New Cat/Kitten 101
Have you added a new furry addition to your family and feel clueless? No fret, we are here to help! Below are links to pertinent information for first-time kitty owners or current kitty owners bringing in a new addition.
Our Preventive Medicine Recommendations – Getting down to the basics
It is important to quarantine any new pet you bring home until they can be seen by a veterinarian. A kitten’s recommended schedule is as follows. Please note that if the newest addition to your family is over 8 weeks old, the schedule below may be altered. Feel free to ask any questions as our staff helps guide you through the process of keeping your kitty healthy.
6-8 weeks old
First exam, Leukemia and FIV tests, first upper respiratory/distemper vaccine, a stool sample/parasite screen and Revolt applied, which protects against fleas, roundworms, hookworms, heartworms and ear mites.
12 weeks old
Follow up exam, their second upper respiratory/distemper vaccine, a rabies vaccine, a first leukemia vaccination until we know for sure they will not be an escape artist or if they are going to be permitted outside and Revolt applied.
16 weeks old
Follow up exam, third upper respiratory/distemper vaccine, and a second leukemia vaccine.
1 year old
Exam, upper respiratory/distemper vaccine, rabies vaccine and leukemia vaccine (if your cat goes outside).
2 years through 7 years
We are following the American Association of Feline Practitioners recommendations. Once your cat is over one year of age, they recommend cats receive the upper respiratory/distemper vaccine every three years. The rabies vaccine is a cat only vaccine and it is given every year. All cats that go outside should be given a leukemia vaccine every three years.
8 years and older
Vaccination protocols do not change for senior cats. A senior profile should be completed for cats 8 years and older to help in the detection of old age illnesses. Detecting these potential diseases early could help prolong your cat’s life. The recommended blood work consists of a CBC (Complete Blood Count) which gives information about the blood cells. It checks for infection, anemia, hydration, blood clotting ability and immune system, Blood Chemistry which evaluates body organ functions such as kidney and liver, checks for diabetes and evaluates electrolyte levels, Thyroid test which checks for hyperthyroidism (one of the most common old age diseases causing weight loss), and a Cardiac Enzyme Level which checks for heart disease. It is also recommended that they receive an exam every 6 months as health can rapidly change in this age bracket.
Spay (female) / Neuter (male)
The ideal age for both operations is 6 months old. These procedures are necessary to prevent unwanted litters of kittens. They are also a great benefit to the health of your cat in preventing several types of tumors, including breast and testicular cancer. These procedures also reduce behavioral problems such as spraying.
Parasites
All cats and kittens should have a stool sample exam. This requires a small, fresh (less than 24 hours old) bowel movement which is examined under a microscope for worms and other parasites. Even indoor only cats should have a sample tested yearly, as they can get parasites from dirt tracked into the house and/or from bugs that get into the house.
Fleas
We recommend Revolt, which protects against fleas, roundworms, hookworms, heartworms and ear mites. The other available product we recommend is Advantage®, which protects against fleas only. Please consult your Veterinarian to determine which product is right for your cat. We do not recommend the purchase of any over the counter products (other than Advantage®) purchased elsewhere! Some may cause seizures, neurological issues and even death!
Feline Leukemia and Feline Immunodeficiency Viruses
These viral diseases can interfere with your cat’s immune system and be fatal. There is no cure for either of these diseases; therefore; we recommend that all cats be tested before bringing them into your home. We also recommend that all cats that are at a high risk of exposure, such as outdoor cats, be vaccinated for their protection.
Feeding
Recommend primarily canned food or raw/freeze dried diets..
- Canned Food – Recommend meat flavors, no seafood flavors. Meat flavored canned food is as close to the cats natural diet as we can manufacture. It decreases the risk of urinary tract problems, keeps their weight down, lowers the risk of diabetes and gives them a nicer coat.
- Seafood – Seafood increases the risk of urinary tract problems and is one of the most common food allergies in cats.
- Raw/Freeze Dried Food – We recommend commercially prepared raw diets. Freeze dried raw is easy to feed. It is dehydrated raw meat that can be fed dry as a snack or with water added to make a meal. It is extremely difficult to make your own raw diet and we advise against it. You run the risk of bacterial infections, such as salmonella
- Dry Food (Only if your cat will NOT eat anything else)– We recommend single colored, grain free dry food with meat as the first ingredient. Limit the amount, as it is high in calories and can cause your cat to gain weight and increase the risk of diabetes, joint problems, heart disease, vomiting and urinary tract stones
- Treats – This is like candy and cookies to a cat, so limit the amount. One treat is equal to one Oreo cookie! We recommend Greenies Dental Treats® to help prevent tooth decay.
Litter Boxes
We recommend one litter box per cat plus one extra to give your cat plenty of room to go multiple times without stepping in any waste. Some cats like to urinate in one box and use the second for bowel movements. Use unscented scoopable litter and scoop the boxes daily.
