Compassionate & Affordable Health Care for Your Pet
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These guidelines are based on the recommendations and protocols set by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA).
In your kitten’s first year, they will be seen several times by our veterinarians. The reason for this is that several of the necessary vaccinations need to be given several times (i.e., boostered) in order for your kitten to build immunity to many of the common viruses that potentially can harm their health.
During these initial visits, we will cover general kitten care such as nutrition, monthly parasite preventative care, nail care, etc.
All kittens should have a baseline fecal parasite screening test. Simply bring a small stool sample to your first appointment, and we will send that to our lab for parasite screening.
All kittens after the age of 4 months should have a baseline screening test for the most common feline infectious diseases, which are Feline Leukemia Virus and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. This testing is a routine and essential screening test for all kittens.
Depending on whether your new kitten will be an Indoor Only cat or an Indoor/Outdoor cat, we will help decide which vaccinations are right for your new kitten.
Feline Distemper Virus (FDV):
All kittens, no matter whether they are indoor-only or going to be indoor/outdoor cats, should be vaccinated with the FDV vaccine. This vaccine covers the common disease of Feline Distemper, Panleukopenia, and Calci.
Rabies:
According to CT state law, all cats, whether indoor or indoor/outdoor, are required to be rabies vaccinated. All rabies vaccines in the first year of a kitten’s life are considered 1 year vaccines. All rabies vaccines after this initial vaccination will be considered 3 yr. vaccines.
Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV): If you plan to let your kitten grow into an indoor/outdoor cat, then vaccinating for FeLV is a must. This common disease is very easily transmitted from cat to cat through their saliva and hissing.
Even though your cat is indoor only and may or may not require a vaccination on an annual basis, it is critical to have their health evaluated by a veterinary professional. Cats are the most elusive animals when it comes to hiding sickness or health problems, and because of that having a thorough physical exam every year is critical to keeping up their overall health. During your cat’s routine health exam, we will evaluate everything from eye health to dental health, to cardiac health, to weight management.
The Feline Distemper Vaccine is recommended to be given once every 3 years after your cat’s first-year vaccine. Rabies by state law is also required every 3 years.
Depending on exposure, i.e., whether or not you have other animals in your household, we recommend monthly flea & tick preventions.
Cats who are both indoor/outdoor have a greater risk of diseases and parasite exposure. Cats are the most elusive animals when it comes to hiding sickness or health problems, and because of that having a thorough physical exam every year is critical to keeping up their overall health. During your cat’s routine health exam, we will evaluate everything from eye health to dental health, to cardiac health, to weight management.
The AVMA and Feline Practitioners recommend that all cats who go outside should have the Feline Leukemia Vaccine (FeLV) on an annual basis.
The Feline Distemper Vaccine is recommended to be given once every 3 years after your cat’s first-year vaccine. Rabies by state law is also required every 3 years.
Whether your cat is a passive outdoor explorer or a hunter, having a routine fecal parasite screening is necessary. All animals who go outside have increased exposure to common GI parasites and therefore should be screened for these on an annual basis.
Currently is only one option for both flea and tick prevention for your cat. That product is Frontline Plus(R) and is safe and effective and should be used if your cat goes outside. The key to making this preventative most effective is by applying this topical medication properly. At MAH, we recommend that you shave a small patch of hair down to the skin so that when the liquid is applied, all of it is absorbed by the skin and not taken up by the surrounding hair.
If you use Advantage Multi(R) with your cat, which covers fleas but not ticks, this topical medication also protects your cat against the most common GI parasites.
If you use Frontline Plus(R), which protects against fleas and ticks, then you would also want to use a GI parasite preventative. Our staff can help you choose the best options for your cat.
Even though your cat is indoor only and may or may not require a vaccination on an annual basis, it is critical to have their health evaluated by a veterinary professional. Cats are the most elusive animals when it comes to hiding sickness or health problems, and because of that having a thorough physical exam every year is critical to keeping up their overall health. During your cat’s routine health exam, we will evaluate everything from eye health to dental health, to cardiac health, to weight management.
It is important to understand that cats are the most elusive animals when it comes to hiding sickness or health problems. After the age of 9 years, they are considered seniors, and tracking their internal body health is critical to keeping them healthy through their senior years. The best way to do this is through routine blood and urine screening. It is common knowledge that the most common disease that cats get in their elder years are kidney disease, thyroid disease, and cancer. Running routine screening will help us pick up on these disease processes in their early stages so we can best help guide your pet’s health.
The Feline Distemper Vaccine is recommended to be given once every 3 years after your cat’s first-year vaccine. Rabies by state law is also required every 3 years.
Depending on exposure, i.e., whether or not you have other animals in your household, we recommend monthly flea & tick preventions.
Cats who are both indoor/outdoor have a greater risk of diseases and parasite exposure. Cats are the most elusive animals when it comes to hiding sickness or health problems, and because of that having a thorough physical exam every year is critical to keeping up their overall health. During your cat’s routine health exam, we will evaluate everything from eye health to dental health, to cardiac health, to weight management.
It is important to understand that cats are the most elusive animals when it comes to hiding sickness or health problems. After the age of 9 years, they are considered seniors, and tracking their internal body health is critical to keeping them healthy through their senior years. The best way to do this is through routine blood and urine screening. It is common knowledge that the most common disease that cats get in their elder years are kidney disease, thyroid disease, and cancer. Running routine screening will help us pick up on these disease processes in their early stages so we can best help guide your pet’s health.
The AVMA and Feline Practitioners recommend that all cats who go outside should have the Feline Leukemia Vaccine (FeLV) on an annual basis.
The Feline Distemper Vaccine is recommended to be given once every 3 years after your cat’s first-year vaccine. Rabies by state law is also required every 3 years.
Whether your cat is a passive outdoor explorer or a hunter, having a routine fecal parasite screening is necessary. All animals who go outside have increased exposure to common GI parasites and therefore should be screened for these on an annual basis.
Currently is only one option for both flea and tick prevention for your cat. That product is Frontline Plus(R) and is safe and effective and should be used if your cat goes outside. The key to making this preventative most effective is by applying this topical medication properly. At MAH, we recommend that you shave a small patch of hair down to the skin so that when the liquid is applied, all of it is absorbed by the skin and not taken up by the surrounding hair.
If you use Advantage Multi(R) with your cat, which covers fleas but not ticks, this topical medication also protects your cat against the most common GI parasites.
If you use Frontline Plus(R), which protects against fleas and ticks, then you would also want to use a GI parasite preventative. Our staff can help you choose the best options for your cat.
