Guide Meaning

A quick, vet-approved roadmap for your kitten’s first year (vaccines, parasite prevention, nutrition, behavior, low-stress care). For adult cats it is slightly different with adjustments for age, lifestyle, and health. General guidance—Because one size does not fit all, we can personalize timing and treatments after we examine your kitten and discuss options that align with your situation, priorities and budget. Welcome home, little whiskers! Here’s a simple, vet-recommended plan for your kitten’s first year. We keep visits calm and positive, and tailor timing to your kitten’s lifestyle.

At-a-Glance Schedule

A simple series to build strong immunity. If your kitten is starting late or missed a dose, we’ll tailor a catch-up plan by age.
● 8 weeks: FVRCP #1 (feline herpesvirus/rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, panleukopenia) • Deworming & Flea/tick prevention • Fresh stool sample test (available for screening).
● 12 weeks: FVRCP #2 • Feline Leukemia (FeLV) #1 • Deworming & Flea/tick prevention • Fresh stool sample test (available to check efficacy).
● 16 weeks: FVRCP #3 (final kitten booster; sometimes given at 18–20 weeks based on risk) • FeLV #2 • Rabies • Deworming & Flea/tick prevention available.
● 6–8 months: Spay/Neuter (add a microchip if not already placed).
● 12 months after 16-week visit: FVRCP booster (1-year) • Rabies booster (as applicable) • FeLV booster for at-risk cats.

Notes:
● If you’re starting late, we’ll design an age-based catch-up plan.
● Ask about split-visit vaccine appointments for additional safety or if your kitten has a history of vaccine sensitivity.
● Rabies is a Core Vaccine like FVRCP. FeLV vaccine is also very important vaccine for protecting our young kittens.
● FeLV/FIV testing: Test at intake (and before/around the FeLV series when practical); retest ~60 days after any possible exposure.
● Want to save on preventive care? Ask about our Kitten Wellness Bundle (payment-plan options available).

Parasites: What to Know

Intestinal parasites (roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, coccidia) are common in kittens. Signs can include diarrhea, vomiting, a pot-bellied look, and poor growth. Kittens can pick them up from mum (before/after birth), the environment, fleas, or prey. Can parasites affect people? In rare cases, yes. Good hygiene, regular deworming, and prompt litter clean-up protect the whole family.

Deworming & Stool Sample Checks

● Deworming plan: Every 2 weeks until 12 weeks, then monthly until 6 months (we can adjust if needed). Useful note for Adult cats: Deworming annual for indoor cats, deworming every one to three months for adult cats at higher risk (outdoor hunters).
● Why stool tests? They find parasites even when no signs are present and confirm treatment worked.
● First-year fecals: Plan 2–4 tests (intake, after deworming, and again by 6–12 months).
● Adult cats: Indoor: yearly fecal and risk-based deworming. Outdoor/hunters: monthly broad-spectrum prevention or fecal every 3 months + targeted deworming.
● Fleas & tapeworms: Consistent flea control helps prevent tapeworm infections.

Heartworm Advisory (Travel-Related)

Heartworm risk varies by region. If your kitten came from or you plan to travel to heartworm-endemic areas, ask us about those areas, testing and monthly prevention—we’ll tailor timing to your itinerary.

Home Hygiene Tips

● Scoop litter daily
● Wash hands after handling litter or soil
● Keep play areas clean
● Pregnant people should avoid litter box duty.

Grooming Basics (Low-Stress)

● Baths: Usually not needed—but helpful for some long-haired kittens. Use kitten-safe shampoo; keep water out of ears/eyes; keep first baths only brief and positive.
● Brushing: Short sessions build trust, affection and prevent mats.
● Ears: Peek weekly; clean only with vet-approved products.
● Nails: Trim tiny amounts often; reward calmly.
● Teeth: Start early with cat toothpaste and a soft brush/finger brush.

Spay/Neuter: Why & When

● Helps prevent roaming, spraying, fighting, heat cycles, and certain reproductive diseases.
● We offer pre-anaesthetic bloodwork to identify hidden issues early and improve the safety and recovery of your kitten’s procedure.
● Recommended at 6–8 months (we may advise earlier or later in some cases, tailoring to your kitten needs).
● Consider microchipping at the same visit.
● Home care: Pain control as prescribed, e-collar, and activity restriction for 10–14 days. Monitor the incision; call if you see swelling, discharge, foul odour, or if your kitten won’t eat.

Nutrition & Feeding

● Wet + dry balance: Cats have a low thirst drive; including wet (canned) food supports hydration and urinary health. Offer balanced and measured portions of dry food to complement wet meals.
● Our starting point: Aim for ≥50% high-quality canned kitten food; feed kitten-specific diets until 9–12 months.
● How to feed: Small, frequent meals for growing kittens; introduce new foods gradually over 7–10 days. Provide fresh water—skip cow’s milk.
● Treats: Use sparingly; ideally ≤10% of daily calories. Count treats in the total portion.
● Feeding targets: We’ll help you set daily calories and track BCS at each visit.
● Slow feeders: Consider puzzle or timed feeders for enrichment.

