We are here to provide a complete health care service for your new kitten. We are happy to provide advice about any aspect of cat care – please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any specific questions that are not covered in this leaflet or during your first consultation.

Appointments can be made either with our veterinary surgeons or our trained nurses, depending on the nature of the problem or advice required.  Please discuss any queries with the receptionists who can always point you in the right direction.

Kitten Health
Kittens are generally acquired at 6-8 weeks of age, and can come from a variety of sources.  This can be a stressful time for some kittens depending on their nature and their previous lifestyle.  We generally like to let the kittens settle in to their new home for a few days before we first see them.  We can begin vaccination at nine weeks of age in most circumstances, with a second vaccination three to four weeks later.  However they will not be fully protected by the vaccine until about a week after the second injection.  In the meantime they should usually be kept inside.

Worms
All kittens are infected with worms from their mother.  We recommend that they are wormed before weaning and regularly thereafter.  Please ask about the specific recommendations for your pet as this will vary depending on lifestyle.  Modern, safe, effective and convenient products are available from us to treat both round and tapeworms.

Vaccination
Kittens are generally vaccinated against several potentially life-threatening diseases.  We routinely vaccinate against

• Feline Panleucopaenia – similar to parvovirus in dogs, this can cause a severe bloody diarrhoea with a high mortality rate in kittens and some older cats
• Rhinotracheitis  and Calicivirus – the key viruses in ‘cat-flu’, which cause the cats to get runny noses and eyes and a high temperature.  Mortality rates are especially high in young kittens
• Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV) – similar, though not directly related to HIV in humans, this virus can disable the immune system and cause tumours.  There is usually a long period between acquiring the infection and the onset of clinical signs.

Annual re-vaccination is currently necessary for these diseases, as immunity is not life-long.
We can also vaccinate against rabies for cats being exported or travelling under the Pet Travel Scheme.  Please ask for more details if this  is of interest to you.

Fleas
Nearly every animal will come across fleas from contact with other animals or wildlife.  Flea infestations are much easier to prevent than treat and so regular treatment is advisable.  This is most conveniently done with the ‘spot-on’ products.  Several products are now available, and this is best discussed with a vet or nurse who will be able to risk-assess your pet’s exposure and advise accordingly.  Please note that some of the products available for use on dogs are highly toxic to cats.

Ticks
Ticks can be a regular issue for some animals.  They are generally found in the coastal fringe, or well protected inland areas as the ticks do not like severe frosts or dry heat.  Ticks rarely produce severe disease, but local irritation can be a problem.   We can show you how to safely remove ticks which have attached to your cat.

Neutering
We generally recommend that most cats are better off being neutered at a young age.  Boys can be castrated from 5 ½ months.  If left intact, they will tend to mark their territory (including inside) with urine, and are more prone to getting into fights and road accidents.  Girls can be spayed at 5 ½– 6 months of age.  If left entire, they will come on heat about every three weeks, and will re-breed as soon as one litter is weaned.

Diet
When you collect your kitten most breeders will let you know what feeding routine they are used too.  Initially it is best to stick to this to reduce stress while they settle in.  We recommend that cats are best fed on a commercial food according to their life-stage.  We are happy to provide advice tailored to you and your cat’s specific needs.  We will sometimes recommend specific diets that are used to help treat or reduce the chance of certain diseases.

Identification
Microchip identification can help improve the chance of a lost pet being returned to its owner.  This is a simple procedure that can be undertaken in any consultation, at any age.  Please ask for further details when making an appointment.

Grooming and Routine Care
Most long-haired cats and many short-haired cats benefit from some regular grooming and this can help reinforce the bond between the cat and their keeper.  This should include checking eyes and ears for discharge or soreness, checking the length of the nails and checking under the tail.  Regular visual checking of the mouth and teeth is beneficial, and if started at a young age regular tooth brushing is generally well tolerated and can significantly delay the onset of dental disease.

Weight
Regular and consistent exercise is important for all cats.  Many free ranging cats will self regulate their food intake and exercise to maintain an appropriate weight, but it is advised that house cats be encouraged to expend energy in play.  There are many commercially available cat toys to encourage active play.   Please note that the guidelines on many feeds are quite generous and many cats need significantly less food than suggested on the pack.

Cat Litter
Most kittens will readily use a litter tray for toileting. These can be filled with soil, sand or any of the wide variety of commercially available cat litters.  Ideally cat litters should be placed away from the food and water bowl.  Please note that beyond the usual advice about washing hands after cleaning out litter trays, some cats can carry toxoplasma which is potentially dangerous to pregnant women.  Please ask a medical practitioner if you would like specific advice about this.

Pet Health Insurance
We would hope that you and your cat will have a long and healthy life together, but unfortunately many cats at some point in their lives require veterinary attention for unforeseen problems.  Modern veterinary medicine can be expensive as we follow advances in human medicine.  Specialist treatment can be particularly expensive – we regularly recommend courses of treatment that can cost several hundred pounds and sometimes will run in to thousands.  Insuring your pet at a young age, before the onset of problems can help take away the worry of having to deal with veterinary bills whilst you are coping with an unwell pet.  We are unable to recommend specific policies, and small print varies widely.  Generally cost of the policy varies with level of cover.  Some policies will only pay out for one year on a condition, where other polices will cover the condition for the life of the pet.  Leaflets from several companies are available at reception.