Stonewall Veterinary Clinic



Home
Our Services
Our Healthcare Team
Our Location
Community Involvement
Canine Health Check
Feline Health Check
Spaying Your Dog or Cat
Neutering Your Dog or Cat
First Aid
Adoptions
Winter Hazards
Feline Health Check

Congratulations - you have a new kitten!
 

You've anticipated the new arrival by 'kittenproofing' your home and had lots of fun choosing the carrier, bed, blanket, toys and other supplies he or she will need.  This adorable little bundle of fluff is sure to bring you much joy.  In return, you can make a major contribution to your pet's longevity, sanitary environment, and regular checkups at your veterinarian.

cat_health.jpg

Your new kitten should visit a veterinarian as soon as possible!

The first visit will probably include:
- Thorough physical examination to determine his or her state of health.
- Check for external parasites (fleas, ticks, lice, ear mites).
- Check for internal parasites (tapeworm, roundworm, etc.), if you can bring a stool sample for analysis.  Blood tests may also be done.
- Initial vaccination and/or a discussion of the types of vaccinations your kitten needs and when they should be scheduled.
- Discussion about whether your kitten should be sterilized (spayed or neutered) and when.
 
This first health check will give your veterinarian the information he needs to advise you on your kitten's immediate diet and care.  Plus, it will give him a "knowledge base" from which, on subsequent checkups throughout your pup's life, he can better evaluate, monitor and manage your pet's health.

cat_accessories.jpg

Make your new kitten feel at home!
With sensitive handling and friendly contact for at least an hour a day, your new kitten should soon be very comfortable with you and his new home.  Be sure, if there are also young children in the home, that they are taught that a kitten is not a toy, but a living creature who must be treated with gentleness and respect.  And provide your pet with lots of opportunities for interesting, challenging play that will satisfy his natural insticts.  Toys that he can pretend to 'hunt' and capture and special posts that he can scratch (instead of your carpets and furniture) will help make your kitten a joy to live with.


cat_age.jpg

If your cat is...
1 month
2 months
3 months
4 months
5 months
6 months
7 months
8 months
1 year
2 years
3 years
4 years
5 years
6 years
7 years
8 years
9 years
10 years
11 years
12 years
13 years
14 years
15 years
16 years
17 years

In human terms, that's
5-6 months
9-10 months
2-3 years
5-6 years
8-9 years
14 years
15 years
16 years
18 years
25 years
30 years
35 years
38-40 years
42-44 years
45 years
48 years
55 years
60 years
62 years
65 years
68 years
72 years
74 years
76 years
78 years




Spaying or Neutering your kitten
Many veterinarians believe that spaying or neutering not only helps solve the serious problem of a burgeoning population of unwanted cats but also makes for friendlier, easier-to-live-with pets. Spayed female cats are more relaxed, playful and affectionate, while neutered males are calmer and less likely to 'spray' or urine-mark their territory, wander away from their home or fight. Plus, sterilization has health benefits - it minimizes the risk for breast cancer in females.

Spaying removes the uterus and ovaries of a female cat, usually around the age of six months. A major surgical procedure, it is performed under general anesthesia and most often involves an overnight stay at an animal hospital. Complications are rare and recovery is normally complete within ten days.

Neutering, also carried out under general anesthesia, removes the testicles of a male cat. The small wounds that result usually heal in about a week. Less complicated than spaying, it is often performed on a 'day surgery' basis when the cat is 6 to 12 months old.

More Feline Info:
 

Stonewall Veterinary Clinic
 
Site Navigator