Kitten Wellness Program

Our kitten wellness program is designed to offer all the benefits of veterinary care available for your kitten from the ages of 6 to 16 weeks. The program includes a series of examinations, vaccinations, dewormings, and nutritional counselling.

At each visit, we perform a complete physical exam of your kitten to detect any developmental or congenital abnormalities. We also look for parasites such as ear mites, fleas, or lice and we evaluate your kitten’s body condition to make sure he or she is growing well.

The vaccinations begin at 6-8 weeks of age and are completed after a series of three vaccines given at 3-4 week intervals. The initial vaccine includes panleukopenia (distemper), coronavirus, and parainfluenza virus. A booster is needed 3-4 weeks after the initial vaccine, in order to boost the antibodies to these viruses. Also, at this time, vaccines for the feline leukemia virus (FeLV) or the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) are given if indicated. Another booster is needed 3-4 weeks later and the rabies vaccine is given at this time.

Vaccination against panleukopenia (distemper), coronavirus, and parainfluenza virus constitute the core vaccines for all cats. The vaccine for FeLV and FIV is indicated if your kitten will eventually go outside or if you have more than 2 cats already in the house with an unknown viral status.

Our deworming protocol follows the Companion Animal Parasite Council guidelines, which recommends deworming at 2 weeks of age and monthly thereafter until 6 months of age. All kittens need to be dewormed. The most common intestinal worm found in kittens is roundworms, which can lead to vomiting and/or diarrhea. It is possible for your kitten to have worms and not show any signs, therefore his/her stool should be examined microscopically to look for worm eggs and other parasites. There are other parasites that can cause similar symptoms and can even cause your kitten to become anemic (low red blood cell count). Performing a fecal test will allow us to treat your kitten accordingly. We recommend that you bring in a fresh stool sample at your pet’s first visit and annually thereafter.

Good nutrition is essential for your kitten’s growth. Kitten foods are not all created equal as far as quality. It is impossible to judge the quality or compare one food to another by relying only on the list of ingredients. At your appointment, we will help you choose an appropriate diet and answer any questions you may have about available pet food for your kitten.