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The New Kitten Questions

Congratulations on your new adoption! Whether we are discussing Himalayans or a Heinz 57 variety, you were probably aware that kittens of any breed need sensible care to keep them healthy and out of harm's way.

Speaking in the most superficial terms, this involves keeping the kitten

* 1 - warm and

* 2 - well fed,

* 3 - free of intestinal worms, and

* 4 - vaccinated against diseases for which we have immunizations available.

To speak more specifically, let me outline some basic information to guide you.

First, kittens need 'FVRCP-C' immunizations.

A kitten should get this vaccination every three weeks until they are 14 weeks old. It protects against Feline Rhinotracheitis, which is a severe "cold" that kills kittens and disables adult cats. Calici virus also causes "cold-like" symptoms, and may be fatal if it afflicts a kitten. Panleukopenia is fatal in most kittens, and causes vomitting and diarrhea. All of the aforementioned viruses are included in this single "all-in-one" immunization.

Kittens should be tested for Feline Leukemia, and possibly for Feline AIDS as well, because investments in kittens that carry these viruses may not be rewarded by longevity. These viruses are untreatable, and result in death within 3-4 years of contraction, often sooner.

If the test is negative, Leukemia can be prevented by Leukemia vaccination. The kitten should get two of these, three weeks apart.

Empirical deworming without stool checks works well for many people within a budget. But a fecal exam will often show Coccidiosis, a problem unrelated to worms. If a kitten shows diarrhea in spite of routine deworming, this is the first thing I suspect.

The Rabies shot is given at 14 weeks of age.

Feed your kitten any good diet that does not contain CORN or any CORN product in the top three ingredients. I am particularly fond of the results we see in Nutro® brand fed kittens.

Litter training is usually a breeze if the kitten is having well formed stools.

Ear mites and respiratory problems are the most common and obvious kitten disorders.

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