Kitten’s First Vet Visit
Kitten Visit Overview
Congratulations on your new addition! Here’s what to expect at each of your kitten’s veterinary visits at Carolina Ranch. Between 8 and 16 weeks of age, we’ll want to see your kitten every 3-4 weeks.
At each visit we’ll do the following:
VACCINATIONS – Your kitten’s doctor and nurse will give the appropriate vaccinations based on age and lifestyle. INTESTINAL PARASITE PREVENTION – We’ll perform a fecal test at each kitten visit so please bring a stool sample to your kitten’s appointment. We’ll also deworm your kitten at each visit. PREVENTIONS – We’ll ensure your kitten has the appropriate heartworm and flea/tick prevention for their weight at each visit. EDUCATION – We’ll provide handouts and educational information to help you and your kitten navigate kittenhood successfully.
Kitten Guide
Use the drop downs below to learn about important topics regarding your new kitten!
Throughout your kitten's life there will be times when she needs to be handled for grooming, nail trims, veterinary care, and medications. Cooperative husbandry makes life so much easier for your kitten, you, your veterinarian, and groomer. Preparing her early will make this fun as well as easy. Gently handle your kitten’s body frequently – paws, ears, face, mouth, legs, and even tail. Make it easy and fun by rewarding frequently with treats.
Here are some important resources to help you learn more:
- "Cooperative Care: Seven Steps to Stress-Free Husbandry" by Deborah Jones Ph.D (This book is mostly about dogs, but many of the principles are the same for our feline family members)
- Training Your Cat to Love Her Carrier
- Nail Trims for Kittens
- Giving Medications
Most kittens will use a litterbox readily and appropriately. Here are a few key points for ensuring this goes smoothly:
- When you first bring her home, set up your kitten in a room with the litter box so she explores it right away and knows where it is.
- Use unscented scoopable litter.
- Offer a covered and an uncovered litterbox to see which your cat prefers.
- Ensure you have a litterbox for each cat plus one extra. Have them in multiple places throughout the house.
- Scoop the litterboxes twice daily.
It’s rare that a healthy, happy cat will urinate or defecate inappropriately. If your kitten isn’t using her litterbox, make a veterinary appointment so we can figure out what’s going on.
Kittens can be bundles of nonstop activity and mischief. A tired kitten at the end of the day makes life easy for everyone. Mental exercise is as tiring as physical exercise so feeding some of your kitten’s daily food allotment for food puzzles and games is a great way to achieve that golden quiet evening! Read our blogs for more info on food puzzles and food games.
Pet insurance can help cover veterinary medical costs when your pet needs it by reducing the financial burden of unexpected expenses. Check out the following Pet Insurance Companies for more information:
