"Awwww, isn't she cute?  I just got her from the pet store and they de-wormed her and gave her a shot.  I'm set now, right?"

Well, you've got a good start anyway.  I am surprised (sometimes daily) by the fact that the pet stores and other adoption agencies don't seem to mention that the kitten will need booster vaccines in about 3-4 weeks, or that the de-wormer they used is not a complete one.  Unfortunately, we see a lot of preventable infectious diseases and unwanted pregnancies because of the  "ball being dropped" somewhere between the pet shop and the new owner.  Older kitties  from the reputable adoption agencies in the area sometimes have already had more done with them and so tend to have fewer "followup" issues.  Even if you think your new precious angel is perfectly healthy, it is a really good idea to bring her in and let us look her over just to make sure she doesn't have any problems not visible to the naked eye (heart murmurs, retroviral infections, etc).

Most kittens will need a series of 2-3 distemper (FVRCP) vaccines to get good immunity, and they should have their rabies vaccine before they are 4 months of age.  Also, young cats, (those under a year of age) are especially susceptible to feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and should be tested and vaccinated for that disease as well.  Different from other clinics in the area, we recommend ONLY non-adjuvanted vaccines due to our extreme sensitivity to the vaccine-induced sarcoma issues particular to our feline friends and we only recommend the vaccines we truly believe that your cat needs.  Some vaccines need to be boosted every year, some only every few years.

We can spay and neuter cats by the time they are 4 months of age (usually about 4 pounds body weight) here at the clinic.  We want to see your cat prior to surgery to be certain that he or she does not have any health issues which could cause anesthetic problems and try to correct them in advance of surgery when that is possible.

We also recommend prophylactic de-worming with a complete de-wormer each year even for inside kitties per CDC recommendations, more frequently for cats who go out and hunt.  Year round flea control is also a must for our area as even indoor-only cats have a nasty habit of acquiring fleas.  Heartworm prevention is essential as well since even if your cat doesn't go out, the mosquitos come in.

Not all cats have the same vaccine or health needs.  We make our recommendations based on your cat's risk factors and lifestyle.  We would be happy to tailor a program to your cat's individual needs, just give us a call and bring your kitty to see us!