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Bringing home your new kitten is exciting and can be a very rewarding experience for the whole family. Getting off to the right start with any new pet involves an initial visit to the veterinarian for a check-up and to schedule future wellness visits. All kittens require a series of vaccinations and periodic worming to ensure a healthy start to a long and happy life.
Your kitten’s first visit to GVH will include a complete health evaluation and the first in the recommended series of vaccines to be given every 3-4 weeks until your kitten is 16 weeks of age. Your kitten’s bodyweight will be recorded in order to monitor growth and you and your veterinarian will discuss nutrition, feeding, litter training, spaying or castration and other aspects of kitten care. You are welcome to schedule your kitten’s future vaccination appointments during this first visit.
Vaccinations:
Cats are susceptible to many contagious diseases, most of which are caused by viruses. Fortunately, vaccines are available to prevent our feline friends from succumbing to several of the worst ones. A series of four Distemper (FVRCP) injections (approximately three weeks apart) provides the necessary immunity for kittens. The vaccine series is usually started at six to eight weeks of age. The FVRCP vaccine is then given as an annual booster for the remainder of the cat's life.
Your kitten will be vaccinated against rabies when he or she is approximately 4 months old. Virginia state law requires that all cats over 4 months of age have current rabies vaccination status. Your kitten will receive a rabies vaccine booster at his or her one year visit and the vaccine will repeated once every 3 years to maintain the current vaccination status thereafter.
If your kitten will be going outside we also recommend vaccinating against feline viral leukemia (FeLV). The initial vaccine protocol is a series of two injections. The first injection is followed in three to four weeks by the second. An annual booster is given to maintain protection. Viral leukemia in cats is a prevalent, highly transmissible, and potentially life threatening disease. Though recognized since the early 1960's, current medical technology offers no cure for infected cats. Several effective prophylactic (preventive) vaccines have been developed.
The FVRCP vaccine provides protection against three contagious feline viral diseases. The following is a brief explanation of each:
FELINE VIRAL RHINOTHRACHEITIS (FVR)
Rhinotracheitis is a severe upper respiratory infection caused by a feline type 1 herpes-virus. It is most severe in young kittens and older cats, and is one of the most serious upper respiratory diseases seen in the feline species. The virus is airborne and very contagious for susceptible animals.
Cats with this infection are lethargic, and show signs of respiratory involvement with much sneezing and coughing. There is usually a discharge from the nostrils and the eyes, and a fever is common. Some cats develop pneumonia and occasionally ulcerations in the eyes. Infected cats do not want to eat or drink because the nostrils are plugged and the throat is sore. Dehydration and weight loss are common.
The disease is debilitating and chronic. Many cats require hospitalization, intravenous fluids and intensive care to help them get over the infection. Antibiotics are given to treat secondary bacterial infections. Some cats suffer permanent damage to the eyes and the respiratory system. Fortunately, the vaccine is effective in preventing this disease when administered as recommended.
CALICIVIRUS (C)
There are several strains of calicivirus that affect the cat. They can cause a range of diseases, from a mild, nearly asymptomatic infection, to life-threatening pneumonia. Most cases show only evidence of problems in the mouth, nasal passages and the conjunctiva (mucus membranes) of the eyes.
Early signs are loss of appetite, fever and lethargy. Later, sneezing, oral ulcers and discharge from the eyes are seen. The course of the disease in uncomplicated cases is short, and recovery may be expected in seven to ten days. Some of the more virulent strains can cause severe symptoms and may cause rapid death in young kittens and older cats.
The disease is transmitted by direct contact with an infected cat or object (bowl, cage, brush, blanket, etc.) that harbors the virus. The virus can survive eight to ten days in the environment. Carrier cats can pass the virus into the environment for up to one year.
PANLEUKOPENIA (P)
Panleukopenia (also known as feline distemper and infectious feline enteritis) is a highly contagious disease characterized by a short course and high mortality rate. The disease is caused by a parvovirus similar to the parvovirus seen in dogs. It is very resistant and may remain infectious in the environment for up to one year.
The disease is most severe in young kittens, but can affect cats of all ages. The first symptom is loss of appetite, followed by vomiting and diarrhea. A blood count usually shows a lowered number of white blood cells, a clue which helps in diagnosing the infection.
