New Kitten Corner
Congratulations on your new kitten!
Below are a few topics that we receive the most questions about that may be helpful for you as you welcome your new kitten into your family.
Feline Leukemia Virus and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus
Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) are both viral diseases that weaken a kitten/cat’s immune system. Both diseases only affect kittens/cats. We recommend testing all kittens for these viruses to ensure your new kitten is healthy. We especially recommend testing new kittens (and new cats) prior to exposing them to any other cats in your house.
Intestinal Parasites
Intestinal parasites are very common in kittens. We recommend performing a fecal floatation test to check for these parasites and treat the kitten as needed.
Vaccinations
New kittens need a series of vaccines to protect them from common illnesses.
The American Association of Feline Practitioners recommends all kittens be vaccinated for Feline Leukemia regardless of lifestyle. Additionally, all kittens (and cats) should be vaccinated for rabies in accordance with state laws.
Flea, Tick, and Heartworm Prevention
There are many options for flea, tick, and heartworm prevention for your new kitten in varying combinations based on your kitten’s needs.
Spay/Neuter
The surgery to “fix” a female cat is called an ovariohysterectomy (OHE) or spay.
The surgery to “fix” a male cat is called an orchidectomy or neuter.
We recommend spaying and neutering all kittens by 6 months of age. This is the optimal age to help prevent many medical and behavioral problems and reduce the over-population of cats and kittens we have in this area.
For more information about when to “fix” your cat, please visit https://www.felinefixbyfive.org/cat-parent-resources/ .