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There is a large amount of information to take in when you bring your new kitten to the surgery for their vaccination, particularly if this is your first cat.

Most of the information contained in these notes will have been discussed at your kitten's first vaccination and this booklet is designed as a memory aid.

If you have any further questions, then please do not hesitate to telephone the practice and speak either to one of our Receptionists or a Veterinary Nurse who will be only too pleased to help. Alternatively, you can make an appointment to see one of our Vets.

Vaccinations

The two vaccines we use help protect against 3 major diseases:-

Tricat Vaccine

This covers 2 of the major diseases

• Feline Infectious Enteritis (Panleucopenia)
• Cat Flu (Feline Herpes Virus & Calicivirus)

Leukaemia Vaccine

This covers the 3rd major disease

• Feline Leukaemia (FeLV)

All cats should be vaccinated against Feline Infectious Enteritis, Cat Flu & Feline Leukaemia as these viruses are widespread in the environment and infection is very common, especially in kittens. These diseases can cause serious illness or even be fatal.

The starter course for both types of vaccine consists of 2 injections given 3 weeks apart. The first of these can be given to any cat aged 9 weeks or over. Your cat will be fully protected from 7 days after the 2nd dose is given. Your cat should be kept inside during this whole period.

It is important that you bring your cat back each year for a booster vaccination to ensure that it retains its immunity to these harmful diseases.

We will send you a reminder card when the booster is due.

Remember, we will match your pet's vaccination regime to its current and expected lifestyle; it is not just simply a booster.

Worming

There are 2 types of intestinal worms in cats, roundworms and tapeworms. These worms can cause loss of condition, loss of weight, diarrhoea and a swollen abdomen.

Some roundworms have the potential to infect humans.

Kittens can be born with worms and also be infected via their mother's milk. At this stage of life their immune system is poorly developed and they are very susceptible to a large worm burden.

In the surgery we have medicines licensed to treat all feline roundworms and tapeworms. There are many non-prescription medicines available from pet shops and supermarkets, but these are less effective.

We recommend regular worming using the following schedule:-

We recommend that your adult cat is wormed every three months. Cats that go outside and hunt are at higher risk because birds and small mammals, like mice rats and voles, can act as intermediate hosts for tapeworm and round worm larvae

Fleas

Fleas survive by feeding on your pet's blood. They are a major cause of allergic skin disease and are responsible for the transmission of some tapeworms between cats. If fleas are present in large numbers they can cause anaemia in kittens.

Don't forget, they can also bite people!

Flea infestation is a year-round problem. Each flea can lay 2000 eggs. They fall to the floor where they hatch to form larvae and eventually adult fleas.

These will jump onto your pets, feed off them and then begin laying eggs after a couple of days. The life cycle can take as little as three weeks and as long as 18 months.

We stock in the surgery products to treat a house with flea infestation. Please ask our Receptionists for more information.

Flea Prevention Is Better Than Cure

Preventing your cat from picking up fleas is simple. The most effective treatments are medicines only available in Veterinary Surgeries. There are 2 main types; a spray or a pipette which is easily applied to the back of the neck.
Other methods are available in discussion with your Vet. You always need to treat the house at the same time.

Once your pet is registered with us you can purchase effective flea treatments at the reception desk. Should you have a question regarding fleas, then please do not hesitate to speak to a Veterinary Nurse or make an appointment with your Vet.

There are products available in Pet Shops and Supermarkets which often have a very narrow safety margin and are less effective.

Feeding your Kitten

For the first month after birth kittens are largely immobile, remaining close to their mother and suckling regularly. As they get older the mother starts to resist their demands for food and the kittens start to venture away from their mother. At this stage they should be gradually weaned onto solid food.

Kittens up to 3 months of age need feeding 4 times a day. From then until your kitten is fully grown we recommend 3 meals per day. At about 12 months of age cats can be given one full meal a day, but many people prefer to feed half their daily requirement in the morning and half in the evening.

For growing kittens (up to 9 months of age) any good quality commercial kitten food is fine, whether it is a tinned or a complete dried food.

It is not necessary to supplement the diet, for example with milk, as this may cause stomach upsets.

We recommend Hills Feline Growth. This is a complete kitten food available in both a tinned or dried variety. This product is nutritionally balanced and provides everything a growing kitten will need.

Once your cat is fully grown any good quality commercial cat food will be fine.

For adults we recommend Hills Feline Maintenance which, again, is a complete food available in both a tinned and dried variety. This food is nutritionally balanced to provide everything a fit adult cat will need.

All these products are available for purchase from our surgery.

We also stock Science Diets formulated for cats with dental problems and cats that keep getting hairballs.

If your cat is overweight, we stock low calorie prescription diets and offer your pet a weight check clinic and diet consultation with one of our qualified Veterinary Nurses.

Neutering

Cats reach sexual maturity at approximately nine months of age.

Unless you intend to breed from your cat, we recommend that your pet is castrated or spayed at 6 months of age.

If you have a Tomcat and he is allowed out without being castrated, he will contribute to the population of stray and unwanted cats and kittens.

If you have a female cat and she is allowed out without being spayed, then she is likely to get pregnant within a few weeks. This can happen even before she reaches the age of 9 months.

Identichip

An Identichip is a tiny microchip (about the size of a grain of rice) with an ID code unique to each pet.

It is injected under the skin at the back of the neck. This can be done during a consultation or at vaccination or at any other time by your Vet.

A scanner is used to read the ID code on the chip. These are in routine use by veterinary surgeries, rescue kennels, dog wardens, the RSPCA, the PDSA and the Cats Protection.

Should your pet escape, get lost or be stolen, the information on the chip will help you to be reunited and also provides proof of ownership. We regularly reunite owners with their lost pets when they are handed in to our surgery.

The ID chip is a safe, reliable and permanent means of identification and is mandatory for those animals going abroad on the PETS Travel Scheme. The ID chips we supply at Andale meet all the requirements and are fully suitable for the Pet Passport.

We recommend this service to all our clients.

Pet Insurance

Unfortunately, there is no National Health Service for Pets.

Though veterinary treatment is considerably less expensive than its human equivalent the cost can still be high.

We strongly recommend that all our clients take out Insurance Plans for their pets at the earliest opportunity. This means that should your pet require treatment, we can provide the best possible clinical care without financial worry. This may include referral to a specialist centre if necessary.

Please ask us for information to allow you to make an informed choice.

Pet Insurance in not expensive and gives peace of mind. We urge you to consider it now.

We are an "Appointed Representative" for Pet Plan Ltd and can issue immediate full cover or immediate temporary policies subject to their terms and conditions.

Annual Health Check

Our fully qualified Veterinary Nurses hold Health Check Clinics for your cat and it is one of the many clinics we hold for preventative health care.

We recommend that you bring your pets into the surgery 6 months after their kitten course or annual vaccination for their health check.

This service is a perfect opportunity for you to ask our staff questions about your pets and for us to examine them and spot early signs of illness.

Our Nurses will include in their examination your kitten's eyes, ears, teeth, coat and nails. We will weigh your kitten and talk to you about eating and drinking regimes.

At the end, you will be given advice and recommendations on the way forward if further treatment is required or you will go away with complete peace of mind that your cat is in good shape and healthy.

Remember, we are not here just because your cat is sick.
 

Tel 0151- 423-1388