The litter box is like our toilet. If you have, for example, 2 cats using 1 litter box scooped daily that is equivalent to 2 humans using 1 toilet being flushed once daily – yuk!
In the wild, cats dig into soft soil or sand to go to the bathroom, so they are naturally drawn to litter as a substitute. If the litter box is too dirty or smelly, they will choose another soft location, such as a bed, clothing on the floor or a rug.
If your cat has been using the litter box fine and suddenly starts to urinate elsewhere and you have not changed litters, added a new cat or forgot to clean the box, then have your cat checked for a medical problem such as infection, crystals or bladder stones.
Monthly topical preventative recommendations
Revolt (Monthly preventative topical for flea, tick, lice, ear mites and common parasite protection)
Advantage (Monthly topical preventative for fleas only)
When is it time to visit your vet?
https://catfriendly.com/keep-your-cat-healthy/veterinary-care/when-to-visit-the-vet/
Recognizing when your cat is sick
Cats are notorious for hiding illnesses!
https://www.pethealthnetwork.com/cat-health/cat-checkups-preventive-care/how-tell-if-your-cats-secretly-sick
Microchip
Just because they do not go outside, doesn’t mean they can’t sneak out. A microchip is a great way to help them find their way home!
https://www.homeagain.com/
Pet Insurance
There are so many companies to choose from and we hope the following link helps narrow it down for you! Coverage and deductibles vary from company to company.
https://www.petinsurancereview.com/
Financing Options
Care Credit
Medical only credit card with interest free financing (On purchases over $200.00). Great to have on hand so there is no need to worry in the event of an emergency.
Prequalify online at https://www.carecredit.com/
ALL PET CARD
Another option for 6 month interest free financing (On purchases over $250.00) and it is a card just for pets! This allows for a higher pre-qualification rate. This also just takes a few minutes to prequalify and allows you to break down your payment into 6 monthly installments. Prequalify online at https://allpet.com/
Scratch Pay
Emergencies are unexpected! Payment plans made for any budget.
https://scratchpay.com/
Safety
Let’s keep your kitty safe from unknown hazards! We hope these links help prevent the unimaginable.
https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/pet-owners/
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/cats-plant-list
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/holiday-safety-tips
Introducing your new kitty to their new environment
https://catfriendly.com/be-a-cat-friendly-caregiver/adopting-a-cat/introducing-a-cat/
Feliway products to help make a calming environment for an easier transition
https://allentowncatclinic.myvetstoreonline.pharmacy/shop/SearchDisplay?categoryId=&storeId=10152&catalogId=10101&langId=-1&sType=SimpleSearch&resultCatEntryType=2&showResultsPage=true&searchSource=Q&pageView=&pageGroup=Search&beginIndex=0&pageSize=12&searchTerm=feliway&authToken=-1002%252CJdh5JVzqovGDGuZIS9A0yAc11LCiDPi1CWNOoTX%252B9xo%253D
Local Groomer information
One Stop Pet Shop
1375 Chestnut Street
Emmaus, PA 18049
610-967-0645
Chaar
1635 Airport Road
Allentown, PA 18109
610-437-9978
Petite Paws (Cats and small dogs)
509 N. 22nd Street
Allentown, PA 18104
610-762-7960
Any Pet Groomed Mobile Pet Grooming Service
610-756-3836 (Hard to handle cats are her specialty)
The Tailored Tabby, LLC (Mobile groomer)
717-466-4871
Email:the tailoredtabby@yahoo.com
Going on vacation?
Preparation for travel with your cat
https://catfriendly.com/be-a-cat-friendly-caregiver/traveling-with-your-cat/
Boarding information if you cannot take your cat with you
We offer boarding services that are charged by the evening. We provide a litter box, blanket and offer both canned and dry food. If, however, you wish to give your cat all the comforts of home, please feel free to supply your cats own food, special toy and/or blanket. Our boarders are out of their kennel at least twice a day to exercise and stretch their legs. We do not allow the cats out at the same time unless they are from the same family. Medications can be administered for an additional charge.
At home pet sitters are available from outside sources not affiliated with us if you prefer not to board them in a kennel
We recommend a previous technician of ours, Jess that now has her own pet sitting company
http://www.wagnwearnwatchnscoop.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Wag-N-Watch-258944294132688/
Or you can perform a Google search
Emergency Centers
Eastern Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Center (24 hours)
7042 Snowdrift Road
Allentown, PA 18106
610-904-1776
https://www.epvmc.com/
Quakertown Veterinary Clinic (24 hours)
Tri-County Emergency Service
2250 N Old Bethlehem Pike
Quakertown, PA 18951
215-536-6245
http://quakertownvetclinic.com/
Valley Central (24 hours)
210 Fullerton Ave.
Whitehall, PA 18052
610-435-1553
http://vcvrec.com/
Urgent appointments, can be treated at the following limited hour facility: Please call for operating hours.
Rush Urgent Care
7525 Tilghman Street
Allentown, PA 18106
610-224-7874
https://www.facebook.com/RushVeterinaryUrgentCare/