Bought a New Kitten?
Some important things to know…
We recommend to have your new kitten recieve a full check over soon after purchase. Vaccination is highly recommended, the main diseases we protect against are cat flu, feline enteritis, feline calicivirus and should your cat be socialising with other cats FIV vaccination. Vaccinations usually start a eight weeks of age with the next vaccine being given 1 month later.
We want to ensure you and your kitten have a long and healthy life. Also we aim to make a kittens first visit to Ourimbah Vet calm and as positive as possible. This will help set up future visits as much easier if you cat has an inital positive experience.
Here is some information of the core shots and inital health steps your new kitten should receive:
Kitten Worming:
Kittens can become infected with tapeworms, roundworms, hookworm, lungworms and heartworms. Worms can pose a lot of danger to kittens and cats and it is important that they are eradicated before they cause irreparable harm. Roundworms are the most common and kittens can pick them up from the mother’s milk, while older cats can pick up an infestation from contact with infected faeces. Tapeworms are usually picked up from tapeworm fleas. Hookworms can be contracted from ingestion and skin contact. Lungworms are more uncommon and can be picked up from rodents and birds. Heartworms are extremely dangerous and can prove fatal. These worms are often contracted from mosquito bites. If you suspect a worm infestation at any point, take your cat to the vet for treatment. Regular treatment will work as a preventative, but missing doses can result in an infestation. Your vet will check blood and stool for the presence of worms and recommend a treatment to rid your pet of the parasites.
Our recommended worming protocol for cats is:
- 2 weeks from the age of 6 weeks to 3 months.
Monthly until they are 6 months old.
Older adopted kittens should be treated immediately with follow up doses 2 weeks and 4 weeks later
Adult cats should be treated every 3 to 6 months for worms depending on their habits.
Your vet will take you through whats best for your cat during their inital or followup checkups.
Some Common Cat Myths!
All cats hate water: While many cats dislike water, this is not true to all. And if your cat likes to get wet there is nothing wrong with that.
Cats are nocturnal: Cats are instinctively crepuscular. This means they are most active at dawn and dusk. By playing with a cat during the day you can reduce this tendancy.
You should give your cat milk: Milk can upset a cats stomach if they are not used to it. Many cats become lactose intolerant as they are weaned from milk as kittens. If cats have been fed milk from kittens they usually rtain the ability to digest it.
Cats always land on their feet: Cats do have a righting reflex that usually develops around 8 weeks of age. And while cats do have eceptional abilites to defy gravity we recommomend you dont encourage this as we regularily see cats that have taken injuries from falls.
If you want an affection pet get a dog: Cats are more independent than dogs but they absolutly show affection to thier family and enjoy recieving attention.
Pregnant women shouldn’t be around cats: Cat feces can carry a parasite called toxoplasmosis. This can cause miscarraige or make you ill. If you have a cat while pregnant ask someone else to deal with the litter tray. You can also ask your vet to test for toxoplasmosis. And of course speak with your GP about your cat and what they recommend.