Adopting a kitten can be an exciting experience, especially if you're living with one of these animals for the first time. Adoption entails different responsibilities, from giving him the love he deserves, feeding him and offering him a space, to taking charge of his he alth.
When it comes to he alth, specialist visits are crucial, but when is it advisable to go? If you want to know when to take your cat to the vet for the first time, then read on!
Cat's first visit to the vet
If you've just adopted a cat, whether it's an adult or a baby, going to the vet is one of the first things you should do. If you do not have other pets at home, it is recommended to wait a week for the cat to get used to your presence and feel comfortable during the visit to the doctor. If you have other animals, go as soon as possible or, otherwise, keep the feline separated from other pets until the check-up is done, as it could be a carrier of some pathology or parasite.
The first visit to the vet should be from 7 to 8 weeks. Ideal time to carry out the first controls. At 3 months the first vaccines are injected and the booster is applied another 3 months later.
After vaccination and deworming, it is advisable to visit the vet every 6 or 12 months to carry out a check-up. Likewise, we must go whenever we observe abnormal symptoms.
Veterinary care of a cat
Now that you know how often you should take your cat to the vet, you need to know the basic procedures that should be carried out, as all this will helpprevent and detect possible diseases in your feline.
At the first visit, the vet will ask you basic details about the cat and perform a general checkup After that, it is most likely that the feline be dewormed. Some vets do a test first, but most recommend deworming at the first visit, especially if it's a formerly stray cat or one that has been adopted from a shelter.
Before starting the cat's vaccination schedule, it is advisable to wait a few days, so that the components of these are not affected by the dewormer. The most important vaccine is the feline trivalent or the feline triple, as it protects the cat against feline panleukopenia (feline distemper), rhinotracheitis and calicivirosis. About 4 months later, the booster of this vaccine is applied and then it is repeated annually.
When the feline is 5 months old, it is also recommended to apply the vaccine against feline leukemia and at 6 months againstrabia You should bear in mind that if you have adopted a stray cat and have other animals at home, it is best to ask your veterinarian to perform the necessary tests to rule out leukemia feline and rabies before bringing them together in the same space.
What happens during the cat's first visit to the vet?
The first visit to the vet is essential to start forming a bond between the feline and the one who will be his doctor. The first thing the professional will do is write down your pet's data, such as name, approximate age, origin, diet or hereditary pathologies of the parents, because in this way you will know if you should watch out for any illnesses in the future.
Then, the vet will proceed to perform a general check-up of the feline He will stop to check his eyes, ears, teeth and fur in look for external parasites or signs of injury. Your lungs and heart will be listened to, as well as weighed and measured. If you do not know the age of your feline, with these data the veterinarian will be able to give you the approximate.
In this first visit you will administer the dewormer and determine the best time to start applying the vaccines. Also, depending on the condition of the feline, some additional tests may be required.
At the end of the visit, you will be offered a booklet with all your pet's medical data that will help you keep track of the preventive measures that have been applied.
When to take a cat to the vet?
Now, we've been talking about when the first visit to the vet should be and the frequency of booster shots, but this doesn't mean your cat should wait until the year of vaccinations is over. vaccines if you observe abnormal symptomatology
In this sense, these are some of the other reasons to go to the vet:
- If you notice external parasites, such as fleas and ticks, on their fur, or internal parasites in their feces, such as larvae.
- If you have been the victim of a blow or trauma that makes it difficult for you to walk or has caused an injury or bruise.
- If you notice that goes a day or two without eating.
- If you notice that your body temperature has dropped or increased abnormally.
- If you notice that you urinate with blood or have difficulty urinating.
- If you notice that his coat looks scruffy or has stopped grooming.
- If you have vomiting or diarrhea for more than 24 hours.
- If you think he is poisoned or intoxicated.
- If your behavior changes suddenly and for no apparent reason.
Tips for the first visit to the vet
Going to the vet, or just leaving the house, can become a traumatic experience for the feline if the necessary precautions are not taken.
In that sense, we recommend:
- Have a transpontine for animals.
- Encourage your feline, days before, to enter the carriage on his own, either turning it into a space to play or hiding prizes in it.
- Use cat pheromones if he gets very nervous during the trip to the office, these should be sprayed around the transpontine.
- Coordinate an appointment with the vet so that the cat should spend as little time as possible in the waiting room, since the presence from other animals could make him nervous.
- Scratch your head, chin and ears to convey peace.
- If you notice that he is nervous, address the cat with a slow and loving voice note.
With these tips, your visit will be much easier!
