For a cats who are purchased from breeders or pet stores, it is recommended to schedule a visit within a few days. First off, new pet owners in some states are protected by lemon laws. Many protective laws for domestic animals are called that because in the eyes of the law, pets are considered property, not individuals. In order to be protected by these laws, your new kitten must be examined by a veterinarian within seven to 20 days of purchase, depending on the state. The main incentive, if you purchased a kitten, is that if the vet finds a birth defect, say a heart murmur, you have recourse.
Most lemon laws also make the breeder or pet store responsible for any illness that occurs soon after purchase. However, if you did not get a new kitten exam performed within the specified timeframe usually within three days of purchase , then the law will not apply. What about the adopted kitten? Government-run shelters and non-profit humane societies will perform physical examinations and check for parasitic diseases intestinal worms, mites on the skin, etc.
Many kittens have already been vaccinated and spayed or neutered prior to being adopted. So, you should receive some veterinary records with your new kitten. Your veterinarian will want to become familiar with your new adoptee and review the records provided by the shelter and provide or schedule any needed additional care. Plus, your vet will be able to discuss with you important aspects of caring for your kitten, such as socialization, what the vaccines given at the shelter protect against and what tests the shelter may have conducted.
What should you do? One thing about cats is that they know when you will be placing them in their carrier! Try to not tip them off! Ideally, get them used to the carrier before the big day.
Leave it out so they can investigate and feed them treats, or even their meals, inside. Here is what will likely take place:. This is why you want to bring any records you have to the appointment. Your kitten will likely be very anxious while waiting.
If your kitten is very upset, ask the receptionist if you can wait in an exam room or in the car. When they are ready, take her out. Nurses are called veterinary technicians in veterinary medicine. Many technicians have formal training and in some states, such as California, you must have a degree to be a licensed veterinary technician.
Rest assured that they are professionals who are very knowledgeable. Useful records to bring include vaccine or deworming paperwork from the shelter, breeder or pet store where you acquired your kitten. A fecal sample, less than 24 hours old, will allow your veterinarian to check for internal parasites such as roundworms that commonly affect kittens.
After using Fear Free techniques to make friends with your kitten, the veterinarian will give a full physical exam. Your veterinarian may also ask what your kitten eats, how much she eats, what her activity level is and how often she uses the litter box.
Your veterinarian may have tips on kitten-proofing your home or suggestions about ways to provide exercise and mental stimulation with food puzzles and other toys. This first visit will put your kitten on the path to a happy, healthy life.
Why Is My Dog Panting? All newly adopted cats should be brought to a veterinarian within a couple weeks of adoption for a full physical examination even if they are older and already up to date with their vaccinations.
Kittens will need to have at least a few visits. They will get vaccines at 8, 12, and 16 weeks of age. The particular vaccines will be discussed at the first visit. Outdoor cats may also get a Leukemia vaccine. Most cats do great after their vaccines although some sleepiness afterward is common, which may be attributed to the excitement of the visit as much as a side effect of the vaccine.
If there is ever any concern about how they are feeling after a vaccine then call your vet or bring them in to be rechecked. A stool sample should be brought in to the first visit so that it can be evaluated for intestinal parasites. Most often a series of deworming medication will be given regardless since parasites are so common. While most parasites are species-specific, there are some that can occasionally affect humans so it is always important to use good hygiene — like washing hands after cleaning litter boxes.
A blood test for Felv and FIV will also likely be recommended. Those are two viral diseases that cats can either be born with or get from contact with infected cats.
Even if the test was already done at a shelter prior to adoption, rechecking again after about six months of age is always recommended. Spaying or neutering usually is done around six months of age the timing is important to prevent mammary masses in females and spraying in males , if not already done prior to adoption. It will check their kidneys, liver, blood sugar, white and red blood cell counts and electrolytes. When cats are older it is ideal to do this lab work for yearly monitoring and, of course, anytime they are acting unwell.
As with humans, it is also important for your kitty to have an exam at least annually. To help your kitty settle in at home during those first days, keep him in a smaller area of the home at first. This might help make him feel more comfortable and his world can gradually be expanded for exploration. Feliway a natural cat pheromone spray or diffuser can be used to help keep him relaxed during this transition.
The first few months are a very important time to get your kitty used to handling and holding and lots of other different things. Treats can be used as a reward for positive reinforcement of good behaviors.
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