Infected cats usually must be hospitalized with intensive treatment such as intravenous fluids, antibiotic and supportive care. Mortality rate may reach 90% in young kittens under six months, and may approach 50% in older animals. Fortunately, the vaccine is very effective in preventing the disease. |
Flea and tick prevention:
No one wants to have six or eight legged parasites hitching a ride on their pets! Not only can fleas and ticks cause skin irritation, inflammation and itching, but they can transmit serious and sometimes fatal diseases to our furry friends, not to mention to us as well. Our friendly staff will work with you to determine the best external parasite prevention plan for you and your kitten now and in the future when he or she is an adult.
Intestinal parasites:
Intestinal parasites, commonly known as worms (yuck!), will be addressed during your kitten’s first wellness visit here at GVH. A simple stool sample can divulge whether your kitten has an active parasite infestation and our staff will administer any anthelmintic agents deemed necessary.
Some Easy Steps to Take to Ensure the Safety of Your New Kitten
Poison Proof Your Home.
Check your home for possible poisons and toxins that your kitten can get into. Common toxins include antifreeze, rat or mouse bait, slug bait, and insecticides, Make sure you keep all drugs and medications out of reach.
Plant Proof Your Home.
Plants are an attractive part of home decorating, however they can be toxic to pets. Be careful what you bring in and note whether your kitten is getting into it. Ingestion of many plants can cause vomiting and/or diarrhea in cats and kittens. Easter lilies are especially toxic and can cause fatal kidney failure. For a more complete list of plants that can be toxic to Kitty please follow this link to the Cat Fanciers’ Association website: http://www.cfainc.org/articles/plants.html
Check Collars, Tags, and MICROCHIP.
If your kitten will wear a collar, make sure it is a "break-away" collar to prevent strangulation should it become snagged on something and check his or her neck at least weekly to make sure the collar is not too loose or too tight and…it is still there. Kittens can easily lose their collar and in many cases their "identification" along with it. Consider having a microchip placed for permanent identification. The procedure is similar to a simple injection. A recent study performed at Ohio State University and published in The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association showed that cats with embedded microchips were returned to their owners TWENTY TIMES AS FREQUENTLY as cats without a microchip!
Keep Cats Indoors.
Overall, indoor cats live longer, healthier lives than do outdoor cats or cats that go outdoors. Outdoor dangers include dogs, cars, exposure to fleas, ticks, worms, and other cats (that can cause fights or carry infectious diseases such as feline leukemia or feline "AIDS").
Don't Let Your Kitten Play with String or Ribbons.
Cats love to play with strings and ribbons; however ingestion of those items can cause life-threatening problems. Oftentimes extensive surgery is necessary to remove string, ribbon, tinsel and other "foreign bodies". Toys specifically intended for cats are the safest choice for Kitty’s entertainment needs.
Kitten Proof Your Home.
Prevent common accidents in your home by kitten proofing! Protect your kitten from electrical cords and outlets by keeping cords neatly coiled and inaccessible and using commercially available outlet covers. Remove access to children’s toys, strings or small objects that can be chewed on or swallowed. Don’t allow pets near automated garage doors. Kittens can easily be crushed under reclining chairs and rockers so use these items with caution! Fold and secure window blind and curtain cords so they’re not hanging in Kitty’s reach. The real secret to kitten-proofing is to look at your home through the eyes of a cat. Find everything that looks like a swell toy, and if it's something harmful, get rid of it or make it safe.
Know who to call.
In case of an emergency keep your veterinarian’s number handy as well as the number to your local after-hours emergency hospitals.
Greenbrier Emergency Animal Hospital
Greenbrier Emergency Animal Hospital
370 Greenbrier Dr., Suite A-2
Charlottesville, VA 22901
PHONE: (434) 202-1616
FAX: (434) 202-1620
www.greenbrier-emergency.com |
VETSS
Veterinary Emergency Treatment Service and Specialty
1540 Airport Road
Charlottesville, VA 22911
Phone: (434)973-3519
Fax: (434)973-6202
www.emergency-vets.com |
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