Congratulations on your new kitten. VetEnt has a few important health tips for you and your new fur friend.
Vaccinations.
Kittens need an individual vaccination program which is based on age. Typically they will require vaccines at 9, 13 and 17 weeks of age to ensure maximum protection against life threatening illnesses, followed by a booster vaccine at one year of age and then depending on the vaccines used, VetEnt’s booster vaccines are every 1 to 3 years.
Your kitten will require vaccinations to aid in the prevention of the following conditions.
We further recommend you vaccinate your new kitten against Cat “AIDs” (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus FIV), Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV), and Feline Chlamydiosis. Our vets will be able to advise you of the specific requirements for your new kitten.
Microchipping.
Microchipping is a a means of permanent identification, it is a safe and effective way of identifying your pet. If your pet is lost it will be returned to you, and if it is stolen the microchip provides proof of ownership.
Food.
Cats are carnivores and require a higher level of protein in their food compared to humans or dogs.
They also have a requirement for taurine, a lack of which can lead to death. Only good quality cat foods have the correct balance of protein and other nutrients to give your cat the best start in life.
Cats should move from kitten food onto an adult maintenance formula from neutering or about 1 year of age.
Worming.
Kittens can be infected with roundworms through their mother’s milk. Therefore they should be wormed every 2 weeks from 2 weeks of age.
From 3 months of age worming should be monthly. From 6 months of age and for the rest of your cat’s life worming should be every 3 months.
Wormers can be in tablet form or “spot-on” form. In New Zealand the main intestinal worms are roundworms and tapeworms. To ensure you are using a wormer on your cat that targets these worms see the trained staff at VetEnt.
Flea and Mite Treatment.
Cat fleas can cause allergic skin disease, anaemia, and even death in kittens. The fleas carry tapeworm eggs and, as well as causing itchy bites on people, they can transmit disease to humans.
As the majority of a flea’s life cycle is not seen, it is essential to use a product that will disrupt all stages of the lifecycle.
Treatments can be applied to the back of the neck or as a spray. Not all products are the same, please ask your vet which is the best preparation for your kitten and do not use dog products on cats.
Neutering.
Cats are able to have kittens from 5 months of age. All kittens should be neutered (spayed in females and castrated in males) to stop unwanted kittens and prevent unwanted behaviours such as urine spraying. Your kitten can be neutered from 4-6 months of age. It is of no benefit to let your cat have a litter of kittens.
Essential Items.
Nice to have items.
Proactive Animal Care for Pets.
Animal care is not just about building a great relationship with your local vet clinic; animal care is about understanding your pet’s health.
At VetEnt our animal care team recognise that you want highly knowledgeable and skilled veterinarians, who will also take the time to ensure you understand what is happening with your pet at every step. We’re always there to help you reach a decision that is right for you.
Care is about treatment as much as it is about prevention. At VetEnt, our aim is to keep your pet in optimal health by being proactive through offering immunisation programs, dental work, neutering, flea treatments, worming products, and appropriate nutrition. If your pet requires veterinary attention, you can rest assured that you’ll find an animal care team of experienced vets and passionate vet nurses equipped with the latest technology. Your local VetEnt animal care team pride themselves on being committed to providing a service that will ensure your pet lives an enjoyable and healthy life.
Regular visits will help our veterinary health care team provide for your pets best interests.
