CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW KITTEN!
Read this page carefully as it will provide you with valuable information on how to keep your new kitten happy and healthy for life.
VACCINATIONS
Our recommended kitten vaccination schedule is as follows:
For indoor only cats our recommended vaccination schedule is as follows:
- 8 weeks of age : F3 – Feline Panleukopenia Virus, Herpes Virus and Calici Virus
- 12 weeks of age: F3 – Feline Panleukopenia Virus, Herpes Virus and Calici Virus
- 16 weeks of age: F3 – Feline Panleukopenia Virus, Herpes Virus and Calici Virus
- Then yearly F2 for Feline Herpes Virus and Calici Virus and once every 3 years for Feline Panleukopenia Virus.
For cats that are venturing outside we recommend an additional Feline Leukaemia Virus vaccination at 12 and 16 weeks and then yearly.
WORMING AND FLEAS
Intestinal worms are internal parasites that can infect your pet. Some of these worms can be life-threatening and some can also infect people, so it’s important to treat your kitten regularly. An all-wormer should be given as follows:
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Every two weeks until 12 weeks of age.
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Then every month until six months old.
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Then every three months for life.
Be sure to weigh your kitten, as dosage is based on body weight. We recommend
milbemax tablets.
Although
Heartworm is less common in cats, it is spread by mosquitoes and can therefore still be a threat to your cat’s health. There are a few prevention options available, most of them being a monthly treatment.
Revolution is our recommended product as it is a simple spot on treatment which combines both worming and flea control in one treatment. Applied monthly, it protects against fleas, earmites, heartworm, hookworm and roundworms. (A tapeworm tablet is still required every three months).
Fleas can be a huge irritation to you and your cat, a large burden can also develop into a health problem. We recommend monthly treatments all year round with with
Revolution or
Activyl (note: Activyl is for fleas only but is a very effective flea control product. When using Activyl you will also need to give an allwormer).
DIET
Very young kittens may require three small meals a day but this can be cut back to two meals by the time your kitten reaches 12 weeks of age. We have a range of high-quality dry foods, which can be combined or supplemented with fresh food.
Raw chicken wings, chicken necks and specially made treats such as Greenies help to maintain clean, healthy teeth.
DESEXING
We recommend desexing cats before they come into season. This is usually around six months of age but can vary.
Not only does this help prevent urine spraying, straying and fighting, it can also prevent health problems later in life.
PET INSURANCE
With the rising costs of veterinary medicine, it may be a good idea to consider pet insurance.
There are many companies that provide this service. When comparing companies things to consider include:
- Does the policy guarantee lifetime renewal? (some cheaper policies may stop cover once your pet reaches a certain age or decrease the level of cover as your pet ages)
- Does the policy refresh the amount claimable annually?
- Does the policy place new exclusions or restrictions on cover at the time of renewal?
- Does the policy have an age-limit for joining?
- Does the policy cover for hereditary and congenital conditions, or are there breed-specific exclusions?
- Does the policy have a limit per claim or per condition per year?
- Does the policy cap conditions if they are chronic?
MICROCHIPPING
What is a Microchip?
A microchip is a permanent form of identification in the form of a tiny chip (about the size of a grain of rice). We inject the microchip under your pet’s skin – just like a vaccination. This chip has an identification number that is linked to all your contact details on a national registry. This number is as unique as a fingerprint and is the latest technology available for lifetime identification.