Bringing Your Kitten Home

● Start in one quiet room with litter, water, food, bed, and toys.
● Let curiosity lead—open the carrier and allow voluntary exploration.
● Expand their world room-by-room over several days.
● Sit nearby, speak softly, and let them choose when to interact.

Introducing Your Kitten to Dogs, Cats & Children

● Start with scent: Swap blankets/towels; feed on opposite sides of a closed door.
● First looks: Use a gate or carrier; keep dogs leashed. Short, calm 3–5-minute sessions.
● Watch body language: Pause if stress signs appear.
● Go slow: Gradually allow supervised room sharing; provide vertical spaces; separate resources.
● With resident cats: Door-crack visuals, then gradual access.
● With resident dogs: Reinforce calm behavior; prevent chasing.
● With children: Always supervise; gentle petting; quiet voices.

Never force interactions. Short, positive sessions beat long stressful ones. If tension persists, call us.

Kitten Gentling (Cooperative Care)

● 30–60-second sessions 1–2×/day: touch ears, gums, paws, tail, collar/harness → treat.
● Touch → treat; stop before kitten pulls away.
● Practice exam positions: chin-rest, stand, side-lie.
● Carrier = safe den: Keep open at home; add treats; pheromone spray pre-travel.
● Introduce surfaces/sounds calmly.
● Goal: A kitten who opts in to handling.

Signs to pause: flattened ears, swishing tail, crouching, growling/hissing, swatting.

Play, Enrichment & Safety

● Predatory play: Wands, toy mice, crinkle balls, lasers (end with a catch). Remove broken toys.
● Avoid unsupervised string/ribbon—FB risk.
● Climbing & scratching: Cat trees, vertical & horizontal scratchers.
● Never use hands/feet as toys.
● Daily social play builds confidence.

⚠️ Foreign-Body (FB) Ingestion — Prevent & Act

Avoid: string/yarn/ribbon, hair ties, elastics, tinsel, thread/needles, small toy parts, rubber bands, foam/earplugs.
Watch for: repeated vomiting, drooling, pawing at mouth, loss of appetite, lethargy, painful belly, hiding.
Do not pull visible string; call immediately. Do not induce vomiting unless advised.

Holiday & Household Hazards

Lilies, essential oils/diffusers, human pain meds (acetaminophen/ibuprofen/naproxen), onions/garlic, chocolate, xylitol, open-flame candles. When unsure—keep out of reach and ask us.

Litter Box Success

● One box per cat + one extra.
● Quiet location, away from food.
● Litter: Unscented, low-dust clumping for most kittens ≥12–16 weeks; non-clumping paper for younger or litter-mouthing kittens. Respiratory homes: prioritize non-clumping/low-dust options.
● Depth: Start 2–3 cm (≈1 inch).
● Size & access: Box length ≥1.5× kitten’s body length; low entry; avoid covered boxes early.
● Scoop daily; wash monthly.
● Training: Praise only; move boxes gradually.

Pregnancy Detection (Planned or Accidental)

Physical exam alone can be hard early.
● Blood test: Positive ~25–30 days after mating.
● Ultrasound: Confirms pregnancy/viability ~20–25+ days; timing/body condition affect accuracy.
● Radiographs: Best for litter count once skeletons mineralize—≥45 days.
If breeding date unknown, we can set a timeline (ultrasound ~day 25–30, radiographs ~day 55).

Low-Stress Vet Visits (Cats)

● Sturdy top-opening carrier with familiar bedding.
● Leave carrier out; add treats; pheromone spray 15–20 minutes pre-travel.
● Practice car trips; ask about no-poke visits.
● Pre-visit meds (gabapentin) available.
● Prefer waiting in your car? Text us—we’ll escort you to a cat-friendly room.

Family Consistency

● Consistent cues/rules.
● Supervise children; teach gentle handling.
● Short 5–10-minute training sessions in different rooms to generalize behaviors.

Area & Environment-Specific Health Notes

● Ear mites: Watch for head-shaking, scratching, dark debris.
● Upper respiratory disease (URD): Sneezing, nasal/eye discharge, reduced appetite—call us.
● Ringworm: Patchy hair loss or crusts; treatable and zoonotic.

Pet Insurance

Pet insurance helps with accidents/illness. Review waiting periods, exclusions (including pre-existing conditions), reimbursement %, limits, deductibles. Ask about direct-pay vs reimbursement and pre-approval for large procedures. If insurance isn’t a fit, a small monthly pet-care savings fund helps with surprises. Examples: Trupanion • Pets Plus Us • Fetch. We can discuss options at your first visit.

When to Contact Us

Call for poor appetite, repeated vomiting/diarrhea, sneezing/eye discharge, coughing/trouble breathing, lethargy, pain, or any concern. Trust your instincts—kittens can decline quickly.

We’re Here to Help

Questions or ready to book? Contact Harewood Pet Hospital—our cat-exclusive waiting area helps make your kitten’s visit low-stress and fear-free from the start. Links in above text and at end of guide.