Proper care of your cat begins when you first bring it home. If you have a kitten, it will need care to support normal growth and development. An adult cat will need proper care to maintain good health. The following are some of our recommendations.
Your new kitten should be immunized against a variety of diseases. This is accomplished through a series of vaccinations. We recommend vaccinating kittens for Distemper, Rhinotracheitis virus, and Calicivirus at 8 and 12 weeks of age. These are combined into one injection. A Rabies vaccine will also be given at 12 weeks of age. If your kitten will spend time unsupervised outside, or is in contact with a number of other cats, we advise vaccinating for Feline Leukemia virus (FeLv) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). All of these vaccines are boostered at 1 year of age.
Your kitten will have received antibodies to many diseases in the form of colostrum in the mother's milk. These antibodies will help protect the kitten from disease until it is 8 to 12 weeks old. These antibodies can also inactivate the vaccines. For this reason, it is important to vaccinate at the recommended ages rather than being concerned with the number of vaccines a kitten gets. For example. a kitten vaccinated at 5 to 6 weeks of age should still get boosters at 8 and 12 weeks. If your kitten is older than 12 weeks it should receive two vaccinations 3 to 4 weeks apart. The Leukemia vaccines are given routinely at 9 and 12 weeks as per the manufacturer's recommendations, The Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) vaccines can be started at 8 weeks of age and need to be boostered every 2 to 3 weeks for a series of three vaccines.
There are other vaccines available that we do not routinely recommend. One is for Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP), a viral disease that can cause death. This vaccine is only about 50% effective and the disease is usually seen in cats exposed to many other cats, such as in catteries or shelters. Another is for Chlamydia, a bacterial respiratory and eve disease. This vaccine is associated with adverse reactions and the chJanivdial organism is treatable with antibiotics. A vaccine for Ringworm is available, but it's efficacy is unproven. The ringworm fungus is also treatable with medications.
Vaccine injections in cats have been linked to the formation of a sarcoma (a form of cancer) at the injection site. This happens in about 1 in 5000 cats. It is important to assess risks before giving any vaccines to cats. We can discuss your cat's intended lifestyle to use only the vaccines needed. Recent studies have found that the Distemper/Rhinotracheitis/Calicivirus vaccine will last 3 years after the booster given at 1 year of age, the Rabies vaccine will also last 3 years after the initial 1-v ear vaccine. Therefore, we will booster the Rabies and distemper vaccines every three years. The Leukemia and FIV vaccines will be boostered yearly. This can get confusing, so we will send you reminders once we have ascertained your cat's individual needs.
We should test a sample of your kitten's stool for intestinal parasites. We can treat any parasites we find at that time. If medications are needed we recommend rechecking a sample 3 to 4 weeks post-medication and yearly thereafter.
We recommend that you feed your kitten a name brand kitten food. We have found Science Diet food to be the most successful at preventing nutritional problems. Inexpensive foods may be deficient in certain nutrients and contain excessive amounts of others.
There have been major advances in flea control over the past several years. We recommend Frontline PlusR or RevolutionR. Please inquire as to which product may be the right choice for your cat.
Fleas on very young kittens can be treated with flea powder as many products are not labeled for very young kittens. Frontline PlusR is safe for use on kittens over 8 weeks of age.
Your kitten can be declawed at 12 weeks or older. Generally younger kittens recover faster and we recommend doing the front paws only. We can do all four feet if necessary. These cats should not be allowed outside as they can't escape predators. Laser declawing is available in our Howell office; please inquire for details.
We can spay or neuter your kitten at 4 months or older. There are many cats in the worlds that are destroyed every day because there are more cats than homes. Letting your cats have kittens adds to this problem even if you have homes for the kittens. Please spay or neuter your cat!
Your cat will need continued care as an adult. An annual Wellness Exam can be beneficial in monitoring your cat's health. We recommence vaccinating for distemper and respiratory viruses and for Rabies as a kitten, at one year of age and ever 3 years thereafter. We recommend vaccinating for leukemia and FIV (if your cat is at risk) as a kitten, at one year of age, then yearly thereafter. We can help you assess the risks vs. benefits of these and other vaccines available for your cat and it's particular needs.
We will examine your cat's teeth as it comes in for yearly examinations. You should examine your cat's teeth periodically at home also. Cats will develop tartar, plaque. and calculus just as we do over time. This can lead to gingivitis (gum disease) and early tooth loss if left untreated. Dry foods help control this but most cats will need a dental cleaning at least once in their life. Brushing their teeth can help greatly. A brush is best with toothpaste made for pets as this will clean the space between the gum and tooth better than any other home method. Using a gauze or nylon stocking over your finger to rub the outside of the teeth can help and is better than not doing anything. Cats can be difficult to handle while brushing teeth. We can clean, polish and fluoride your cat's teeth as needed. Dental cleaning will require general anesthesia.
Try to avoid any exposure to household chemicals, pesticides, antifreeze, etc. This sounds obvious but kittens will get into tiny spaces and there may be things you are not aware of (sometimes things are left in the house before you move in.) Antifreeze and D-Con are particularly dangerous, as cats will ingest these due to their taste. A small amount of either one can be fatal.
Do not give your cat any human medications. Aspirin. Tylenol, and Advil can be very toxic to cats and can easily lead to death. Please call us before using any human medications in pets.
Do not let your cat play with strings, yarn, etc. These are easily swallowed and can cause severe intestinal damage. Tinsel can be very dangerous. Use cat toys or things too big to be swallowed as toys instead.
Male cats are at risk of developing Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease. This is usually related to a diet that is too high in ash and magnesium and creates urine with too high a pH. The disease leads to struvite crystal formation in the urine. These crystals can cause urinary blockage, a serious emergency. Using a quality diet (such as Science Diet) can help prevent this potentially fatal problem.
Heartworm preventives are now available for cats. Heartworm is a relatively rare disease in cats as they are not the right host for this parasite. Research done at Michigan State University would indicate that about 2% of cats in southeast Michigan actually get heartworms. The problem is that heartworm disease is frequently fatal in cats as they do not have room for many worms in their heart and they get an overwhelming immune response to the worms. Testing is not very accurate as cats frequently have too few worms to be detected. Due to this inaccuracy we will give cats heartworm preventive without testing. This is usually given from May to December. We will test if requested or if testing is indicated. There are two preventives on the market. One is Heartgard.. an oral, chewable tablet. The other is Revolution, a liquid that is applied to the skin. Both are used monthly.
Finally. try not to leave your cat outside all night. Cats outside at night can get into fights, be shot, poisoned. hit by cars, or attacked by other animals. Your cat will be much safer inside for the night.
We appreciate the trust you have put in us by allowing us to help you care for your cat. By working together we can give your cat a long and healthy life.
