The arrival of a new kitten is an exciting time!
We love to see young kittens at the Abbeyfields Practice in Rocester, near Uttoxeter and we are keen to help your new pet settle into its new home!
Vaccinations
It is important to start your kittens vaccinations as soon as possible. We give two injections 3 weeks apart from the age of 9weeks. One to 2 weeks after their second injection , kittens are fully covered although we don't recommend letting them out until they have been neutered as they are more likely to stray.
At Abbeyfields we offer a very competitively priced vaccination course with lots of extras! For just £59 your kitten will receive a full health check, 2 vaccinations including many parts of the feline influenza complex and also leukaemia virus .
Where the risk is high, we can include chlamydophila ( so called feline chlamydia vaccine) in the package at no extra charge. For an extra £10 we can microchip your cat or kitten also when we vaccinate. . We will also administer a free wormer and flea treatment and give you a free bag of kitten food and 4 weeks free pet insurance, when kittens start their vaccinations.
Grown up cats should receive annual booster vaccinations to keep themselves covered and particularly if cats are entering catteries. Call Abbeyfileds Vets in Rocester if you have any questions on 01889 590449
Flea and Tick Treatments
Fleas are all too common in cats and we recommend regular treatments, to prevent flea infestations becoming severe. Here at Abbeyfields we recommend Frontline Combo as this treats both the adult and immature flea stages, which gives much better protection. If it is too difficult to treat your cat we can provide an injection every 6 months which will also protect against fleas.
Worming
We recommend worming kittens once a month until they are 6months old with a combined wormer against both roundworms and tapeworms. Thereafter , continue to worm your cat every 3 months. If your cat is a big hunter , then we will recommend more frequent worming. Worming is important to maintain optimal health for your cat and will prevent many intestinal problems. We recommend milbemax (a tablet) or profender (a spot on) wormers.
Pet Insurance
Pet Insurance is so important in these times and we can offer some general advice on the types of Policies to consider. We can only discuss the PetPlan policies in any detail , since we have been formally trained about these. But, in general, any Pet Insurance is better than none. You should look for policies which cover beyond 12 months for a condition and are not limited upon funds they will cover. For example, we regularly find that Clients referred to specialists may face a bill of £1500 -£2000 for an MRI scan, or £4000 plus for specialist orthopaedic surgery. Click here for more information.
Microchips
It is so easy and so quick to microchip your kitten at vaccination or neutering. We cannot recommend it highly enough. Pets that are chipped are returned to their owners far quicker than if they have no chip. All the Cat re-homing centres have chip readers and there is a National Register of microchips, such as that operated by PetLog. If you choose to go abroad, you need a microchip for the passport scheme and also your pet is less likely to be taken without trace if it has been chipped.
Socialisation
Socialisation is best done sooner, rather than later. Kittens are like a big sponge and can take onboard any experience up to about 15 weeks of age. Thereafter it is a lot harder for them to adapt to noises, different people and different situations. Call the Vets and Nurses at the Abbeyfields Surgery on 01889 590449 for further advice.
Feeding
Feeding your kitten a good quality diet is essential. Unfortunately, we do see many medical conditions that stem from poor nutrition in both kittens and adult cats. Clearly the first months of nutrition are vitally important! We recommend that you feed a well balanced 'complete' food such as Hills kitten foods . Whilst you can feed both tinned food and dry biscuits, we like the dry foods as they are better for dental health and litter tray hygiene. Plus its easier to give the correct daily amount.
