thoroughly review any medical history that you may have and formulate a plan tailor made plan for your kitten with one of our veterinarians.  We will also discuss dental care, nail trimming, litterbox recommendations, and diet.  Our kitten care recommendations are as follows:

Feline Distemper Vaccine (FVRCP)- (Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis/Herpesvirus, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia Virus) This vaccine is given to kittens in a 3 part sequence, boostering every 3-4 weeks.  It protects against common upper-respiratory infections that are common in cats, especially those who have been in shelters with exposure to other cats.

Feline Rabies Vaccine- Rabies vaccination is required by law and highly important as there is no cure for Rabies infection.  We use a specific Feline Rabies vaccine (Merial Purevax) which is administered annually.  This vaccine is proven to be the safest Rabies vaccine for cats and kittens as the 3 year Rabies vaccine has been linked to carcinoma.

Feline Leukemia Vaccine- The Feline Leukemia vaccine is given in a 2 part sequence, with a booster vaccine given 3-4 weeks after the initial vaccine is administered.  Feline Leukemia is a serious illness which can be fatal and is transferred through the contact of an infected cats bodily fluid.  We recommend that all kittens receive the Feline Leukemia vaccine series and any cats that go outside continue with boosters every 2 years life-long.

FIV/FeLV Screening- (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus/ Feline Leukemia Virus)  This important screening is recommended for all kittens and any adult cats with exposure to other felines of unknown viral status.  This screening is also a requirement for hospitalization in our facility to determine proper safe handling and limit potential transfer of these serious, and potentially fatal, illnesses.

Spay/Neuter- We recommend having your pet spayed/neutered around 6 months of age.  It is important to have this procedure performed before a female pet's first heat cycle to limit the risk of Ovarian Cancer later in life.  Pet's who are spayed/neutered at this age tend to experience less behavioral issues as well as fewer health concerns.  Your pet is given an exam prior to surgery to help determine whether your pet is healthy enough to undergo the surgical procedure.  Current vaccinations are required at the time of surgery.  Also a pre-anesthetic blood screen is recommended prior to undergoing anesthesia and surgery.