1. Vaccination Program: The following diseases can be prevented by use of scientifically advanced vaccines. The vaccination schedule outlined below will greatly contribute to the life span and well being of your pet.

P Panleukopenia (feline distemper): A fatal virus characterized by fever, lethargy, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Rh Rhinotracheitis: An upper respiratory virus characterized by fever, sneezing, and loss of appetite.

C Calicivirus: An upper respiratory virus characterized by fever, sneezing, and loss of appetite.

FELV Feline Leukemia Virus: A potentially fatal virus which can suppress the immune system, cause leukemia, or other tumors.

Ra Rabies: A fatal virus which affects the nervous system.
Vaccination Schedule

6 - 7 weeks: Physical exam, FELV test
8 - 11 weeks: P, Rh, C, FELV
12 - 14 weeks: P, Ra, C, FELV
15 - 20 weeks: Ra
24 weeks: Spay/Neuter, FIV test

Note: After initial vaccine, boosters are necessary at 3 week intervals until the kitten is 12 - 14 weeks old. Rabies is required at 12 - 16 weeks of age. After your kitten's vaccine series is complete, it is necessary to follow up with yearly boosters of P, Rh, C, and FELV since immunity from each vaccine only lasts one year. Rabies is to be boostered one year after the initial vaccine, then every three years thereafter. Feline Leukemia Vaccine is only recommended for cats that go outdoors or come in contact with other cats on a regular basis ie; at cat shows or boarding kennels.

2. Internal Parasites: Intestinal worms and protozoa which can cause diarrhea and weight loss. Please bring in a stool sample from your kitten for examination at the time of vaccination. Many kittens are born with intestinal worms or acquire them shortly after birth. Proper treatment will allow for healthy growth and will prevent the potentially debilitating effects of the worms. Roundworms and hookworms are zoonotic, which means humans can acquire these parasites. To help avoid human infections, it is best to scoop the litter box daily and wash hands well after disposal.

Common Intestinal Parasites

Roundworms Long: "spaghetti-like" worms which steal nutrients.

Tapeworms: Long worms which steal nutrients. They pass small "rice-like" segments in the stool. Usually acquired from fleas or by cats that hunt and ingest rodents.

Coccidia: A protozoa which destroys the intestinal lining.

Hookworms: Tiny worms, but voracious blood suckers which attach to the intestinal wall.

3. Nutrition: Kittens should be fed a high quality kitten food free choice. Purina ProPlan, Science Diet, Purina ONE, and Iams are examples of high quality diets. Failure to feed a high quality diet could result in urinary problems for your cat. Once kittens reach 10 - 12 months, they should be gradually changed to a high quality cat food.

4. Spay/ neuter/ declaw: Kittens may be declawed at any time after 5 months of age. The female cat, or queen, can be spayed at 6 months of age. The male cat, or tom, can also be neutered at 6 months of age. Spaying or neutering your cat is highly recommended to prevent certain behavioral problems and to help control pet over-population.

5. Feline Urological Syndrome (FUS): Symptoms include frequent urination in small amounts, often with straining due to mucus and sand-like crystals which accumulate in the urine. It's exact cause is still unknown, however, diet, inadequate water intake, bacteria, viruses, and stress may all be involved. The problem is particularly important in male cats due to the anatomy of their penis. The opening for passage of urine from the bladder to the outside is narrow and can plug up with the mucus and crystals formed with this syndrome. If this happens, the cat is unable to urinate and fatal toxins can build up in the blood creating an emergency situation. Therefore, any urinary straining in your cat necessitates a veterinary examination.

6. Feline Leukemia Virus: This virus is contagious, most commonly through bite wounds, and can cause major problems with the cat or kittens immune system. Blood leukemia and solid tumors may also occur with time. Symptoms can vary and include: anemia, fever, lethargy, inappetence, weight loss, and jaundice. Once the disease has progressed, it is untreatable. We recommend testing your kitten for feline leukemia at its initial kitten visit. A vaccine is available and is highly recommended for outdoor cats, cats that board or are groomed, and cats that may come in contact with other cats.

7. Feline Immunodeficiency Virus: This virus is spread through bite wounds and is seen primarily in outdoor cats that fight with other cats. Symptoms of the disease vary, and may include: weight loss, decreased appetite, inflamed gums, and chronic infections. However some cats may be asymptomatic. Although there is not yet a vaccine to protect against feline immunodeficiency virus, therapy to improve the cat's immune system can be dispensed. We recommend testing your cat initially at six months of age. If your cat goes outdoors, we recommend retesting yearly.

8. Feline Heartworm Disease: It has been determined that cats can become infected with heartworms. Heartworms are carried by mosquitoes and result in long thin worms that live inside the cats heart and lungs. Both indoor and outdoor cats can become infected with heartworms. Signs of heartworm disease in cats vary, and include: vomiting, coughing, and sudden death. We recommend that heartworm prevention be administered year round in the Tidewater area. It is a chewable tablet or a topical spot-on that is given or applied once monthly.