ALSAGER ANIMAL CARE CENTER

Preventative Care: Kittens and Cats

In veterinary medicine preventative care is our first priority. When we educate our clients on the benefits of caring for their pets and getting routine vaccinations and physicals, we are helping them ensure their pets lives happier, healthier lives. Preventative care starts from the day you bring home your new cat or kitten.
Your new furry friend is probably full of energy and racing through the house at top speeds. This bundle of energy requires a veterinary check up to ensure that the its Energizer battery is working properly. On the initial visit to the veterinarian it is important you bring a few things. Make sure you have a list of any vet care that was provided before you received you pet, a fresh fecal sample, and a carrier for the cat. No one wants to drive with a hairball under the brake pedal!

KITTENS: The first visit is usually at 8 weeks of age. At this visit we will discuss with you which food to feed, what vaccines are needed, what tests your kitten requires, spaying or neutering, declawing, and any concerns you have regarding your kitten. The doctor will also give your kitten a full physical examination from head to claws. Vaccines are generally given at 3 week intervals for a series of 3-4 vaccines. The reason we do this series is to booster your kittens immune system so that they may avoid certain diseases.

CATS: If your new addition to the family is an older cat, good for you. Like kittens, cats need certain veterinary care, too. We will review your cat's past veterinary history and determine what care is necessary. If your cat has never had vaccines, it will have a series of two set 3 weeks apart.

Below is a list of vaccines and tests that we routinely recommend for cats and kittens. Each one is a vital part of your cat's health.

Physical Examination: The physical examination done by one of our veterinarians enables them to determine if your cat has any health problems. They will examine the cat from head to toe and check for any abnormalities. We recommend that your cat have an annual physical so that we may determine any health problems before they become serious issues.

Feline Leukemia/FIV test: This is a blood test that we run right in our office. It takes a few drops of blood and we have the results in 10 minutes. This test will determine if your cat has been exposed to Feline Leukemia or FIV. Strays or outdoor cats may have possible exposure to these diseases. These diseases can be contracted from cat fights, their mother, or even from exposure to a carrier cat. These diseases can be fatal. However, sometimes the cat can live a normal happy life with either of these diseases, depending upon their severity. We routinely run an initial test when we first see your cat. If your cat goes outdoors or runs the risk of exposure from other sources, then we recommend testing annually.

Fecal Sample: We recommend running a fecal sample on your pet to check for intestinal parasites. Many times kittens have intestinal parasites from their mothers. This is easily treated with medications. Outdoor cats, or cats who like to catch the mice of which they leave you as a prize, also run the risk of intestinal parasites. We also recommend testing a fecal sample annually.

Feline Distemper Vaccine: This vaccine is intended to protect your cat from certain upper respiratory diseases. Though it does not ensure your cat will never get the sniffles, it will help their immune system fight the worse strains of upper respiratory infections. Initially this vaccine is given in a series, then boostered annually or every three years, depending on their lifestyle, to help keep their immunity.

Feline Leukemia Vaccine: This vaccine is intended to protect at risk cats from exposure to the feline leukemia virus. We routinely give it to all kittens during their initial series of vaccines and then booster it yearly. Strictly indoor cats generally are low risk for exposure, but cats who go outside have an increased risk of the disease.

Rabies Vaccine: Though rabies in our area is not prevalent in domestic animals, we still recommend giving the rabies vaccine to your cat. The first vaccine is given at 12 weeks old or older and is good for one year. After the initial rabies vaccine the concurrent vaccines are good for 3 years. Rabies is a real disease. Some areas in Michigan require that cats be licensed like dogs. This means they need a current rabies vaccine. Also, some cats do decide to bite on occasion. These bites could cause concerns about rabies if your pet is not vaccinated. Therefore, in order to safe, we recommend rabies vaccines to all cats.

FIV Vaccine: A new breakthrough in veterinary medicine has brought us the FIV vaccine. In the past we could test for FIV, but could not prevent it. Now we can. The initial series of the FIV vaccine requires 3 boosters 3 weeks apart. After this series, the vaccine is then given annually. Outdoor cats would benefit greatly from this vaccine. The only drawback is that after a cat is vaccinated, any future FIV tests will show the cat as being exposed to the virus. To someone who does not the cat's history, this could be a serious issue. We do not routinely give this vaccine at this time. If you would like more information regarding this vaccine, please feel free to ask one of our doctors.

***In a few rare instances vaccine associated sarcomas have been noted in cats at the site of injection. These injections could be vaccines or other forms of injectables.