FAQs: Kittens
What should I do when I first bring my kitten home? Set up a safe, quiet space for your kitten to settle in, with a cozy bed, food, water and a litter tray. Avoid overwhelming them with too many new experiences all at once. Allow time for them to adjust.
How should I introduce my kitten to other pets in the house? Introduce new kittens slowly and under supervision; usually over a period of at least two weeks but some pets may need longer. Keep your new kitten in a separate room initially and start by scent swapping blankets, beds and toys with your other pet/s. Gradually allow them to meet other pets through controlled introductions to minimise stress. If any upset occurs, take a step back for a few days and try again after further scent swapping.
What do you vaccinate my kitten against? Kittens are vaccinated against the following core diseases: - Feline viral rhinotracheitis (flu-like illness caused by a herpesvirus) - Feline calicivirus (flu-like illness causing mouth inflammation) - Feline panleukopenia (feline parvovirus, causing bloody diarrhea and a drop in white blood cells) - Feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) (affects the immune system, causing weight loss, fever, and diarrhoea)
When should my kitten be vaccinated? Kittens typically start vaccinations at 8-9 weeks of age, with a second dose 3-4 weeks after. This ensures they are protected before being exposed to potential risks. Please ensure that you book the second vaccination in once your kitten has had their first vaccination. Yearly vaccinations will be required after their initial kitten course.
What brand of vaccines do you use for kittens? We use Virbac Leucofeligen (RCP & FeLV) and Virbac Feligen (RCP) vaccines for kittens.
What if my kitten had its first vaccine elsewhere? If your kitten has already had its first vaccine elsewhere, don’t worry, we can still see them for their second vaccination. If the other vet’s used the same brand as us (Virbac leucofeligen or feligen), we can give them their second vaccination. If it was a different brand, we will need to restart their vaccination course; this can be discussed at the time of your consultation
Can my kitten go outside after vaccinations? Not quite! Your kitten should remain indoors until after they are fully vaccinated, microchipped and neutered
My kitten had their vaccine and now has a lump. What should I do? Monitor it closely. This can be a common local reaction to a vaccination site and will often disappear quite soon after. It should start to shrink within a couple of weeks and be gone by 6 weeks. If it hasn’t reduced in size by 4 weeks, please book a check-up. It’s a good idea to measure the lump for reference when you do.
What should I feed my kitten? Feed your kitten a high-quality kitten specific lifestage food that’s rich in protein and specially formulated to support their growth and energy needs. We recommend Royal Canin or Hill’s.
Should I treat my kitten for fleas and worms? Yes, kittens can get fleas and worms, even if they are indoors. We use NexGard Combo for kittens. For further information, please see our FAQ page for cat parasite control
When should I get my kitten neutered? We recommend neutering (spaying or castrating) from 6 months of age. We do not have the facilities to spay your female kitten but we can castrate your male kitten, providing we have already seen him for a health check. For female kittens, we can discuss options at the time of consultation.
Should I get my kitten insured? Yes!
How much does it cost for vaccinations, microchipping & castration?
I'm not sure about letting my kitten go outside. Can they live indoors? We understand that this can be a hard decision for cat owners to make, especially for those that live on busy roads or in high-rise buildings. The short answer is that yes, providing the cat has all the resources they need and are kept both mentally and physically active and stimulated, they can live perfectly happy lives indoors. That being said, there are some cats that just do not cope with a fully indoor lifestyle. Further information about the pros and cons can be found here: https://www.cats.org.uk/media/1023/eg12_indoor_and_outdoor_cats.pdf Further information about how to keep indoor cats happy, can be found here: https://indoorpet.osu.edu/cats