Vaccinations are very important for the continued good health of your new kitten

When you get your kitten you should ensure that they get a full course of vaccines and a general health check up from a vet.

When you bring your kitten in to your vet for your kittens 1^st vaccine your vet will generally

• Listen to your kittens heart to ensure that it is functioning properly
• Take your kittens temperature (a raised temperature may indicate that your kitten is unwell)
• Check your kittens ears to ensure that they do not have ear mites or a build up of ear wax (which is common in outdoor raised kittens)
• Check your kittens eyes to see if they are clear (a discharge or third eyelid showing could indicate illness)
• Check your kittens nostrils to see that they are clear and clean (discharge from them would indicate illness)
• Check your kittens mouth (to ensure that the mouth is a healthy colour and that the teeth are aligned correctly)
• Check your kittens coat for evidence of fleas or flea dirt (they will give your kitten a flea treatment if necessary)If all is correct then your vet will go ahead and start your kitten on their vaccination course.

Vaccinations will give your kitten the protection against various diseases

If your kitten comes into contact with some diseases they can be very harmful to the health of your kitten. Some could even prove fatal or your leave your kitten with lasting effects if not given a full vaccination course.

They will need a course of 2 vaccines given three weeks apart  and this will cover all the vaccinations that they require for the first year of their life. This should start when your kitten is 9 weeks old and again at 12 weeks. This course can be given at any age above 9 weeks and by having them a full vaccine course you know that you have done the best for them that you can do. The basic vaccines should cover what is regularly called cat flu but actually include

• Feline Panleucopenia virus
• Rhinotrachetis  herpesvirus
• Calicivirus. 

Vaccinations for Felv are available for your kitten

Felv is Feline leukemia virus and it is very important if you live in an area where this disease is prevalent to have your kitten vaccinated against this disease. If your kitten/cat contracts this disease unfortunately there is no cure and the expected life span is usually 2-3 years at best. You can have your cat tested for this disease by your vet.If your cat has this disease they should be kept indoors so that they do not spread the disease to other cats.

Your vet will best be able to advise you if you’re living in a Felv area. Your kitten/cat should be vaccinated against this potentially fatal disease. The Felv vaccine can be given at the same time as your kittens regular vaccines.

Vaccinations for FIV are currently not available here in Ireland they were available for cats in Americabut proved ineffectual. FIV, which is Feline Immunodeficiency virus is generally spread through cat bites, saliva and blood transfer from an infected host or can be passed from mother to kitten while still in the womb.

The only way to see if your kitten/cat has this disease is to have your vet run a blood test as there is no obvious symptoms for this disease There also is no cure for this disease but some cats that have the FIV can continue to live a healthy enough life and can live to old age without it affecting them too much or at all. The main thing to point out is if your cat has been diagnosed with FIV and they show signs of any illness at all then urgent treatment from your vet should be sought to help keep them healthy. They should also be kept indoors to prevent the spread of the disease to other healthy cats.

When you get your kitten they are vunerable to disease as their own immune system is only starting. You should keep your kitten indoors and away from other unvaccinated cats until your kitten has been fully vaccinated and for up to 10 days after they have finished their course. This will ensure that the vaccine is working with their immune system and that the immune system is working fully.

When you bring your kitten to the vet for their vaccine your vet will also worm your kitten at your 1^st and 2^nd vaccine. You should then worm your kitten every three months. If they are going to have a total indoor life with only commercial food fed to them they can be wormed once or twice a year. If they are fed raw food or if they catch mice or birds then they should be wormed every three months. You can get the worming tablet from your vet and worm your kitten/cat at home or bring your kitten/cat into your vet and they will worm them for you.

If your kitten is going to be living an indoor/outdoor life then it is essential to regularly treat them for fleas. You can get an application that is applied to the back of your kittens/cats neck that will kill fleas for up to 4 weeks. You may not find fleas on your kitten/cat but you may find some evidence that they have been there.

How to find if your kittens/cats has fleas.

• They best way is to see if your kitten/cat have any evidence of flea dirt in their coat.
• It is best to use a fine toothed comb such as a nit comb and groom your pet along their back (spine) to the base of the tail.
• Make sure the comb reaches down to the skin (gently, be careful not to harm your pet).
• Do this a couple of times.
• Empty the hairs from the comb onto a white tissue.
• If you find small specks of black dirt then this may possibly be flea dirt.
• Wet the specks slightly with water.
• If when rubbed they stain a rusty red then this is the evidence that you have been looking for.
• Flea faeces is dried blood so when the black specks stain rust red then this is their faeces.
• You can repeat this process on a weekly basis but it is better to treat your pet regularly for fleas

Vaccinations should be given to your cat 12 months after their initial kitten course. Most vets will send you a reminder for when this is due. This is just a single vaccine that is given even if you have opted to have Felv included with your initial course

Vaccinations will be required if you decide to board them in a cattery or enter them in for a cat show. A cattery (good cattery’s will ask to see this) or cat show they will require an up to date vaccine record card that has a veterinary surgeons signature. Talk to your cattery owner as to how long prior to them being admitted into the cattery should your cat have had a vaccine. Most good catteries will insist that you would have had your cat vaccinated at least 14 days before admittance.

