Age |
Veterinary Care |
Development |
| 8 Weeks | At 8 weeks, your kitten will have a first vaccination. This vaccine will include Panleukopenia, Rhinotracheitis, and Calicivirus (FVRCP). Check for intestinal parasites by submitting a stool sample. | The mother begins to wean the kittens at 6 weeks and the kitten begins to seek littermate companionship. Baby teeth are nearly all present. They can start to begin lapping kitten formula food. |
| 12 Weeks | Your kitten has a second vaccination the same as the first. You may elect to give the first Feline Leukemia vaccine (FeLV). | Kittens need a lot of human contact at this age. They should be handled gently, played with, and treated as an individual. They learn to develop close ties with new human friends and will explore their new surroundings. |
| 16 Weeks | At this age, the Purevax Rabies vaccine plus required boosters are given. | Kittens grow very rapidly and appetite increases dramatically. They begin to develop better motor control and begin to leap. |
| 5-6 Months | At this time, kittens are ready for spay or neuter depending on development. Declawing may also be an option at this time. | Beginning at about 4 months, baby teeth begin to fall out allowing adult teeth to push through the gums. Teething can cause sore gums and causes your kitten to chew things. They now become very attached to their new human family. |
Parasites
Kittens are treated for the most common intestinal worm – roundworms. Roundworms are transmitted from the mother to the kitten. Treatment for roundworms is done every 2 weeks until the kitten is 14-16 weeks of age. Roundworms can cause gastrointestinal signs such as vomiting and / or diarrhea. There are other parasites that can cause similar symptoms. Performing a fecal test will allow us to treat the kitten accordingly. Although some worms are visible to the naked eye, most worm burdens are diagnosed by examining the stool of your kitten microscopically.
