Thursday, March 28, 2024

When Should You Take New Kitten To Vet

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How Do I Care For My New Kitten

New Kitten? 10 things you NEED to know!

Congratulations on the recent addition to your household! Now that you have a young kitten to care for there are several things you will need to consider. One of the most important things to do is to arrange to take your kitten to the veterinarian for a general health check. Your vet will be able to give you advice regarding basic care for your kitten as well as give them any vaccinations and worming treatments that are needed.

In the meantime some of the basic aspects of kitten care you will need to consider include:

Set Up A Feeding Schedule

To keep up with your kittens appetite, youll want to establish a daily feeding routine. The best way to ensure that youre not under or over-feeding your kitten is to consult with you veterinarian about how much and how often to feed. At 3 to 6 moths of age, most vets recommend feeding your kitten three times a day. Once hes reached six months, you can scale it back to twice a day. Keep stocking your pantry with kitten food until your baby reaches adulthood, 9 to12 months old. In addition, dont forget to keep his water bowl fresh and filled at all times. But hold the milk. Contrary to popular belief, milk is not nutritionally sufficient for kittens and can give them diarrhea.

Get advice on the best way to litterbox train your kitten.

White Cross Vets Complete Wellness Plan

Our Complete Wellness Plan takes care of everything you need to give your kitten the best start in life including vaccinations, a microchip, flea and wormer, and a significant discount off the cost of neutering and a quality Hills Diet.

Contact us for more information on how to look after a kitten or to book in a kitten health check and vaccinations.

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Are You A California Resident

20% off offer valid through 12/26/2021 online only when choosing same day homedelivery powered by DoorDash. May not be combinable with other available offers or discount. Certain productsand brands are not eligible for sitewide offers or promotions and specifically excludes, The Pharmacy atPetSmart, services, gift cards, gift certificates, previous purchases and charitable donations. Savings willautomatically reflect in cart with purchase of qualifying merchandise. Limit one redemption per customer duringthe offer period. Same-day home delivery is available in most areas. Order by 9am for delivery between 12pm-3pm,by 1pm for between 3pm 6pm, & by 3 pm for delivery between 6pm-8pm. Orders placed after 3pm will be fulfilledthe next day Select products not eligible for same day delivery. While delivery is contact-free, we recommendbeing home during the delivery window to bring perishable items inside right away. Prices & selection may varyin stores & online. While supplies last. Quantities may be limited. See www.petsmart.com/help or store associatefor more details.

Toilet Training Your Kitten

How Often Should You Take Your Cat to the Vet?

While most young kittens may have learnt how to use a litter tray by the time they live with you, others need encouragement. To help train your kitten to use a litter tray, follow our top tips:

  • Choose the right litter tray. It will need to be large enough for your cat to feel comfortable using it.
  • Find the right space. Like humans, cats dont like to toilet close to where they eat and they prefer a private area in the house.
  • Choose the right litter. Your kittens previous owner might be able to let you know whether they prefer clumping litter or finer substances.
  • Keep it clean! Giving the litter tray a scoop twice a day is advised, while the tray itself should be fully cleaned at least once a week.
  • If your kitten isnt toileting in the litter tray, carefully direct them there. Dont punish them shouting at your cat may make them fearful of you and will only make the problem worse.
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    How To Prepare For A Kitten

    Once youve decided to get a kitten and found a good place to get them from, you can start to prepare for their arrival:

    • Buy any supplies they need. This could include:
    • Cat beds
    • Litter trays and cat litter
    • Plenty of toys
    • Scratching posts, mats, boxes or frames
    • Cat furniture like cat trees
    • A large, secure carrier for transport
    • A brush or comb for grooming
    • Blankets.
  • Make any home adjustments, which could include:
  • Installing a cat flap
  • Setting up their bed areas
  • Setting up their food, water and toilet areas, which should all be in different places
  • Cat-proof your house by removing hazards and poisons, or safely securing them away out of paws reach.
  • Speak to your local vet about any preventive treatments your new kitten will need and how much they will cost. They may be able to offer a care plan.
  • Start to compare the cost of insurance, as insuring your cat will help with any unexpected vet bills.
  • What To Think About Before Getting A Kitten

    If youre thinking of getting a kitten, make sure youre fully prepared to take on the responsibility. Youll need to make sure you can meet your new pets welfare needs and think about:

    • Cost can you afford everything your cat needs ?
    • Your home is it cat appropriate? What will need to change to become cat-friendly? Can they access quiet rooms and will they have a safe outdoor space? Do you already have other pets who might not get on with a kitten?
    • Time have you got the time to spend with your new kitten? You may find that an adult cat would better suit your current lifestyle.
    • Vets do you know where you would register your kitten? You can find a local vet online and pop in before you get your kitten as your vet can advise you on what theyll need once theyre home.

