Congratulations on your new kitten! We can’t wait to meet your new companion!
Whether you are a new cat owner or experienced cat owner, congratulations on your new companion. Everyone at Lake Anna Veterinary Hospital wants to meet your new kitten and welcome him or her into our Lake Anna Veterinary Family. We promise that we will be here to support and provide you with all the kitten care, guidance, and information you will need to ensure that your new kitten grows up strong, healthy and happy.
It is important to your new kitten’s long-term health that we examine your kitten as soon as possible to identify any potential health issues early on. We will answer your questions on caring for your kitten long-term, including food and nutrition questions, vaccinations, other health topics and behavioral issues. Before you decide on a food, please talk to us. There are so many choices available, and we want you to be able to choose the right food for your kitten but be sure to feed him or her the same food supplied to you when you got your kitten until your first visit with us.
Your Kitten’s First Wellness Exam
The first step in keeping your kitten healthy is visiting us for a kitten wellness exam. This initial visit includes a thorough physical exam, allows us the opportunity to establish a relationship with you and your kitten as well as to fully understand your expectations as pet owner. We will also spend time with you answering all your questions about kitten care. Your kitten’s exam also includes:
- Establish the appropriate vaccination schedule for your kitten’s breed and anticipated lifestyle
- Necessary vaccines or vaccine boosters
- Flea/tick control. We will discuss the best options for your new kitten
- Fecal examination for intestinal parasites and appropriate deworming
- Testing for Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (PIV)
When visiting with your new kitten, please bring:
- Your kitten in a cat carrier
- Any prior health information provided to you by the breeder, shelter or previous owner provided you such as a history of vaccines or worming
- A fresh stool sample
The following are signs that your kitten needs immediate care:
- Signs that the kitten has swallowed something poisonous such as mouth irritation, drooling, vomiting, seizures, or fever
- Bleeding you can’t stop
- Difficulty breathing
- Unconsciousness or lethargy
- Staggering or seizures
- Blood in urine or feces
- Pooping more than twice in an hour or straining in the litter box with no results
- Repeat vomiting in a short time or diarrhea with vomiting
- Signs of pain, such as swelling or inability to use his/her leg
Please call us immediately if your kitten is exhibiting any of these symptoms.