1.         VACCINATIONS:        - first vaccination at 6-8 weeks of age.

2.         WORMING:                - from two weeks of age.

3.         DESEXING:               - at six months of age.

4.         FEEDING:                 - a planned and balanced diet. 

VACCINATIONS

Cat flu is a viral infection.  It causes flu like symptoms in cats and can cause death in very young kittens, or damage the airways so that respiratory (breathing) infections become an ongoing problem throughout the cat's life. Young kittens are also very susceptible to another viral infection commonly known as feline enteritis.  This causes diarrhoea and vomiting but can also cause sudden death. Both of these diseases can be largely prevented by vaccination. These viruses cause deaths mostly in young kittens. GET YOUR KITTEN VACCINATED AS SOON AS YOU GET IT!! Once a cat has been infected with these viruses it may recover and become a carrier ie. able to pass the disease onto other cats.  Although the cat itself does not appear sick, it still carries the virus and may become sick again if stressed. 

NORMAL VACCINATION COURSE

First vaccination         - six to eight weeks of age.

Second vaccination     - four to six weeks later. We recommend vaccinations be given yearly for adult cats. 

WORMING

 Worms can cause poor health and even death in young kittens.  No matter how well bred and hygienically reared they are, all kittens get worms.  To control worms, you must start worm treatment early (at two weeks of age) and repeat it regularly. 

NORMAL WORMING GUIDELINE

 Worm at two, four, six and eight weeks of age. Then at three, four, five, six and twelve months of age. Adult cats require worming twice a year.  Make sure you use a good quality worm treatment and weigh your kitten on the kitchen scales to ensure the correct dose. 

DESEXING

FEMALES

 Your kitten can (and will) get pregnant from about five months of age.  Even when the cat is feeding kittens she can still get pregnant with a second litter.  The best way to avoid unwanted pregnancies is to have her speyed.  Speying removes the ovaries and uterus so she will not come into heat and breed again. We recommend speying at six months of age or ten days after she has weaned her kittens to avoid further pregnancies. 

MALES

To reduce urine spraying and cat fighting associated with territory marking cats should be castrated at five to six months of age.  Older cats can be castrated but there may be less effect on urine spraying and fighting than in those castrated at an earlier age. 

THE SURGERY

 Both speying and neutering are performed under general anaesthetic.  Cats are admitted to the clinic between 8am and 9am in the morning and may go home that afternoon. Female cats will have stitches which will need to be removed in ten days.  Male cats have no stitches to be removed.  Phone the clinic (858-9060) to book your cat in now. 

FEEDING

 Your kitten will grow quickly between weaning and six months of age.  It is important to provide high quality food at this stage.  Canned and dry foods especially for kittens are best eg. Whiskas, Iams, Hills and Nutrience tinned or dry kitten food.  With these special diets, extra Vitamins etc. are not required.  Young kittens need four meals per day as their stomachs are so small.  Over the following months the amount you feed your kitten will increase but you won't need to feed so often.  At six months your kitten will require only two feeds per day and adult foods can be started.