CAT HEALTH PROGRAM

Having a pet at home comes with great responsibility

Start out free from infections.  

Planning to adopt cats? Newly acquired kittens or cats are recommended to be screened for the following:

· FELV / FIV Test 

· Toxoplasmosis Test

· Feline Panleukopenia Test

· CBC / Blood Chemistry

Deworming Program

Check for internal parasites which are common for young animals.  Worms are “zoonotic”. we can get infected from sick animals.  Worming usually can be in form of paste and in tablets.  Pyrantel is a common and safe wormer for our young cats.

Kittens	Recommendation: Starts at 2- 4 weeks of age*
General cat worming	Twice a year for life*
External parasites (ticks and fleas)	Veterinarian will recommend appropriate treatment

*program may vary upon discretion of veterinarian. Subject to your pet’s exposure.  Outdoor exposure and contact with other cats will be included as your veterinarian will formulate your pet deworming program.

Vaccination Program***

Protection against Feline Herpesvirus 1, Feline Calicivirus, and Feline Panleukopenia Virus.  This is recommended for all cats.  Kittens lose their maternal derived antibodies when they reach 9 – 12 weeks of age.  Inadequate transfer of colostrum to kitten can make MDA’s even lower by 6 weeks of age.

For newly acquired kittens, veterinarians usually observe a mandatory 7 day observation period for health assessment.  Prior to any vaccination to rule out any existing viral or bacterial infection.  Deworming is also recommended to be performed prior vaccination to prevent any vaccine failures. 

Vaccine type Kittens (less 4 months/ 16 weeks) Junior to Mature (7 months and above) Booster FELINE DISTEMPER FRCP First: 8 weeks of age/ 2 months of age Second: 12 weeks/ 3 months Third: 16 weeks/ 4 months 2 doses, 1 month interval Annual  vaccination** RABIES Single dose as early as 3 months of age.  Annual revaccination Administer 1 dose and re-vaccinate annually. Annual booster is mandatory**

** Changes upon discretion of the veterinarian. Vaccination program is tailored to the pet’s needs.  State or Local laws may apply.

Dental Health

Start early as possible for  our pets get accustomed to the teeth cleaning process.  Please make sure you use pet dental products.  Check this link for safe pet dental products like Oxyfresh Water Additive Flouride in our toothpaste is toxic to pets when ingested.

Surgical Option

Control of cat population and hormone related behavior.  Best performed within 5 to 6 months of age.  

· SPAY

· NEUTER

***

Day, M.J, et. al. 2016.  World Small Animal Veterinary Association - A Global Veterinary Group / Vaccination Guidelines Group. Guidelines for the Vaccination of Dogs and Cats. Vol 57. Journal of Small Animal Practice.