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Cat

At Poco West Animal Hospital, we believe every pet deserves personalized, high-quality care.

Kitten First-Year Guide — PoCo West Animal Hospital, Port Coquitlam

Welcome home, little whiskers! Bringing a kitten into your family is a joyful event—and the perfect time to build healthy habits from the start. At PoCo West Animal Hospital, we keep visits calm and positive, and tailor timing, treatments and nutrition to your kitten’s lifestyle. Because one size does not fit all, we will personalise timing and care after we examine your kitten and discuss options that align with your situation, priorities and budget.

At-a-Glance Schedule

If your kitten is starting late or has missed a dose, we’ll design a catch-up plan by age.

  • 8 weeks
    FVRCP #1 (feline herpesvirus/rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, panleukopenia)
    • Deworming & flea/tick prevention
    • Fresh stool sample available for screening
  • 12 weeks
    FVRCP #2
    • Feline Leukemia (FeLV) #1
    • Deworming & flea/tick prevention
    • Option for fresh stool/follow-up test
  • 16 weeks
    FVRCP #3 (final kitten booster; sometimes given 18–20 weeks depending on risk)
    • FeLV #2
    • Rabies
    • Deworming & flea/tick prevention available
  • 6–8 months
    Spay/Neuter (add microchip if not already placed)
  • 12 months after the 16-week visit:
    FVRCP booster (1 year)
    • Rabies booster (if applicable)
    • FeLV booster for at-risk cats

Notes:

  • If you’re starting late, we’ll design an age-based catch-up plan.
  • Ask about split-visit vaccine appointments for additional safety if your kitten has a history of vaccine sensitivity.
  • Rabies is a Core Vaccine like FVRCP. FeLV vaccination is also very important for protecting young kittens.
  • FeLV/FIV testing: We may test at intake (and before/around the FeLV series when practical); retest ~60 days after any possible exposure.
  • Ask about our Kitten Wellness Bundle (payment-plan options available).

Parasites: What to Know

Intestinal parasites (roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, coccidia) are common in kittens. Signs: diarrhea, vomiting, poor growth, pot-bellied appearance. Kittens pick up parasites from their mother (before/after birth), the environment, fleas or prey. Some are zoonotic (can infect humans). Regular deworming, good hygiene, and prompt litter-box clean-up protect the whole family.

Deworming & Stool Sample Checks

  • Deworm: every ~2 weeks until ~12 weeks, then monthly until ~6 months (adjust based on risk).
  • Stool tests: 2–4 in first year (intake, after deworming, around 6–12 months).
  • Flea & tapeworm prevention: consistent flea control helps prevent tapeworms.

Heartworm Advisory (Travel-Related)

Risk varies by region; if your kitten came from or will travel to heartworm-endemic area ask us about testing & monthly prevention.

Home Hygiene Tips

  • Scoop litter daily
  • Wash hands after handling litter or soil
  • Keep play areas clean
  • Pregnant people should avoid litter-box duty

Grooming Basics (Low-Stress)

  • Baths: usually not needed—but long-haired kittens may benefit. Use kitten-safe shampoo; keep water out of ears/eyes; make first baths brief and positive.
  • Brushing: short sessions build trust and prevent mats.
  • Ears: check weekly; clean only with vet-approved products.
  • Nails: trim small amounts often; reward calmly.
  • Teeth: start early with cat-safe toothpaste & soft brush or finger-brush.

Spay/Neuter: Why & When

  • Helps prevent heat cycles, roaming, spraying, fighting, reproductive diseases.
  • We offer pre-anaesthetic bloodwork to identify hidden issues early and optimise recovery.
  • Recommended at 6–8 months (may vary by breed/health).
  • Consider microchipping at same visit.
  • Home care: prescribed pain control, e-collar if needed, restricted activity 10–14 days. Monitor incision; call if swelling/discharge/foul odour or kitten stops eating.

Nutrition & Feeding

  • Wet + Dry balance: cats have low thirst drive; including canned food supports hydration & urinary health. Complement with balanced dry food.
  • Starting point: Aim for ≥50% high-quality canned kitten food; feed kitten-specific diets until ~9–12 months.
  • Feeding method: small, frequent meals while growing; introduce new foods gradually over 7–10 days. Provide fresh water—skip cow’s milk.
  • Treats: Use sparingly—ideally ≤10% of daily calories. Include treats in total calories.
  • Feeding targets: We’ll help set daily calorie goals and track body-condition score (BCS) at each visit.
  • Slow feeders/puzzle feeders: for enrichment and mental stimulation.

Bringing Your Kitten Home

  • Start in one quiet room with litter, water, food, bed, toys.
  • Open carrier; allow voluntary exploration.
  • Expand territory room-by-room over several days.
  • Sit nearby, speak softly, and let the kitten choose when to interact.

Introducing to Dogs, Cats & Children

  • Scent swap: exchange blankets/towels; feed on opposite sides of a door.
  • Initial visuals: use baby gate or carrier; keep dogs leashed. Short 3–5-minute sessions.
  • Watch body language; pause if stress signs appear.
  • Gradual sharing: supervised room first; provide vertical space; separate resources (beds, litter/food/water).
  • Children: always supervised; gentle petting; quiet voices.
    Short, positive sessions beat long stressful ones. Contact us if tension persists.

Kitten Gentling (Cooperative Care)

  • Short sessions (30–60 seconds, 1–2×/day): touch ears, gums, paws, tail, collar/harness → treat.
  • Touch → treat; stop before kitten pulls away.
  • Practice exam-positions: chin-rest, stand, side-lie.
  • Keep carrier out at home as a safe den; add treats; use pheromone spray pre-travel.
  • Introduce surfaces & sounds slowly.
    Goal: a kitten who opts-in to handling.

Play, Enrichment & Safety

  • Predatory play: wands, toy mice, crinkle balls, lasers (end with a “catch”). Remove broken toys.
  • Avoid unsupervised string/ribbon (foreign-body risk).
  • Provide climbing / scratching: trees, vertical & horizontal scratchers.
  • Never use hands/feet as toys.
  • Daily social play builds confidence.

⚠️ Foreign-Body (FB) Ingestion — Prevent & Act
Avoid: string/yarn/ribbon, hair ties, elastics, tinsel, thread/needles, small toy parts, rubber bands.
Watch for: repeated vomiting, drooling, pawing at mouth, loss of appetite, lethargy, painful belly, hiding.
Do not pull visible string; call immediately. Do not induce vomiting unless advised.

Holiday & Household Hazards

Lilies, essential-oil diffusers, human pain meds (acetaminophen/ibuprofen/naproxen), onions/garlic, chocolate, xylitol, open-flame candles. When unsure — keep items out of reach and ask us.

Litter Box Success

  • One box per cat + one extra.
  • Quiet location, away from food/water.
  • Litter: Unscented, low-dust clumping for kittens ≥12–16 weeks; non-clumping paper for younger/litter-mouthing kittens or respiratory-sensitive homes.
  • Depth: ~2-3 cm (~1 inch).
  • Box size & access: length ≥1.5× kitten’s body length; low entry; avoid covered boxes early.
  • Scoop daily; wash monthly.
  • Training: praise only; move box gradually if needed.

When to Contact Us

Call if you notice: poor appetite, repeated vomiting/diarrhea, sneezing/eye discharge, coughing/trouble breathing, lethargy, pain or any change in behaviour or condition that worries you. Kittens can decline quickly—trust your instincts.