You’ve got a new kitten now WHAT?
First of all CONGRATULATIONS on your new kitten!!!
Getting a new furry friend is an exciting time, but it’s important to ensure their health goes beyond just providing a loving home. Typically, kittens are around 8 weeks old when you bring them home, as most breeders keep them with their mothers until then. But, this can vary from breeder to breeder,or if you have adopted from a shelter or humane society, or if your new furry friend has found you.
As a responsible pet owner, it’s now your duty to ensure your kitten receives proper care and continues to grow healthy and happy, and one way to do that is to keep them up to date on their checkups, vaccines, deworming, and bloodwork.
There is a lot of information available regarding vaccines, including their schedules and the specific illnesses they address, and pet owners often wonder which vaccines their kittens need and how often they should be administered. I will aim to clarify some of that information and clear the confusion once and for all.
What are vaccines?
Vaccines are in simple terms a group of constituents or “ingredients” if you will, that once injected into the body will cause a predicted stimulation to the body cells, thus getting a reaction from those body cells. This reaction that occurs in the cells is what helps the body to identify the viruses’ composition and create a reaction(eliminate the intruder) to those viruses faster.
The way to create immunity in the body is by giving a series of vaccines within a set interval, making the body cells create a memory for the virus genetics and then being able to eliminate it as fast as possible before it is able to cause any harm to the body.
When kittens are born, they have antibodies from their mothers that help fight off viruses. These antibodies get transmitted to the kitten via mom’s milk, especially the first milk that is given to kittens within a few hours of birth (this first milk is called colostrum). This first milk is what will help the kitten to survive in the outside world right after birth.
However, as they grow older, these maternal antibodies fade away, leaving them vulnerable. To avoid that, it is important to give your kitten the vaccine boosters that are necessary for their body to create the much-needed antibodies that it will need to ensure a healthy life. I recommend following your veterinarian’s guidelines for the vaccine schedule that your new furry friend will need.
Vaccine Schedule Timeline
At around 6-8 weeks of age, kittens should receive their first FVRCP (commonly known as distemper) vaccine. The FVRCP vaccine is a combination vaccine that protects against Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia. Breeders may also deworm the kittens at this time, but the deworming schedule varies among breeders with no standardized approach.
In addition to the FVRCP vaccine, there are other important vaccines to consider. The Rabies vaccine, for instance, is required in most places for activities like nail trims, bathing, grooming, or boarding. It can be administered at 12 weeks of age, although some vet clinics may wait until 16 weeks.
Another vaccine to consider, especially for cats that will be indoor/outdoor, is the Feline Leukemia vaccine (FelV). Feline Leukemia is primarily transmitted through saliva, blood, urine, and feces. Outdoor cats that encounter other feline companions are at higher risk. I recommend testing for Feline Leukemia through a blood test called FelV/FIV Elisa test that can be done at your vet clinic, which is done during the kitten stage, normally before giving the Feline Leukemia vaccine.
Vaccine Table Examples
Distemper (FVRCP)
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Rabies
Leukemia(FeLV)
Additionally, it’s always a good idea to deworm kittens at least one more time and check a fecal sample for parasites. This not only keeps your kitten healthy but also ensures your own safety as well.
It is very normal to feel confused and overwhelmed with the amount of information that will be provided to you. The best advice that I can give is to ask questions, don’t be afraid of asking questions or feeling that you are repeating yourself. The best way is to learn your way through this, as well as keep a journal with important information about your kitten so that you can compare later on.
I would love to hear about your experiences, questions or concerns either in the comments below, or you can send us a message.
Disclaimer: This blog is meant to be used as a resource tool for pet owners, pet enthusiasts, and anyone who would like to understand a little bit more about how to better care for our pets. As with any information on the internet, please take it with a grain of salt, and always consult with your veterinarian to discuss the best course of action for your furry friend.
