On behalf of Main Street Animal Hospital we would like to welcome your new addition to our Clinic family!
As a new kitten owner, it is recommended that you booster your kitten three times in the first year and, after a year of age, annually. Our general protocol at Main Street Animal Hospital is as follows:
8 weeks of age: Comprehensive physical exam and FVRCP booster vaccination. It is also recommended that a fecal sample is tested for internal parasites.
12 weeks of age: Comprehensive physical exam and FVRCP booster vaccination. A Feline Leukemia vaccine is also optional at this time and it will be discussed with your veterinarian.
16 weeks of age: Comprehensive physical exam and FVRCP booster vaccination +/- a Feline Leukemia booster vaccine. A Rabies vaccine will also be given.
5-6 months of age: We recommended that your pet be spayed or neutered at this time. This will be discussed in detail during one of your kitten visits.
Annual vaccinations are required following the last kitten booster. A comprehensive annual exam will be done at each annual visit. At this time heartworm medication will also be discussed.
Socializing Your Kitten
Socializing your fluffy feline is very different than socializing your puppy. Felines are generally solitary animals and self-reliant. However, there are some tips for socializing or training your kitten that will help ease the stress of new environments or people.
Human socialization: Having different family and friends coming to visit and allowing them to interact with your kitten in positive ways teaches your kitten to develop trust. Brushing or giving treats can be a few ways to accomplish this. It is also important to familiarize your kitten with having their feet and mouth handled. In the future, your veterinarian may need to examine these areas during physicals, nail trimming etc. and if your kitten is already familiar with this type of handling, they will not be as fearful.
Carrier training: Keeping your kittens' carrier available to them at all time allows your kitten to become familiar with it and in the future will not be fearful when having to go in the carrier for the car ride. Adding their toys, blankets and treats to the carrier helps to facilitate this familiarization. Please be sure to never lock them in the crate unless necessary.
Inter-animal socialization: If there is ever a point in your kittens life where either it is being brought home to another dog or cat or you are adding to the family after your kitten has already been at home it is important to not rush this "getting to know you" process.
Information Regarding Nutrition
When choosing a food for your kitten, there are some things to take into consideration. For example; a general life stage diet does not have the proper balance of vitamins and minerals that your growing kitten needs. Does this diet contain Taurine? The following are some key aspects that a pet owner should look for in a diet for the newest member of their family:
1. Has the diet that you've chosen gone through food trials? This information is easily obtainable and the company producing the food should be able to provide proof should you wish it.
2. Does this food meet the standard requirements for breed and life stage of your kitten? Discussing this with your veterinary healthcare team will allow you to understand what your growing kitten needs from their diet.
3. DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid): contributes to the development of your kittens' brain and nervous system. This is an important supplement to have in your pet's food as this is the time when you will be training your kitten to use litter boxes etc
4. High protein is a must in any feline diet. Cats are carnivores and require high levels of animal protein at any life stage. Taurine is also a must in a feline diet. This amino acid plays a major role in cardiovascular health, as well as the development of skeletal muscles, the retina and the central nervous system. A diet that supplements this amino acid is essential as cats cannot synthesize it themselves.
If at any time you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us and speak to one of our knowledgeable staff members.
If you are ever experiencing an emergency outside of our regular business hours please contact The Emergency Clinic of Waterloo Region at 519-650-1617, located at 405 Maple Grove Rd, Unit 14, Cambridge ON N3E 1B6
Attached are some of helpful websites for more information!
General Pet Care Information:
https://www.ovma.org/pet-owners/
https://www.petsandparasites.org/
Nutrition:
https://www.royalcanin.com/ca/en_ca/cats
https://www.hillspet.com/new-pet-parent/cat
Pet Insurance:
https://trupanion.com/canada
https://www.ovmapetinsurance.com/
https://www.petsplusus.com
As a new kitten owner, it is recommended that you booster your kitten three times in the first year and, after a year of age, annually. Our general protocol at Main Street Animal Hospital is as follows:
8 weeks of age: Comprehensive physical exam and FVRCP booster vaccination. It is also recommended that a fecal sample is tested for internal parasites.
12 weeks of age: Comprehensive physical exam and FVRCP booster vaccination. A Feline Leukemia vaccine is also optional at this time and it will be discussed with your veterinarian.
16 weeks of age: Comprehensive physical exam and FVRCP booster vaccination +/- a Feline Leukemia booster vaccine. A Rabies vaccine will also be given.
5-6 months of age: We recommended that your pet be spayed or neutered at this time. This will be discussed in detail during one of your kitten visits.
Annual vaccinations are required following the last kitten booster. A comprehensive annual exam will be done at each annual visit. At this time heartworm medication will also be discussed.
Socializing Your Kitten
Socializing your fluffy feline is very different than socializing your puppy. Felines are generally solitary animals and self-reliant. However, there are some tips for socializing or training your kitten that will help ease the stress of new environments or people.
Human socialization: Having different family and friends coming to visit and allowing them to interact with your kitten in positive ways teaches your kitten to develop trust. Brushing or giving treats can be a few ways to accomplish this. It is also important to familiarize your kitten with having their feet and mouth handled. In the future, your veterinarian may need to examine these areas during physicals, nail trimming etc. and if your kitten is already familiar with this type of handling, they will not be as fearful.
Carrier training: Keeping your kittens' carrier available to them at all time allows your kitten to become familiar with it and in the future will not be fearful when having to go in the carrier for the car ride. Adding their toys, blankets and treats to the carrier helps to facilitate this familiarization. Please be sure to never lock them in the crate unless necessary.
Inter-animal socialization: If there is ever a point in your kittens life where either it is being brought home to another dog or cat or you are adding to the family after your kitten has already been at home it is important to not rush this "getting to know you" process.
Information Regarding Nutrition
When choosing a food for your kitten, there are some things to take into consideration. For example; a general life stage diet does not have the proper balance of vitamins and minerals that your growing kitten needs. Does this diet contain Taurine? The following are some key aspects that a pet owner should look for in a diet for the newest member of their family:
1. Has the diet that you've chosen gone through food trials? This information is easily obtainable and the company producing the food should be able to provide proof should you wish it.
2. Does this food meet the standard requirements for breed and life stage of your kitten? Discussing this with your veterinary healthcare team will allow you to understand what your growing kitten needs from their diet.
3. DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid): contributes to the development of your kittens' brain and nervous system. This is an important supplement to have in your pet's food as this is the time when you will be training your kitten to use litter boxes etc
4. High protein is a must in any feline diet. Cats are carnivores and require high levels of animal protein at any life stage. Taurine is also a must in a feline diet. This amino acid plays a major role in cardiovascular health, as well as the development of skeletal muscles, the retina and the central nervous system. A diet that supplements this amino acid is essential as cats cannot synthesize it themselves.
If at any time you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us and speak to one of our knowledgeable staff members.
If you are ever experiencing an emergency outside of our regular business hours please contact The Emergency Clinic of Waterloo Region at 519-650-1617, located at 405 Maple Grove Rd, Unit 14, Cambridge ON N3E 1B6
Attached are some of helpful websites for more information!
General Pet Care Information:
https://www.ovma.org/pet-owners/
https://www.petsandparasites.org/
Nutrition:
https://www.royalcanin.com/ca/en_ca/cats
https://www.hillspet.com/new-pet-parent/cat
Pet Insurance:
https://trupanion.com/canada
https://www.ovmapetinsurance.com/
https://www.petsplusus.com