Vaccinations
Kittens are vaccinated against a number of potentially fatal diseases. These diseases are cat flu and sneezing disease. In order to develop good protection, the kitten must be vaccinated at 9 and 12 weeks of age. The kitten is then protected until the vaccination at 1 year of age. If the kitten is going abroad (including Germany), a rabies vaccination is also mandatory. This vaccination is valid from 3 months of age for 3 years. If the kitten is going to a boarding house, an extra nose vaccination against sneezing disease is often mandatory. Vaccinations against a number of other diseases (Felv, FIP, chlamydia) are optional. If you have any questions about this, you can discuss this with the vet. Read more on our page 'cat health check and vaccinations'.
Deworming
Most kittens have worms. They are infected during pregnancy in the mother's womb and after birth via the mother's milk. Your kitten does not necessarily become ill from this and an infection often remains unnoticed. However, the worms they excrete are dangerous to the environment. Children in particular are susceptible to the larvae. The kitten should therefore be dewormed at 3, 5, 7 weeks and at 3, 4, 5 and 6 months of age and then every 3 months for the rest of its life. This can be done by means of pipettes in the neck or a pill. There are also combination products that offer both deworming and protection against fleas and ticks.
Fleas and ticks
Fleas are small creatures that live in your kitten's fur. No matter how clean you keep your kitten, there is always a risk of flea infestation. Kittens can also have fleas from the nest. In addition to fleas, there is also the risk of contracting ticks if your kitten goes outside. A tick attaches itself to the skin and can transmit various diseases. All the more reason to protect your kitten against this. There is a wide range of modern and safe products. For advice, you can always contact one of our assistants.
Chip
It is advisable to have your kitten chipped and registered in case he or she ever runs away. The chip is a transponder that is smaller than a grain of rice. If you are wondering whether your kitten has been chipped, you can have it read at the practice. Make sure that you also register the chip with your contact details (www.chipnummer.nl).
Nutrition
The growth phase that your kitten is currently in is essential for the rest of its life. In this phase, a good, complete diet is important to prevent problems later in life. Special kitten food contains a lot of protein, which is essential for good growth. It is recommended to provide 3 meals a day up to 4 months of age and then reduce this to 2 meals at 6 months of age.
Spay/neuter
If you do not intend to breed with your kitten, we always recommend sterilization/castration. This is due to the risk of urine spraying in unneutered male cats and unwanted litters in female cats. Sterilization of the male or female cat preferably takes place from the age of 6 months.
