Your Kitten
Once you have your new kitten what should you be doing to ensure he or she has a long healthy life?
VACCINATION – this is very important. Your kitten needs protection against Cat Flu, Feline Enteritis and Leukaemia. These diseases are life threatening and it is essential that your kitten is adequately protected from an early age and through their life with yearly boosters. When you bring your kitten to us for vaccination they will receive a full health check and examination then one injection which will need to be repeated in 3 weeks time. 1 week after this 2nd vaccine is given your cat can safely mix with other cats as a full level of immunity has been achieved.
WORMING CONTROL – When you acquire your kitten it is very common for them to have roundworms, therefore treatment is essential so your kitten can grow properly and become a strong, healthy adult. Worming is also important for you and anyone who handles the kitten, as some roundworm can affect people and, in extreme cases, cause blindness. We will be happy to advise how frequently worming treatment should be given. Later on as the kitten gets older they become susceptible to tapeworms so a multi wormer is necessary to ensure your cat is adequately wormed.
FLEAS & TICKS – these can be a very irritating problem for you and your pet. But with regular treatment with the correct product things can be prevented. Treatments come in a variety of forms and we are always happy to advise on which one is best for you and your kitten and how frequently these should be used. Treatment of your house and your kitten’s environment is also essential as for every flea there are thousands of eggs hatching out in the environment. Living in rural Devon we are very prone to ticks so treatment and prevention is essential.
MICROCHIP IDENTIFICATION – this form of identification is permanent and unique to your animal. The chip is the size of a grain of rice and has a unique number programmed into it this is then held on a central database along with your details. Lost animals are routinely scanned for a chip. If they are chipped then your cat is only a couple of phone calls away from being reunited with you.
INSURANCE – this is essential in this day and age, as due to medical advances there are now more things we can do to treat your pets. Unfortunately there is no NHS for pets so treatment often isn’t cheap. Insurance gives you the reassurance that we can provide all the care and treatment possible without the added worry of cost. Insurance providers vary so please research this before making a decision, the cheapest is not necessarily the best for life long cover for your pet.
GROOMING – long and short haired cats require regular grooming to keep their coats in good condition. Grooming also enables you to check your pet over regularly and detect any problems early. Starting grooming at an early age, your kitten will soon accept it and even enjoy the grooming process.
LITTER TRAINING – even if you intend your cat to go outside a litter tray will be needed in the first few weeks. Position the tray in a quiet corner away from your pet’s food, bed and water. Although the risk of catching diseases, (such as Toxocara and Toxoplasmosis) is minimal, we would advise the use of gloves when cleaning or washing of hands before and after.
RECOMMENDED READING – The Perfect Kitten by Peter Neville and Claire Bessant (available from reception).