    You can read more about everything you need to think about before deciding to get a kitten on our pet care pages. You can also for getting your furry friend.

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    Scheduling A Vet Visit After Buying A Kitten

    When you purchased your new kitten from a cat breeder, you may have been told to go see a vet within the next few days. But why?

    First off, new pet owners in some states are protected by lemon laws. Lemons? No, were not talking about cars. Many protective laws for domestic animals are called that because in the eyes of the law, pets are considered property, not individuals.

    In order to be protected by these laws, your new kitten must be examined by a veterinarian within seven to 20 days of purchase, depending on the state.

    The main incentive, if you purchased a kitten, is that if the vet finds a birth defect, say a heart murmur, you have recourse. Most lemon laws also make the breeder or pet store responsible for any illness that occurs soon after purchase.

    However, if you did not get a new kitten exam performed within the specified timeframe , then the law will not apply.

    Thinking About How To Prepare For A New Kitten Our Guide Tells You All You Need To Know

    Take Paws: Kitten Vaccinations with Sam Frank, DVM

    Whether youre adopting a kitten from Cats Protection or youve found one from a local breeder, bringing your new arrival home is an exciting experience. Kittens can be entertaining and playful not to mention undeniably cute! Already thinking about the fun youll have? Now is the perfect time to prepare for a new kitten.

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    What Vaccinations Does My Kitten Need

    We’re generally going to do the core vaccines for all cats, which is the FVRCP, the upper respiratory viruses, panleukopenia, and distemper. And we’re also going to do the leukemia vaccine and rabies. But they’re not all done at the same time. We spread them out over a series, but they’re all very critical vaccines.

    So What Kind Of Protein And Fat Is Best For Kittens

    Here are some key points to keep in mind:

    Protein provides the building blocks for healthy muscles and animal proteins are the best for kittens because they are complete proteins.

    A complete protein is simply a protein that contains all of the essential amino acids your kitten needs.

    Good examples of protein options for kittens include poultry like chicken or turkey, meats like beef or lamb, and fish like salmon. You may also see game meats and other unique proteins like duck, venison, rabbit, and more.

    Fat provides your kitten with a concentrated source of energy each gram of fat contains 9 calories versus 4 calories per gram for protein and carbohydrates.

    Animal-based fats like chicken fat and salmon oil are best, though your kitten can also get fat from protein sources like meat and fish.

    Plant oils can provide omega-6 fatty acids to balance your kittens omega-3 intake, but remember that animal-based fats are more biologically valuable.

    Most commercial kitten and cat foods contain carbohydrates. While there are some benefits to that, protein and fat should always be the focus.

    Carbohydrates can provide energy and fiber, as well as essential vitamins and minerals, just make sure there arent too many plant-based carbohydrates in your kittens diet. The most digestible carbohydrates for kittens are starchy vegetables and cooked grains.

    The best place to start in picking a high-quality diet for your kitten is to choose a recipe formulated specifically for kittens.

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    How To Take Care Of A Kitten: The Complete Guide

    Nothing is more adorable than a fluffy little kitten. Kittens are cute, for sure, but they can also be quite a handful. If youve never raised a kitten before, you may be wondering where to start.

    Being a pet parent means providing for your pets basic needs in addition to being a friend and companion.

    For kittens, this means providing a healthy and high-quality diet as well as routine veterinary care. Youll also need to prepare your home for your new kitten and take the time to play with and bond with it.

    If youre considering bringing a new kitten into your home, do your research to learn how to raise a kitten. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about kitten nutrition, behavior, and health.

    How To Prepare Your Kitten For Its First Vet Visit

    How Often Do You Take A Cat To The Vet?
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    Adding a new kitten to the family is always exciting. Sometimes it is a pre-planned and highly anticipated event, sometimes it is a spontaneous adoption or rescue. Either way, along with shopping for all of the new necessities like food, dishes, and litter boxes, be sure to make time for that first veterinary visit and the subsequent checkups.

    The first vet visit can reveal underlying issues that can affect you, your family, and other pets. Some illnesses can suddenly become serious, so it’s best to find out right away if your kitten needs special treatments. For the health of everyone in your homeincluding the new kittyit’s important that you don’t put this off.

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    How Can I Get The Most Out Of My First Vet Visit With My New Kittens

    When you come to the Drake Center, we spend a good 30 to 45 minutes with you on the first visit. We’re going to provide you with a lot of information. We also have more on our website. But we’re going to talk to you about all aspects of kitten care, including behavior, feeding, and litter box acclimation.

    Letting Your Kitten Go Outside

    Your kitten should stay indoors for at least a week after its second injection, and definitely until it has been neutered. Most cat experts recommend keeping a kitten inside until its around four months old, and letting it go outside alone from around six months. Until then, you should tag along while it explores.

