Kitten Care
Getting a new kitten can be exciting as well as overwhelming. If you aren’t sure where to get started, Broadway Animal Hospital is here to help.
Congratulations on your new kitten!
This is a very exciting time in your life, and we know you want to give your pet the best care possible. Broadway Animal Hospital recognizes that for your pet to be healthy and happy, we need to work with you as a team. We look forward to seeing you and your new kitten and developing a life-long relationship.
To ensure your kitten grows into a healthy and happy cat, it’s important to provide frequent veterinarian care during the first few months of life. We’re here to assist you in providing this necessary care and support. To ensure we cover all aspects of your kitten’s care, we have created a checklist that we can both use.
Step 1: Vaccinations
Getting your kitten and cat vaccinated is crucial to prevent deadly illnesses such as feline distemper, three respiratory infections, and rabies. A vaccine series is required for kittens, followed by yearly vaccinations. In some cases, other vaccines like feline leukemia vaccine (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency vaccine may also be necessary depending on your pet’s circumstances.
Step 2: Worm & Parasite Treatment
We recommend giving your kitten at least two rounds of de-wormer treatment, followed by heartworm and parasite prevention treatment. Worms and parasites are common in kittens, and they can get infected through their mother’s milk.
We suggest giving your kitten a safe and effective deworming product at least twice, with three-week intervals, even if a fecal examination has not been done. The dewormer does not have any side effects and can treat various common worms found in kittens. Along with treating worms, providing preventative treatment for heartworms is highly crucial. Remember to check and treat your cat for any worms throughout its life.
Step 3: Microchipping
If you want to make sure you and your kitten can find each other if you become separated, getting your kitten microchipped is a good idea. At Broadway Animal Hospital, they can quickly and easily insert a tiny chip that can be scanned for information. You can register your own information with a service and any veterinarian can scan the chip to find your information.
Step 4: Spaying/Neutering
At Broadway Animal Hospital, we provide a safe and pain-free spaying or neutering procedure for your cat. This helps control pet overpopulation and also prevents certain health and behavioral issues.
Step 5: Flea & Tick Treatment
It’s important to take care of your kitten by preventing and treating fleas and ticks. Prescription medications work well, but it’s important to use them carefully to avoid any negative or serious side effects. We can help you choose the best treatment for your cat and give advice on the right timing, dosage, and application.
Step 6: Develop a General Care Routine & Socialize
Regularly taking care of your kitten by cleaning the litter box, trimming their nails, cleaning their ears, bathing them, grooming them, and providing safe toys will help keep them healthy and happy. Socialization is also important for raising a well-behaved cat.