Kitten's Initial Trip to the Vet: What to Prepare and Questions to Put Forward
Say hello to a new addition to your family! Welcome your kitten to their first vet visit, an essential step in ensuring their health and well-being.
During the visit, which typically lasts between 30 to 60 minutes, the vet or vet tech will perform a full nose-to-tail examination, administer vaccines, and discuss diet, nutrition, and behaviour.
Before the visit, it's important to help your kitten feel safe and comfortable in their carrier. Start by creating positive associations, using a safe carrier with a comfy blanket, and providing treats as rewards.
Upon arrival, the vet team will greet your kitten, ask questions about their history, including where they came from, what they eat, and how they've been doing so far. They will also gather paperwork and samples, such as health records, fecal samples, supplements, vitamins, current medications, microchip information, and a list of questions.
The vet will then do a full physical exam, checking the kitten’s eyes, ears, teeth, skin, coat, heart, lungs, joints, and abdomen. They will also check the kitten’s weight, temperature, and screen for parasites or infections.
The vet will start or continue vaccinations, including core vaccines such as feline distemper (FVRCP: feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, panleukopenia) and rabies. They may also recommend optional vaccines like feline leukemia (FeLV) based on your kitten’s lifestyle or risk factors.
Deworming, flea and tick prevention, nutrition advice, and behaviour or litter box training guidance are also typically discussed. The visit is a good opportunity to build a relationship with the vet and ask any care questions.
If adopting a kitten from a shelter, independent adoption, or taking in a stray kitten, the first vet appointment should be within 48-72 hours. If adopting a kitten from a breeder who works directly with a veterinarian, the vet may provide a note indicating when to take the kitten for a follow-up exam or when vaccines are due.
The cost of a first vet visit will vary depending on the region of the country, but the average cost typically ranges from $75 to $350 per visit if deworming, vaccination, parasite prevention, and microchipping are performed.
The recommended schedule for a kitten's first vet visits is to have checkups every 3 to 4 weeks starting around 6 to 8 weeks of age until about 16 weeks old. This schedule completes their vaccination series and monitors their growth and development. After 16 weeks, the visits transition to less frequent wellness exams as your kitten grows.
This structured, frequent visit schedule during the first months helps ensure the kitten develops strong immunity, stays healthy, and becomes acclimated to vet visits to reduce stress.
Remember, finding a kitten vet who's just the right fit for your feline can be daunting. Word-of-mouth referrals and using a trusted tool like Vet Finder can help discover highly-rated vets near you.
Sources: [1], [2], [3]
During this vet visit, discussions about pet health, science, and health-and-wellness will encompass diet, nutrition, behavior, deworming, flea and tick prevention, and necessary vaccinations for your kitten's well-being. It's crucial to schedule subsequent visits every 3 to 4 weeks during the kitten's initial months to monitor their growth, development, and establish a strong immunity, fostering a lifetime of health and wellness.
