Each one is an individual
Kitten Portal
We make sure your little furry friend is taken care of by Vets that love their cats.Our kitten portal will give you all the basic information you need to know and keep you up to date with any fun events we may have on for your kitten!
Why you should make Southern Cross Vet THE place you trust with your Kitten:
- We’re family owned and not part of a chain so your puppy’s welfare is our number 1 priority
- FREE first kitten check
- Personalised care – we encourage you to have a relationship with one vet at the practice who gets to know you as you grow – you can always request your vet of preference!
- Easy parking – 20 secure underground parking makes vet visits less stressful
- Project HoPe – our compassionate fund is partly funded by Southern Cross Vet and is committed to improving the welfare of the pets of the Homeless in Sydney
The Importance of Vaccinations Protect your Kitten early
Vaccinating your pet is extremely important. Cat vaccinations effectively prevent some of the most serious and life-threatening diseases. Keeping up to date with vaccinations will not only protect your pet’s health but potentially yours as well! Some pet diseases can be passed on to humans.
Kitten Vaccines
Kittens must be vaccinated at 8 weeks of age, and then again at 12 weeks of age. The diseases below are what are covered in the vaccinations;
Feline Enteritis: is the most common life-threatening disease affecting cats. It is a contagious viral disease with a high death rate in cats under 12 months of age. Signs include fever, depression, severe stomach pain, vomiting diarrhoea and dehydration.
Feline Herpes Virus: also known as cat flu. Typical symptoms include sneezing, runny eyes and coughing. Young kittens are particularly susceptible.
Feline Calicivirus: is a common respiratory disease in cats. The virus attacks the respiratory tract, lungs and nasal passages, the mouth, with ulceration of the tongue, the intestines, and the musculoskeletal system.
Kitten Flea and Worming
Fleas on cats are small dark brown insects. The flea’s bite can cause itching but for a sensitive or flea-allergic animal, this itching can be quite severe and leads to hair-loss, inflammation and secondary skin infections.
Worms can have a serious health effect on kittens, so intestinal worming should never be ignored. There are five types of worms that generally affect cats: heartworms, roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, and whipworms. Some of these worms can be passed on to humans so it is vital that kittens are wormed regularly. Children are particularly susceptible to picking these up.
Kittens can pick up fleas and worms from almost anywhere! So preventing them is much better than cure. Treating fleas and worms can be a lengthy process once infected.
Annual Treatment Packs for Kittens
Flea and worming is an extremely vital part of kitten care which many owners do not understand the importance of. Fleas and worms are very common in young animals and they can easily be prevented. Here at Southern Cross Vet’s we can provide you with an annual pack of all your flea and worm treatment. This pack provides a 20% discount on the products.
When should I Flea Treat & Worm my Kitten
Kittens should be wormed every 2 weeks until they are 12 weeks of age. At 12 weeks of age puppies and kittens can be wormed monthly until they are 6 months old. They should then be wormed every 3 months. Kittens need to be flea treated monthly with Activyl. This is a spot on which goes onto the back of the neck. This product also helps to prevent ticks.
Kitten Nutrition Get out what you put in
Feeding your new kitten the right type of food is extremely important in giving them a great start in life and makes your experience together a great one.
Kittens have small stomachs so the aim is to feed three small meals until they are 6 months old (then drop to 2 per day) rather than 24-hour “free feeding” access to their food, which can lead to bad eating habits in adulthood.
It is vital that kittens are fed kitten food. Adult food contains large kibble which can be a choking hazard, and is made up of a different formulation. Kitten food has the right nutrients for growth. Cooked bones can splinter and therefore can potentially cause serious intestinal problems.
Desexing your kitten When and How
If you’d like to have your kitten desexed at our clinic please call us on (02) 9516 0234 or email us at [email protected].
Desexing Male Cats
Male dogs and cats can be castrated from 6 months of age. Desexing will reduce the risk of prostate cancer, testicular cancer and unwanted behaviours such as scent marking. Castration is the surgical removal of the testicles. During the procedure, each of the testes and testicular epididymis removed along with sections of the testicular blood vessels and spermatic ducts. The procedure is completed fairly quickly and cats are given a pain relief injection so they wake up comfortably.
Desexing Female Cats
Female cats can be speyed anytime from 6 months. Speying your female will reduce the risk of mammary cancers and uterus infection. It will also stop them from coming into season. Speying is the surgical removal of the ovaries. During the desexing procedure an abdominal incision is made and the ovaries and uterus are detached. The procedure can take up to an hour and is major surgery!