If you decide that you will keep your kitten as an indoor cat it whole life it is still a good idea to vaccinate them. You may decide to change your mind about your kitten’s lifestyle or even if your kitten/cat is let out by mistake.

If you live in an area that has a lot of cats then virus’s can possibly still be spread to your cat through open windows or doors. Some virus’s can be airborne and so they can be transmitted to your cat. Ground floor window’s sills can be a place that cats that are outside may like to sit up and sunbath. Sneezes can carry in through an open window easily and spread diseases to your kitten cat if they jump onto the inside window sill to look out side. Your kitten/cats vaccinations will help prevent them from catching these diseases.

Once they have been given a full vaccine course as a kitten and the following year a booster vaccine you can then talk to your vet as it may not be necessary for them to have another vaccine for two to three years. They will still benefit from having an annual check up every year so they continue to have a healthy lifestyle.

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How should I feed my kitten is a very common question that I am regularly asked.

Young kittens should be fed small meals and frequently. Four small meals a day is better than two big ones at this stage. Fresh drinking water should always be available and leaving out 2-3 water dishes so that if your kitten is thirsty they can always have a nearby drink. Feeding them at set times helps them get into a routine and this also helps them to balance their day.

How should i feed my kitten so that it won’t become a fussy eater?

The best way is by feeding them a mixed diet. This is better as this will reduce the chances of your kitten turning into a fussy eater later in life. Some fussy cats only eat one brand of cat food and only in one particular flavour and you can run into trouble if that brand changes the recipe or discontinue the flavour. Giving a mixed diet should be introduced slowly so as not to upset their delicate stomachs. Only introduce one small amount at first and get them use to that food before introducing another type.

How should I feed my kitten so that I can be sure they will get all the correct nutrients that they require?

I would highly recommend feeding a very good quality dried kitten food such as Royal Canin kitten or Hills Science Plan kitten which can be bought from your local vet or pet shop. Both of these are a concentrated food so even though you may spend more money initially it will last just as long as the supermarket equivalent for the same money. I prefer to feed Royal Canin Babycat 34 (or Weaning if obtained from your vet) as this has a very small kibble size that is easier for small kittens to manage. It is high in protein which is what your kitten need for energy. Both Royal Canin and Hills Scientific Diet have a full 100% guarantee that if you are not satisfied they will refund you the purchase price you paid.

How should I feed my kitten, is milk OK to give? When it come to giving your kitten milk it is best just to give water. Most kittens and cats develop an intolerance to the lactose in milk and other dairy product. This can  result in diarrhoea and vomiting. Young kittens do not require further milk supplements as they have had what they needed from their mother. Their mothers milk provided everything for them up to the point of weaning. Giving cows milk is something they were not originally designed to digest.

How should I feed my kitten and how often should my kitten be fed

I would tend not to restrict a young kittens diet as they require a lot of nutrients to aide growth. They expend a lot of energy in playing so i would feed them what they ask for but remember that they only have very small stomachs so small meals are best. As they grow you will start to notice if they are gaining too much weight and you can adjust their diet then.

¨      Kittens aged 8-14 weeks should be fed four times a day

¨      Kittens aged 14 – 20 weeks should be fed three times a day

¨      Kittens 20 weeks plus should be fed twice a day

¨      A premium quality dried food should make up approximately a quarter to a half of your kittens daily diet. (when they grow up giving a dental biscuit will be better for their teeth and gums) This should be fed separate from their other food and kept in the dry form (as opposed to adding water to soften)

¨      Another half can be of wet kitten food (cans or pouches) such as Whiskas or Felix. This is a medium grade food and is readily available from your local shop or supermarket. It is a very tasty food so some may over eat and pig out on it.

¨      I like to feed raw meat so this makes up the last quarter of their diet. This can be fed cooked or raw. I personally have a preference for the raw food diet. For further information on the raw food diet check out Tom Farrington’s web site http://sites.google.com/site/farringtonvet/  who is a homeopathic vet here in Cork and totally agrees with feeding your pet the raw food diet as this can go a long way to improve and correct your pets health.

Cats are obligate carnivores and this means that they are designed to live off of meat proteins. They do not require carbohydrate in their diets as this has no benefit for them. The bones that are in raw meat is a great source of calcium. It is important that the bones are not too small so giving larger bones where they have to chew and tear off the meat is best.

How should i feed my kitten when i want to give them real meat? It is best to give a bland meat such as chicken as it is easier for their tiny stomach to digest. This can be thigh, leg or breast meat and in my experience I find that they prefer thigh meat. It seems to have more flavour. To start your kitten on meat you can blanch the meat for a couple of minutes as this then gives them two textures to deal with. some will take to it straight away while others may want it cooked. It is up to the kitten themselves and they will let you know which they like best.

The types of raw food that I feed my own cats is as follows and is changed from week to week so that they get variety in their diet.

