Cat Guides

Basic Kitten Care

First and Foremost: Vaccinations

Many common diseases, including Distemper, are deadly to your cat. During the initial day of nursing, kittens receive antibodies against certain diseases from their mother's milk. These protecting antibodies are gradually lost between 6 and 16 weeks of age. A series of vaccinations are given during this period to stimulate your kitten's immune system to produce its own antibodies. Even if your cat never goes outside, many viruses are quite hardy, and can be carried to your cat on your hands, shoes or clothing. Make sure your pet is protected!

We recommend a vaccination schedule for these diseases as follows:
8 weeks	Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia (FVRCP)
12 weeks	FVRCP
16 weeks	Rabies FVRCP Feline Leukemia (FeLV) depending on risk of exposure

Feline leukemia Virus is a deadly disease that spreads directly from cat to cat, often from mother cats to their kittens before or shortly after birth. As many as 40% of cat deaths annually are due to Feline Leukemia and related viruses.

A blood test once your kitten is over 12 weeks of age will determine if your cat or kitten already harbors this disease. In some cases of unknown exposure it may be recommended to run a second test 3 months after the initial test. If there are no other cats in the home you can elect to have the test ran 3 months after the cat has been kept strictly indoors. If the tests are negative, two initial vaccinations for FeLV, 3-4 weeks apart, and then yearly boosters, will prevent Feline Leukemia in your cat. If your cat goes outdoors, vaccination may be recommended.

 

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