Congratulations on your new furry friend! It is very important that your kitten is seen by a veterinarian for regular examinations for the first few months of his/her life to make sure he/she is growing normally and to ensure vaccines are given on time. Below is some basic medical information that may be helpful getting your new little one settled at home. 

To ensure adequate protection from deadly, but preventable, diseases, vaccines must be given according to each vaccine's label. Some vaccines only require a single administration to achieve protection while others require boosters. Vaccines that require boosters must be given within three to four weeks, or the series of vaccines may have to be restarted. It is very important that you not miss your pet’s booster appointments. It is important to note that after a vaccine is administered it is not effective immediately. Vaccines can take up to two weeks in the body to generate a protective immune response. 

Below are the diseases/vaccines that we recommend in cats. Vaccines marked with a * are those that we consider "core" vaccines, meaning that we recommend these vaccines for every cat. After discussing your kitten's lifestyle and risk the veterinarian will determine the best vaccine protocol for him/her.

Rabies: This is a deadly virus that affects the nervous system. This disease is transmissible to humans and almost 100% fatal to cats, dogs, humans, and many other species. By law all cats, dogs, and ferrets in North Carolina must be vaccinated for Rabies by four months of age. Kittens must be at least 12 weeks old to receive this vaccine. A single dose of this vaccine achieves a year license for protection. 

Panleukopenia/Calicivirus/Rhinotracheitis*: (aka "Feline distemper" or "FVRCP" or "Panleukopenia" or "combo" vaccine) - These are all very serious diseases that affect many body systems and can be deadly. Most notably, panleukopenia virus is one that is particularly concerning in kittens. This vaccine requires at least three boosters to be given to achieve protection for one year. This vaccine series is usually started at 6-8 weeks of age and repeats every 3-4 weeks until your kitten is over 16 weeks of age. 

Feline Leukemia (FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV): FeLV and FIV are both contagious and untreatable viruses in cats. It is important for to screen for these diseases because:

1. These diseases can often mimic other treatable conditions

2. We do not want cats with these diseases to transmit them to other cats. 

We recommend screening all kittens for these diseases, usually around 12 weeks of age. 

Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is contagious among cats. Unlike many other viruses that enter specific cells in the body and destroy them, FeLV enters certain cells in a cat's body and changes the cell's genetic characteristics. This permits FeLV to continue reproducing within the cat each time infected cells divide. This allows FeLV to become dormant (inactive) in some cats, making disease transmission and prognosis (outlook) difficult to predict. FeLV has an effective vaccine and we recommend this vaccine to all kittens and any adult cats that are not indoor-only.

Like FeLV, feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is also contagious among cats, and a cat can be infected with FIV for many years without showing any clinical signs of illness. Although FIV is not contagious to humans, FIV has some similarities to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and has been used to help researchers better understand HIV. There is no effective vaccine for FIV. 

Vaccine Reactions
A normal vaccine response causes inflammation within the body as the body's immune system recognizes and responds appropriately to the vaccine. It is very common for cats to be quiet the day of the vaccine, but they should be normal by the next morning. It is also common for some soreness at the injection site. Please let your vet know if your kitten is displaying any abnormal signs after a vaccine. Most likely it is nothing to be concerned about, but the veterinarian may recommend changing the vaccine protocol for your kitten depending on what is going on.

A true vaccine reaction is extremely rare, but a serious life-threatening event. Should you see any signs of facial swelling/squinting/drooling , vomiting, or difficulty breathing you should seek veterinary treatment for your pet immediately. A vaccine reaction usually occurs very shortly after administering the vaccine, usually within minutes, but may occur up to a couple of hours after. 

Deworming/intestinal parasites
It is very common for kittens to have intestinal parasites. There are many different types of intestinal parasites and several different deworming medications. A fecal test can identify if your kitten has any intestinal parasites and what type so that we can choose the best treatment. Typically kittens are screened a few times for parasites since they are very common and recommend screening adults annually. 

Spay/Neuter
Spaying or neutering is a surgical procedure under general anesthesia that results in the inability to reproduce. Please discuss this procedure and its benefits with your veterinarian as to when and if it is appropriate for your pet. This surgery can have significant medical benefits for your pet (i.e. dramatically reduced risk of breast cancer) and can help prevent unwanted behavior problems, like marking, aggression, and roaming. Over one million cats and dogs are euthanized in shelters annually. Spaying and neutering also helps address this overpopulation crisis. Spaying/neutering cats is recommended between 4-6 months of age.

Basic cat environment
Cats are very intelligent and are not "pack animals" like dogs. Cats should have the ability to climb and play, but also plenty of hiding places to allow them to get away from other animals or humans when they need to be alone. Unlike dogs and humans, cats are more solitary in nature and also more active in the nighttime. Cats enjoy being able to explore their environment, especially through different elevations. Designating cat-friendly areas that are raised from the floor is very important. Cat trees, shelves, ladders, and window sills are all great places for your cat. Designating safe places to hide and strategically placing scratching posts/boards can help maintain your furniture while still allowing your cat to be himself.

Litter Boxes
Cats need access to a clean litter box in a quiet and low-traffic area where they will not feel threatened while using the box. The general rule for the number of boxes is n+1 (if you have 2 cats in the house, you should have 3 boxes, etc). Generally it is recommended to clean litter boxes daily and to use scent-free, clumping litter. Litter boxes should be separated from food and water.

Carriers
The best carriers for cats are easily taken apart and have a rigid bottom. In car transport, carriers should be secured on the floor of the backseat of the car or belted in so that the carrier is secure in transit. When your cat is inside the carrier it should be held like a fragile birthday gift and not by the handles to help your cat feel as stable as possible inside the carrier. It is also very important that carriers be used at home, instead of only on vet visits or traveling days. If your cat regularly uses the carrier as a bed or hideout spot he/she will be much less stressed by being contained in it. Give your cat free access to the carrier at home or use the bottom of the carrier to create a bed your cat enjoys sleeping in. The blanket used to make the carrier bottom a bed should remain with the cat during his trips in the carrier to provide a calming effect of "home".

Oral Health
Just like in humans, dental hygiene can have far reaching effects on overall health. To help prevent dental tartar, calculus, and periodontal disease, it is important we implement prophylactic measures at home. Just like in humans, daily brushing is the best way to maintain oral health. Once dental disease is already present, it is often too late for brushing alone to have a significant impact. Introducing teeth brushing to puppies and kittens is the best way to ensure this healthy routine in adult pets. 

Preventative Medication
All cats should be on regular heartworm and flea prevention. There is no cure for heartworm disease in cats, so prevention is the only tool we have. Fleas can enter the home on human clothing or from another pet that goes outside. Local Mobile Vet carries Revolution plus for cats. This is a monthly topical product that prevents heartworm, fleas, ear mites, some intestinal parasites, and ticks. This is the only product that covers as many types of parasites for cats. Other options are advantage, bravecto, comfortis, and seresto. 

How do I get my pet scheduled?
If your pet is an existing patient of Local Mobile Vet, simply fill out the appointment request form, and we will reach out to get an appointment scheduled.

If we have never seen your pet before, fill out the New Client Form and we will reach out to help you determine if we are the right fit for you and your pet.