Kitten Care

Congratulations on your new kitten!

Everyone at Salmon Brook Veterinary Hospital looks forward to welcoming your new kitten into our family!  We enjoy assisting our clients and their families guide their new kittens along the exciting journey of their healthy lives!  We are here to help your kitten grow old with you and your family. 

There is much you can do to keep your kitten healthy.  Kittens (and cats) rely on you for their good health.  Regular health exams (including vaccinations and parasite protection), beginning when you bring your kitten home, proper dental care, proper nutrition, and a healthy environment all are parts of raising a healthy kitten. 

Your Kitten’s First Wellness Exam

Please schedule an appointment with one of our veterinarians for your kitten’s first wellness exam as soon as you bring your kitten home.  This initial visit’s exam includes a thorough “nose-to-tail” physical evaluation, and allows us to establish an individualized wellness plan for your kitten going forward.

Your kitten’s first wellness exam includes:

• An extensive physical examination
• A detailed discussion of the necessary vaccinations your kitten needs to begin his or her healthy, long life.
• Diagnostic testing for internal parasites and parasite control medication as needed.
• Heartworm preventative.
• Microchipping.
• The familiarization of your new kitten with his/her veterinarian and our staff here at Salmon Brook Veterinary Hospital, as well as the encouragement of your pet’s comfort level with veterinarian visits.
• The opportunity for us at Salmon Brook Veterinary Hospital to establish a relationship with you and your new kitten, as well as fully understand your expectations as a client and a pet owner.
• A general discussion about your new kitten’s breed, age, known past medical history, home environment, behaviors, and activity level.
• A discussion of future surgical procedures like spay and neuter.
• The time to address all of your questions and/or concerns about kittens and kitten care in general.
• When you pick up your kitten, remember to ask what and when he or she was fed. Replicate that schedule until your first kitten visit with us. We will discuss your kitten’s breed, anticipated lifestyle and nutritional needs with you during your first kitten visit.

When visiting with your new kitten for the first time, please bring the following with you:

• Your kitten in a cat carrier.  The best type of cat carrier is the inexpensive hard-sided carriers that open from the top and from the front.  An easily opened top allows a cat which is fearful, anxious or in pain to be gently lifted from the carrier from his exam.
• Any prior health records that you received when you brought your kitten home, such as history of vaccines, deworming, neutering, past medical history, etc.

We look forward to meeting your new kitten!