WELLNESS PLAN FOR YOUR NEW KITTEN…
AN OVER VIEW OF YOUR KITTEN’S FIRST YEAR
This schedule of examinations, lab tests, vaccinations, and preventative medications is based on the studies and recommendations of Veterinary Immunologists and Parasitologists.
Please remember to keep your cat current on it's immunizations. Viruses are mutating and old vaccines are not protecting your cat completely. This is like the flue viruses mutating every year for humans. All are highly contagious but not all are airborne. Many viruses are contacted through exchanging body fluids i.e. licking, sneezing, eating and drinking, litterboxes, so it is vitally important to keep your cat indoors and protected by inoculations. We start our kittens out on ultra nasal inoculations for Rhino and Calicivirus at 4 weeks of age. At 8 weeks of age, they get the first shot for panleukemia (distemper), Rhino, Calicivirus, and Chlymidia. They should have a second shot (booster) and another every two years for strictly indoor cats.
10 Weeks (or 1st visit)
Complete Physical Exam
*Feline Leukemia Blood Test (if not previously performed)
*Vaccinate against: Feline Distemper, Rhino, Calici, & feline
Leukemia
(usually two inoculations are given here.
*Intestinal Parasite Screen (fecal sample required)
*Medications to be dispensed: Dewormer, Heartworm Preventative (year-
round), & Flea Preventative (April-Oct)
* This is usually done before you pick up your kitten from Casa Del Gatos. We do
not have fleas and kittens are normally wormed at least 4 times while here.
12 weeks Declawing – Recovery at this age is the easiest but discouraged
by CDG. Training a Burmese kitten to use a scratching post is so
easy.
14 Weeks (or 2nd
visit)
Complete Physical Exam
*Vaccinate against: Feline Distemper & Leukemia
if needed
Medications to be dispensed: Dewormer, Heartworm Preventative,
& Flea Preventative (Never use a flea collar) See our home
page for more
information.
* Usually done before pickup date from Casa Del Gatos.
18 Weeks (or 3rd visit)
Complete Physical Exam
Vaccinate against: Feline Distemper, Leukemia & Rabies
Intestinal Parasite Screen (fecal sample required)
Medications to be dispenses: Heartworm Preventative,
& Flea Preventative
*All vaccinations except rabies and Leukemia vaccination are done at Casa Del Gatos.
Monthly - Heartworm Preventative (year-round) & Flea Preventative
5-6 Months Spay Surgery for females
5-6 Months Neuter Surgery for males
16 Months(1 year after 1st
Rabies)
Complete Physical Exam
Intestinal Parasite Screen (fecal sample required)
Vaccinate against: Feline Distemper, Leukemia & Rabies
Medications to be dispensed: Heartworm Preventative for the next year
& Flea Preventative in season
WHY A SERIES OF VACCINATIONS? The series of vaccinations is important for your kitten's body to produce immunity against these diseases. One vaccination alone is not enough.
WHY IS A FELINE LEUKEMIA BLOOD TEST DONE BEFORE VACCINATING FOR FELINE LEUKEMIA? A vaccine helps to protect your kitten against Leukemia, it is not a treatment. If your kitten has already been infected with the Feline Leukemia virus, the vaccination will not be given and it is always fatal.
HOW WOULD MY KITTEN GET LEUKEMIA? Feline Leukemia is spread in a similar fashion as the HIV/AIDS virus is in humans. If your kitten's mother was infected with Leukemia, chances are that she will pass the virus on to her kittens.
VACCINATE AGAINST DISEASE What diseases should your cats/kittens be vaccinated against?
Feline Upper Respiratory Infections Upper Respiratory Infections can be caused by a complex of infectious agents including Feline Pneumonitis, Rhinotracheitis, and Calcivirus. Symptoms of Upper Respiratory Infections in cats are similar to a head cold in humans and can include sneezing, nasal discharge, runny eyes, cough, oral or nasal ulcers, hoarse voice, sniffles, fever or any combination of the above.
Feline Leukemia Virus Feline Leukemia is a form of cancer in cats that is almost always fatal. This disease which is caused by a virus leads to tumor growth nearly anywhere on the body. Infected cats are unable to fight off infection by other diseases and may die from associated infections.
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) FIV is equivalent to HIV in humans. This virus causes AIDS in cats. FIV suppresses the immune system and the average life expectancy after diagnosis is only about five years.
Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) FIP is a disease caused by a coronavirus. The virus is spread by direct cat to cat contact or by contact with contaminated surfaces. Symptoms include intermittent loss of appetite, depression, rough hair coat, weight loss, and fever. There is no cure for FIP and the disease is considered fatal.
Rabies Rabies infection is caused by a virus that attacks the brain and is always fatal. Pets are exposed to rabies through bites from infected wild animals such as skunks, raccoons, bats, and foxes. This disease can be transmitted to humans through bites or scratches from infected pets.