Your New Cat

It will take a few days for your new cat (kitten) to adjust to a new home. Be very encouraging and supportive while your pet makes this transition and develops a relationship with you and other household members. Set up a routine and try to keep changes to a minimum while the cat adjusts to help develop a sense of security.

VACCINATIONS - Your cat has been vaccinated with FVRCP-C vaccine. This vaccine begins the protection process against feline rhinotracheitis, calici virus, panleukopenia and chlamydia. Please follow the recommendations for a vaccination schedule to provide your new pet with the chance to build up an immunity to these diseases. One of the most important preventative medicine programs for your cat is periodic vaccination for serious, infectious diseases. Vaccinations are given to a cat to prepare his or her body for battling these diseases. However, one vaccination does not give lifelong protection. With kittens, an immunitv (resistance to disease) must be built up, thus a series of two to three vaccination boosters (depending on the vaccines used) is necessary at an early age.

KITTEN vaccination schedule:
6-8 weeks - the first vaccination of FVRCP-C (your kitten has received this)
10-12 weeks - a second booster of FVRCP-C plus rabies vaccination.
16 weeks - third booster plus rabies vaccination.

ADULT CAT vaccination schedule:
As soon as possible your cat should receive a rabies vaccination.
One month after the first vaccination from the shelter he or she will need a second booster of FVRCP-C.

After the above vaccination schedules have been completed, yearly boosters are necessary for all cats in order to keep the body prepared to do batUe with the infectious diseases.

RABIES - Rabies is a fatal viral disease. Suffering from this disease is a painful, prolonged, horrible way for an animal to die. That alone should be enough to make sure all animals are vaccinated against rabies. However, the fact that brings rabies to the height of public concern is that it can be transmitted to humans.

The rabies vaccine must be administered by a veterinarian. Please follow the above recommendations and be sure your cat receives a rabies vaccine. As with other vaccines, rabies vaccinations must be restrengthened with annual boosters (speak to your veterinarian about the type of vaccine used and length of protection).

DEWORMING - Your new cat has received one dose of Drontal deworming medicine. To be sure that your cat does not have any parasitic worms left in his or her system, we advise that you have a stool sample tested at your veterinarian's office.

NEUTERING (castration or spaying) - The main reason for neutering your kitten is to help control the ever-increasing problem of pet overpopulation. Neutering at an early age can also prevent or reduce the risk of several behavioral and health problems at a later age.

MALES - When your pet is neutered at 6 months of age, many behavioral traits that are seen as problems in the adult cat do not develop (ie: roaming, and spraying (urinating to mark their territory)). Doing your part in controlling the pet population is only part of the reason for neutering your male cat. There are also health benefits to neutering. it will prevent or reduce the risk of some common problems seen in older unneutered cats; prostatic enlargements and infections and testicular tumors. If you neuter your cat at a later age the health risks are still reduced and some of the problem traits may diminish.

FEMALES - If you have adopted a female cat or kitten, please have her spayed at 6 months (if a kitten) or right away if she is an adult. If you have any doubts about having her spayed, research all that is involved in properly caring for a pregnant animal and in raising a litter. Also, consider all the un wanted kittens that are already struggling to find homes. Female cats often come into season (heat) monthly. When they are in heat they are very vocal, and exhibit uncharacteristic behavior that is often disturbing to their owners. They are also extremely attractive to any male cat for miles around! Even if you keep your female indoors she may still attract local male cats to your property. Prevention of pregnancy is the main reason for spaying a female cat, but the procedure is also performed to prevent or reduce the risk of uterine infections, as well as mammary, ovarian and uterine cancer.

NUTRITION - Proper nutrition is the basis of your cat's good health and well being. During the growth stage the aim is to feed a diet that provides the proper nutrients needed for optimal growth of a healthy pet. Start your cat or kitten out on a complete balanced diet to avoid the need for supplementation. Do not feed your new cat or kitten milk. Many kittens, once weaned from their mothers, cannot tolerate cows milk. The result is diarrhea, therefore eliminate milk from their diet.

FELINE LEUKEMIA AND FUS - There are two very important topics that you should discuss with your veterinarian on your first visit - FeLV (Feline leukemia virus) and F.U.S. (feline urological syndrome). FeLV is a serious disease that suppresses the cat's immune system, leaving it unable to fight off other infections. There is a vaccine available and your veterinarian can help you decide if it is necessary for your particular cat F.U.S. is a common, sometimes fatal, blockage of the urinary tract that occurs most often in male cats. As a cat owner it is important that you are aware of the consequences of improper diet.

We do not guarantee an animal's health and recommend that you take your new cat to your veterinarian as soon as possible for a check up, advise on basic health care and fecal examination (test for intestinal parasites). Do not forget to take your Humane Society Certificate with you for your cat's first check up at the veterinarian's.