Kitten Care And Vaccines
There are a lot of very important vaccines that will arise in the veterinarians office during your kitten’s first visits. You may wonder why there are so many of them and are they really necessary. The simplest way to put it is like this; there are “core” and “non-core” vaccines. The core vaccines are the necessary vaccines that every cat should receive. The non-core vaccines are ones that can be given on an as-needed basis as directed by the vet and the lifestyle of the cat.
The rabies vaccine is core. This vaccine is a legal requirement in many states due to the potential spread of a deadly disease. There is also a vaccine called the distemper vaccine and upper respiratory are core and these are given every few weeks until the kitten reaches twelve to sixteen weeks of age. Regular booster shots will keep your kitten healthy.
The feline leukemia vaccine is a very important vaccine that can prevent the incurable FIV disease in cats. This is usually recommended in cats and kittens that are in contact with other cats or that are permitted outdoors. Though this vaccine is a non-core vaccine it is offered no less.
Having your kitten de-wormed is an important part of their young life. Beginning at the age of three weeks they need to be de-wormed several times due to frequent infestation from the lactating Mother and other environmental factors. Even if your kittens fecal test comes up negative a de-worming remedy needs to be put into place to ensure a worm free kitten. With a negative fecal result there can still be eggs present. Worms such as tapeworms can make kitten s very ill with vomiting and diarrhea.
Other hygiene routines should include simple grooming techniques. Brushing a kittens teeth will allow them to become comfortable with the procedure early in their lives so they will become comfortable with it as adults. Also, keeping your kitten well groomed can lead to easier care and bathing into their adulthood. Brusing the coat, bathing, and regular nail trims will greatly increase your kitten acceptance of these things as time goes on. It is much harder to convince an older cat to agree to these steps compared to a kitten who has been raised in this way.