Kitten Care
A Strong Start
The first months of a kitten's life are an important time for building a foundation for lifelong health. Good preventive care, proper nutrition, and a safe environment help your kitten grow into a happy, healthy cat.
Start with a Veterinary Visit
Newly adopted kittens should visit a veterinarian for a complete physical exam as soon as possible. We will look for fleas, check for intestinal parasites, and draw blood for FeLV and FIV testing.
Please bring a stool sample with you on your first visit — this helps ensure your new kitty is healthy and that disease is not transmitted to other animals or humans in your house.
Kitten Vaccinations
Kitten vaccines start at 6–8 weeks of age and are given every 3–4 weeks. The last vaccine in the kitten series should be given after 16 weeks of age. We follow the FelineVMA’s vaccination guidelines.
Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis Calicivirus Panleukopenia (FVRCP)
Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV)
Rabies
More Than Just Vaccines
We will also discuss nutrition, basic kitten care, monthly heartworm and flea prevention, and timing of spay/neuter surgery if not already done.
Common Kitten Questions
How often will my kitten visit?
Generally, kittens come in every 3–4 weeks beginning at 8 weeks of age until they are about 16 weeks of age.
What's the best way to get rid of fleas?
In a kitten older than 8 weeks, a topical preventive can be used. We recommend getting this preventive from a veterinarian to ensure it is safe to use. Younger kittens may require bathing with Dawn dish soap and removing the fleas by hand.
What happens at the first visit?
We ask how your kitten is doing at home, perform a physical exam, give vaccines as needed, draw blood for a FIV/FeLV test (usually around 12 weeks), and give a dewormer.
We’re here to help your kitten get the best start.
If you have questions about your kitten's health or care, our team is always happy to help.