Smitten for Kittens: Bringing Home Your New Kitten

Bringing home a kitten brings tons of fun and laughs to a household. But as funny and cute as they are, kittens require extra attention and vet visits in order to make sure they grow into healthy, happy cats in the future. Below breaks down some of the kitten basics including vaccines and other recommendations for your new furry family member!
 

What vaccines does my kitten need in their first year?

The core vaccines for cats are Rabies and FVRCP (a combination vaccine that protects against three different potentially fatal feline diseases). The Rabies vaccine is administered at a minimum 12 weeks of age in the state of Virginia and will be updated one year after. After the first 1 year booster, the Rabies vaccine will then be updated every three years. FVRCP is a four part vaccine first administered around 8 weeks and then continued every 3-4 weeks until around 16 weeks of age. After the final booster the vaccine will be good for one year, then updated every 3 years after.

The Feline Leukemia vaccine is optional and not considered a core vaccine. It’s recommended if you plan to let your cat go outside and interact with neighborhood cats or strays. This vaccine will help protect them from Feline Leukemia, one of the most common infectious diseases carried by stray cats. Even if your cat does not go outside and you plan to have them indoors only, it is generally recommended just in case they get out of the house and somehow get bit or attacked by a stray cat carrying the disease.
 

Why would you want to microchip your pet?

It is always a good idea to think about microchipping because you never know what could happen, even if you plan on having a fully indoor cat. When you microchip your pet a small chip is implanted between the shoulders underneath the skin. You will then register that chip with the number it is attached to. From there, if a good samaritan finds your pet wandering, they can then bring it to your local shelter or vet to be scanned and hopefully reunite a family!
 

When should I spay/neuter my kitten?

The American Animal Hospital Association has started the “Fix Felines by Five” initiative, therefore generally recommending neutering and spaying kittens at around 5 months old. Female cats can enter into their first cycle as early as four months, and in an attempt to knock down the feral cat population we follow the AAHA guidelines and start early. Spaying cats early also decreases their chance of mammary cancer by 91% if spayed before 6 months old. This goes for male cats too, once neutered, it contributes to decreasing the feral cat population.
Due to their young age, kittens recover very quickly once they are sterilized and go back to their normal routines within a day or two.
 

What should I do when I bring my new kitten home?

When it comes to socializing your new kitten with people or other pets it is best to start them young when their brains are easier to train and condition. We don’t want to add extra stress or scare them by putting them in new situations too fast, but we do want them to get comfortable exploring and making their own decisions. Encourage them to play, eat with housemates, and explore around the house with supervision while letting them decide when they’re ready to leave a situation. This helps build confidence and can help them eventually manage anxiety and be able to handle visits to the vet, other animals, and guests in the home. Positive reinforcement goes a long way with kittens, giving them treats and praise when they do something we want will greatly increase their confidence.
 

How should I socialize my kitten with people and other animals?

Get your kitten used to being touched and held by people by playing with their ears, mouths, and paws as much as you can. If you get them used to being handled and get them okay with human touch they’re going to be more comfortable during their future vet visits.

If you have children, teach them to respect and be gentle with animals. If animals are handled roughly and get scared, they learn that they have to become defensive to be comfortable. We want to avoid this and teach our pets they are respected, loved, and not a play toy.

For other and older cats in the home, kittens generally love and get along with other animals fairly quickly, but as they age they can become territorial. Take things slow with your other cats, it can take a couple of weeks for them to be comfortable with each other. Encourage face to face interactions with supervision. A great way is to have a baby gate or a screen in between your kitten and older cat. Offer praise and treats with your cat and kitten when they interact so they know good behavior gets rewards.
 

Anything else I should know about having a new kitten?

Every kitten will be different and you’ll get to know their personality once you get them home and get them into their new environment. The key is to make sure they feel safe and secure so they can grow into happy, healthy cats. If you ever have specific questions about your kitten, doctors are always happy to answer during their kitten visits!