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Kitten Care

Vaccination

Kittens require a series of vaccinations to protect them against some common infections, which can be fatal. Cats then require an annual booster vaccination to continue this protection.

• 6-8 weeks - F3 vaccination
• 12 weeks - F3 vaccination

The F3 protects against: Panleucopenia virus, which causes Feline Enteritis; and Rhinotracheitis virus and Calici virus which both cause Cat Flu.

Feline AIDS
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus causes "Cat AIDS", a potentially fatal disease that interferes with the immune system of cats. The virus is carried in the bloodstream and is usually transferred by biting during catfights. Infected cats can remain healthy for up to 10 years, spreading the virus. A vaccination against FIV is now available in Australia. Cats require 3 initial vaccinations with an interval of 3 weeks between the injections. Cats then require an annual vaccination to continue their protection.

Worming

Intestinal worms can be transmitted from cats to humans, especially children and can cause serious health problems. Kittens can be born with intestinal worms or pick them up from their mother soon after birth and if left untreated, can be fatal. There are several different worming preparations available, including tablets, pastes and the more convenient "spot-on’s". The frequency with which these need to be given differs between products, but all kittens should be wormed regularly from 4 weeks of age. Please note that not all worm preparations are effective against all types of worms

Fleas

Fleas can cause skin disease, anemia and tapeworm infestation in your kitten. Washes, powders and collars generally only kill the fleas that are on the animal at the time of application and before long a flea infestation builds up again from an infested environment. There are a number of excellent "spot-on" preparations that are very effective, last for a whole month and kill fleas before they can even bite your cat.

Heartworm

Mosquitoes transmit heartworm, so your kitten does not need to be in contact with other cats to become infected. The worms live inside the heart and can grow to 20cm in length, interfering with circulation and eventually causing heart failure and death. Generally there are no outward signs of the disease until it is quite advanced and although there are treatments available the disease is usually still fatal as the damage to the heart is permanent. Kittens should start heartworm prevention at 12 weeks of age. There are several different monthly "spot-on" products available, most of which protect against a range of other parasites as well. Because there are no tablets involved, these products are very easy to use.

Feeding

Kittens need extra calcium and phosphorous when they are growing, to develop healthy bones and muscles. A good quality "kitten" food will have these added nutrients in the correct ratio and should make up at least 2/3 of your kitten's diet. Cats need to eat kitten food until they are 6 months of age. RAW chicken necks and chicken wings can be fed from an early age as chewing helps maintain healthy teeth and gums. NEVER FEED COOKED BONES. Chocolate, onion, garlic, grapes and fatty food should not be fed to cats, as these may have fatal consequences.

Desexing

We recommend that male and female cats be desexed at 5-6 months of age. There are several important reasons for this:

• Reduces the risk of unwanted pregnancy and the number of unwanted kittens
• Makes cats less territorial. This can reduce urine spraying and territorial fighting, especially in male cats
• Reduces the risk of mammary tumors and eliminates the risk of uterine infections in females
• Eliminates the risk of testicular tumours in males

Female cats start to come into season from 6 months of age depending on the time of year. Cats tend to breed more during spring. We do not recommend that female cats come into season first before being spayed.

Microchipping

This involves injecting a small microchip under the skin at the back of the neck. This microchip contains a number, which is linked to your details in a data base, so that you can be reunited with your cat if they are ever lost. A good time to do this is at desexing when the cat is already under anaesthetic, but the microchip can be implanted anytime.

Indoor vs Outdoor

Cats can be kept as indoor pets, but several considerations need to be made. Indoor cats require plenty of interaction, entertainment, play and toys. There should be an appropriate number of litter trays for the number of cats in the house. A good guide is one litter tray per cat plus one extra. Good quality litter should be used and it should be changed daily as cats wont use a dirty litter tray. If cats are to be given access to the outdoors then be aware of any roads, dogs or other cats that may be nearby. Cats can escape from almost any yard, so consider constructing a large cat run that will prevent the cat from straying from your property. It is best to always keep cats inside overnight.

Pet Insurance

Pet insurance gives excellent piece of mind that your pet will be able to get the treatment that is necessary if any unforeseen health problems should arise. There are several different companies which offer pet insurance with a wide range of different policies available. The cost of the various policies generally ranges from approximately $20 to $50 per month. This may be a small price to pay compared to the possible cost of major accident or illness. For example, a broken leg could result in up to $5000 in Veterinary fees. The cover provided is usually either a percentage of the fees or an excess is paid. It is important to select a policy that will best suit your situation.