¨      Raw chicken wings

¨      Cubes of raw beef  (1×1 inch sizes)

¨      Raw fish (only some of mine eat this)

¨      Mince beef, lamb or turkey

¨      Small amounts of lamb (lamb is usually quite a fatty meat)

¨      Pork ribs (soak them overnight if they are salty)

¨      Organ meat i.e. heart, liver or kidney are only given once a month but my gang tend not to eat it

¨      Occasionally they get rabbit

¨      Large bones with meat on (my 2 large dogs have to wait till the cats have finished before they get their bones)

How should I feed my kitten on the raw food diet? Well I would suggest introducing them on to an easily digested food such as chicken and only a small amount to start with. You should continue to feed them a good quality commercial kitten food as they will continue to get the required nutrients they need to have proper mental and physical growth developement.

It is important to point out that all raw food should be first frozen for at least 24 hours before properly defrosting and feeding raw to your cat. This will help to kill off some of the bacteria that may be on the meat. A cat’s stomach can naturally fight against Salmonella (unless they have an underlying illness) so it is unlikely that they will get sick if it is present but people should take all the usual precautions when handling raw meat and ensure that you wash your hands and food preparation area after handling raw meat.

The advantage of feeding raw food is that it is a natural food. A cat’s stomach and teeth are designed to chew and digest this type of food. It will help to keep your kittens teeth and gums healthy as the chewing motion acts as a tooth brush. It Is easy for them to digest and they tend not to over eat on this type of food. Because it is a natural diet they tend to have a better immune system. It is important to check with a vet to insure that your kitten is getting all the nutrients they need and you may have to supplement this diet.

If feeding cooked meat it is important to point out that you should never give your cat cooked bones as these can splinter in the mouth, throat, stomach or intestines and cause great damage.

I hope you have enjoyed this post on ‘How Should I Feed My Kitten.’ If your require further details please contact me

It is always exciting choosing and then getting a kitten.

There are many places you can be getting a kitten from such as a breeder, a rescue centre, an ad in a local paper, from a friend or neighbour or even a kitten that you may have found and nobody owns or wants. Some you may pay a lot of money for (such as a Pedigree) and others it may be a donation to the charity that you are adopting the kitten from.
Wherever you are  getting a kitten from it is important that you are prepared when it comes time to taking him or her home. You should have at least the basics and these should include

•  An appropriate sized litter tray (one that is easy for your kitten to enter and exit). You can get a bigger one later when they grow up a little more.
•  Cat litter (a clumping one is best to start with) Kittens taste everything and some litter may be swallowed so if you use a wood chip litter it could swell in their stomach and cause a blockage
•  A small shallow but wide bowl for water. Some may prefer a drinkwell as this has running water but  be careful as this has to be plugged into an electric socket and kittens may chew trailing wires.
•  A small wide bowl or saucer for food. A ceramic or glass dish is a better choice as plastic can taint the food and a stainless steel bowl can throw back their reflection and deter them from eating.
•  Somewhere warm, safe and quiet for your kitten to sleep. This can be an expensive bought bed or can just as easily be a cardboard box with a warm jumper put into it. (If you put in an old jumper of yours with your scent in it will then help to bond the kitten to you.)

Getting a Kitten - it should ideally be at least 8-9 weeks old.

your kitten may be 14 weeks or older if you are getting a kitten from a breeder. This means that your new kitten will have how to be cats from their mother from the ages of 5-7 weeks of age and they practise on their littermates. If they have been taken to early they will usually have difficulties later in life when it comes to dealing with other cats as they do not know how to read the signs correctly and this can get them in trouble.
Kittens learn very quickly and everything that they do is a lesson in life. They are very playful but will sleep a lot. It is better said that they will have burst of play in between bouts of sleep.
The signs for a healthy kitten are:

•  Bright clear eyes ( no discharge or inner eyelid showing as this can be a sign of illness
•  Moist cold nose ( a dry warm nose may be a sign they are feeling a little under the weather(
•  Clean ears ( ear wax in cats is naturally brown but if they shake their head after rubbing them it could be that there is ear mites present)
•  Soft fur with no feeling of grittiness (If there are small black specks present in the fur it could be the evidence of flea dirt and you don’t want to introduce them into your home as this can be a large problem)
•  An interest in exploring anything new ( they should have a little bit of a hesitation but over all they should investigate new things and people)
•  A healthy appetite (They should show an eagerness for the food with out being ravenous)
•  It is important not to give your kitten milk to drink as they can develop intolerance to the lactose in the milk and this will result in health problem such as vomiting and/or diarrhoea.

Try to feed them the same diet that they are use to so check with the person whom you are getting a kitten  from. They may even give you a diet sheet but check that it includes kitten food either wet or dried.

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What is my cats age? This is a question that I have been frequently asked over the years.

Below you will find a chart that shows you easily what your cats age actually is, with relevance to our human age and I hope you will be able to better understand how your cat’s body and behaviour may change as they grow older.

My Cats Age – The life stages of your cat

Please contact me for further details about your cat’s age and for any other questions you may have about Cat Problems Solved.