New Kitten Resources

Feline Vaccine Protocol

A Feline Leukemia and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus test is recommended at your kittens first visit.

A fecal sample to test for intestinal parasites is recommended at 8, 12, and 16 weeks of age, then at their yearly wellness exam.

After 1st year of age, Fvrcp and Rabies vaccines are given every 3 years. Felv is recommended yearly.

Pet Vaccination Schedule

8 weeks of age

Fvrcp

12 weeks of age

Fvrcp Booster, Felv, Rabies (per Pennsylvania state law)

16 weeks of age

Fvrcp Booster, Felv Booster

Year of Trusted Service
18 +
Happy Pets treated
5 k+

Canine Vaccine Protocol

A Feline Leukemia and Canine Immunodeficiency Virus test is recommended at your kittens first visit.
A fecal sample to test for intestinal parasites is recommended at 8, 12, and 16 weeks of age, then at their yearly wellness exam.
After 1st year of age, Fvrcp and Rabies vaccines are given every 3 years. Felv is recommended yearly.
Rabies: Transmissible to people, this virus causes brain and spinal cord inflammation and eventually death. It is transmitted via saliva from infected animals. Rabies is almost always fatal.
FVRCP: Protects against three highly contagious viruses. CVR = Canine Viral Rhinotracheitis -causes upper respiratory symptoms . C= Calicivirus -causes upper respiratory symptoms. P= Panleukopenia “Canine distemper” -causes damage to the bone marrow, lymph nodes and the cells lining the intestine.
Celv: Canine Leukemia Virus – causes disease that depresses the immune system.

A Feline Leukemia and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus test is recommended at your kittens first visit.
A fecal sample to test for intestinal parasites is recommended at 8, 12, and 16 weeks of age, then at their yearly wellness exam.
After 1st year of age, Fvrcp and Rabies vaccines are given every 3 years. Felv is recommended yearly.
Rabies: Transmissible to people, this virus causes brain and spinal cord inflammation and eventually death. It is transmitted via saliva from infected animals. Rabies is almost always fatal.
FVRCP: Protects against three highly contagious viruses. FVR = Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis -causes upper respiratory symptoms . C= Calicivirus -causes upper respiratory symptoms. P= Panleukopenia “feline distemper” -causes damage to the bone marrow, lymph nodes and the cells lining the intestine.
Felv: Feline Leukemia Virus – causes disease that depresses the immune system.

Pet Vaccination Schedule

8 weeks

Fvrcp

12 weeks

Fvrcp Booster, Felv, Rabies (per Pennsylvania state law)

16 weeks

Fvrcp Booster, Felv Booster

Year of Trusted Service
18 +
Happy Pets treated
5 k+

What to expect after your kittens vaccines

Some kittens have no side effects at all. Some may experience mild side effects such as decreased physical exercise, or pain at the injection site. These side effects should subside in 1-2 days. More severe side effects (uncommon reactions) include: vomiting, diarrhea, swelling of the face, hives. If any of these side effects occur, call our office as soon as you notice them.

Spay/Neuter

Females should be spayed at 6 months of age. We recommend spaying before the first heat cycle, which typically happens around 8-10 months. Males should be neutered around 12 months. Pre-Anesthetic blood work is performed 1 to 8 weeks before surgery is scheduled.

Microchipping

A microchip is a permanent ID that links your pet to you. A Home Again microchip is placed between your pets shoulder blades at time of spay/neuter.

Diets

Dr. Matunis and Dr. Granite highly recommend the following diets:

Feeding instructions differ by brand and can be found on the bag.

It is imperative your pet’s specific nutritional needs be discussed with their vet but if you would like to do more research, we recommend articles from the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine – Nutrition.

Brushing Your Kittens Teeth

At home, practice opening your pet’s mouth and lift your pet’s lips on a daily basis. After they are comfortable with that sensation, start rubbing your fingers on their gums and teeth on a daily basis. We offer toothpaste specific for pets (Petsmile), dental treats and dental diets.

Please wait until adult teeth are present before brushing. Appropriate chew toys can also help maintain your pet’s oral health, these can be found on the VOHC website (Veterinary Oral Health Council).

Flea/Tick and Heartworm Prevention

Revolution is a topical solution applied monthly for cats that will spend time outdoors .

Revolution Plus kills fleas, ticks, and prevents heartworm disease. It also treats and control ear mites, roundworms and hookworms.

Bravecto topical is a spot-on treatment (a liquid applied to the cat’s skin, usually on the back of the neck).

It protects cats from fleas and ticks for an extended period (often up to 12 weeks, depending on the product).

Under is your pet on prescription food?

Grooming

Begin grooming early so your kitten gets used to being handled by you and other people (veterinarians and groomers). Using a soft bristle brush, gently stroke his/her back a few times; try brushing while your kitten is drowsy in your lap.

To desensitize the feet for nail trimming, start by touching your kittens paws and gently extruding their claws. Gradually, try trimming a nail or two while giving treats. Delectables are a very effective distraction.

Pet Insurance Options

 Explore trusted providers to help cover your pet’s care.

Environmental Enrichment

Provide a litter tray in a quiet place and clean it regularly. Cats are often reluctant to use a dirty tray or one located in a busy area. The golden rule for the number of litterboxes per house  is 1 litterbox per cat, plus one.

Provide your cat with a comfortable resting place – They tend to prefer a higher one with a good view. Cats love vertical space!

Provide scratching posts in several locations so they can mark territory, strengthen muscles and sharpen claws. Pay attention to what your cat likes to scratch, such as cardboard, sisal, carpet, etc. Cats like to scratch vertically and they enjoy being where you are.

Keep them active! Provide opportunities for daily exercise to keep them fit and healthy. Dream up new ways for your cat to stay active, both physically and mentally. Cats can easily become frustrated and bored.

Toys that encourage hunting are a great way to keep cats active, engaged, and rewarded with a treat.

Dabird Wand Toys

Cheerble Ball

Doc & Phoebes Cat co. Indoor Hunter Feeder