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    What Should I Expect At My Kitten’s Very First Veterinary Visit

    At your first visit you’ll get introduced to the team. You’ll get introduced to how we are going to go about caring for your pet in the different lifestyles and phases. We’ll talk about a lot of information on behavior, and do a thorough physical exam. We make sure there are no congenital abnormalities that have gone undetected, or underlying parasites like fleas or ticks. And well just have an overall discussion of your kitten’s health and needs. Be prepared to discuss lifestyle as well. Are you thinking about having an indoor kitty or outdoor kitty? How many pets do you have in the house? So these are some things to expect to discuss and for us to go over at your veterinary visit.

    What Kind Of Basket Should I Use To Take My Kitten To The Vet

    Your kitten’s first vet visit! What should you know? What to expect? vaccinations and more

    Ensure you buy a basket with a top that can be opened or even removed completely its nice for your pet to be able to sit in their own space whilst the vet examines them, and, if necessary, they can easily be lifted out. Dragging a protesting cat through a small side opening isnt a good start.

    See-through baskets allow your pet see out but bear in mind that this can sometimes be quite scary for them, so its best to cover at least part of it with a towel so that they can hide if they want to.

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    When To Take Your Cat To The Emergency Vet

    Is your cat in the middle of a crisis, leaving you unsure of what to do next? Or are you just trying to do some research to help you better understand how to care for your feline friend if anything unexpected should happen? As a cat owner, you dont want to think about having to rush your pet to the emergency vet. However, this is sometimes an unfortunate necessity, and its good to know which conditions and situations might require a trip to the emergency vet in the middle of the night.

    Check out the information below to educate yourself on cat emergencies. Understand that this list is not a comprehensive one, but it does cover most of the basics and should give you an idea of how to respond if something is going wrong with your cat. This information can help you prepare for the worst, even though you will hopefully never have to face this type of situation.

    First Visual Contact Between Cats

  • Give cats treats so they spend time close to each other or play with a feather to encourage play. Do not use catnip.
  • When comfortable with each other they will sniff noses, play through the door or rub against the door. When you see this, you can have a proper introduction. There should be no growling, or repeated spitting or hissing.
  • What if my cats are showing aggression towards each other?

    Is the aggression more severe than a hiss or a quick swat? Make the opening smaller and over the next few days, feed the cats closer and closer to the door.

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    New Kitten Health Check

    You’ve anticipated the new arrival by ‘kitten proofing’ your home and had lots of fun choosing the carrier, bed, blanket, toys and other supplies they will need.

    This adorable little bundle of fluff is sure to bring you much joy. In return, you can make a major contribution to your pet’s happiness and quality of life by providing them with good nutrition, loving attention in a safe, clean environment and regular health checks.

    How Often Does My Cat Need To Go To The Vet

    How Often Should You Take Your Cat to the Vet?

    In general, it is a good idea to visit the veterinarian with your cat twice a year. Don’t forget, our cats , so a lot of changes can occur in that time period.

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    Why Should I Take My Cat To The Vet

    The ASPCA estimates that between 30 and 37% of all US households include at least one cat. That translates to between 74 and 96 million owned cats. However, in 2011, about 44.9% of cats with owners did not visit the veterinarian. This is in stark contrast to only 18.7% of dogs not visiting the veterinarian that year .

    What Do I Feed Them

    Keep your kittens diet consistent for the first fortnight by feeding them the same food they were getting before they came home with you. After this initial period, make changes slowly to avoid upsetting your kittens stomach. We recommend feeding your kitten good quality dry food as well as lean meat protein. Tinned food should be reserved for treats only and not given as a meal on a daily basis.

    At four months, your kitten will start teething and you will need to provide them with something to chew. Daily chewing helps promote healthy teeth and gums. We recommend giving your kitten tough pieces of raw meat or a raw chicken neck to chew on.

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    Why Does My Kitten Need More Than One Vaccination

    Immediately after birth, a kitten receives a temporary form of immunity through the colostrum, which is the milk produced by mother cats shortly after birth, laden with protective antibodies. This first milk is produced only for a few days after birth and contains proteins called maternal antibodies. For about 24-48 hours after birth, the kitten’s intestine allows absorption of these antibodies directly into the blood stream. This passive immunity protects the kitten during its first few weeks of life when its immune system is immature, but in order to remain protected against these diseases, the kitten must produce its own, longer-lasting active immunity.

    “In order to remain protected against diseases, the kitten must produce its own, longer-lasting active immunity.”

    Vaccinations stimulate active immunity, but they have to be given at just the right time. As long as the mother’s antibodies are present in the kittens bloodstream, they prevent the immune system from responding effectively to the vaccines. When a kitten is ready to respond to vaccinations depends on the level of immunity in the mother cat, the amount of antibody absorbed by the nursing kitten, and the general health and nutrition of the kitten.

    To keep up the cats immunity through adulthood, vaccines are repeated once every 1-3 years depending on individual circumstances and vaccine type.

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