Client Education
Feline Resources
If you’ve recently welcomed a kitten into your home or are considering adopting one, we understand there’s plenty to do to ensure your new feline friend settles in smoothly. We’re here to assist with every step, from vaccinations and routine health care to advice on socialization and litter training. Below, you’ll find answers to the most common questions we hear from new cat guardians. We can’t wait to meet you and your new kitten!
Most Frequently Asked Cat Questions
Congratulations on bringing home a new kitten or cat! We hope you enjoy many years of good health and happiness with your newest family member! Having a new kitten or cat in the house is exciting but can also cause some anxiety as you figure out all that needs to be done to provide the ideal home to keep your cat safe and happy. We understand that, together with your veterinarian, you are an important member of your cat’s healthcare team, so to help you succeed in offering the best care for your kitten or cat, we have compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions to help get you started.
How often will I need to bring in my kitten for vaccines?
Kittens are typically vaccinated every 2-4 weeks starting from 6-8 weeks of age, through to 16 weeks of age, with a final booster at 6 months of age. They are then vaccinated every 1-3 years thereafter. Please see the Feline Vaccines page for details on the vaccines and the diseases they protect against.
What should I feed my kitten?
Kittens grow quickly and tend to be so active that it can be a challenge to keep up with their nutritional needs. For kittens, we recommend feeding a kitten-formulated, high protein, low carbohydrate diet in both wet and dry forms with free access to dry food. Canned food should be offered in small meals throughout the day to encourage textural familiarity, which is especially important for cats. Dry food can be offered in cat puzzles or toys that can stimulate hunting behavior, encourage exercise, and help manage the zoomies (see Food Puzzles for Cats)! Eventually, as a kitten reaches adulthood at around 1-year of age, we recommend switching to a majority wet food diet which tends to be lower in carbohydrates and offers better hydration for cats who tend to be spare water drinkers. Continuing to feed dry food only in food puzzles can help ensure that cats stay active. Please see the What To Feed My Cat section for the criteria on selecting the best diets for your kitten or adult cat.
How do I train my kitten to use the litter box, and what kind of litter/box should I use?
The amazing thing about kittens is that most are litter trained by the time you bring them home. Cats tend to be fastidious creatures and will naturally cover their poop and urine to hide it. Put in a litter box with a fine, sandy, unscented litter, they will instinctively start to scratch around and relieve themselves, often without prompting. If you need to train your kitten to use the box, be sure the box is easily accessible and in a quiet safe area. Put your kitten in the box after meals, naps or anytime they look like they may be about to go. Be patient and do not disturb your kitten while they are in the litter box. Generally speaking, cats prefer boxes that are big enough to
move around in and that allow them to urinate and defecate without getting their feet wet, or about 1½ the body length of an adult cat. Litter boxes should be away from a cat’s designated food and water stations and away from high traffic areas. Older cats may prefer boxes with lower sides for easier access. Under the bed or plastic storage bins with openings cut out for your cat to enter can serve as excellent litter boxes. Cats tend to prefer non-scented fine-grained scoopable litter. The litter should be scooped daily and fully changed, and the box cleaned, at least once a month. If your kitten or cat refuses to use the litter box, please talk to one of our vets.
move around in and that allow them to urinate and defecate without getting their feet wet, or about 1½ the body length of an adult cat. Litter boxes should be away from a cat’s designated food and water stations and away from high traffic areas. Older cats may prefer boxes with lower sides for easier access. Under the bed or plastic storage bins with openings cut out for your cat to enter can serve as excellent litter boxes. Cats tend to prefer non-scented fine-grained scoopable litter. The litter should be scooped daily and fully changed, and the box cleaned, at least once a month. If your kitten or cat refuses to use the litter box, please talk to one of our vets.
How often will I need to bring my kitten/cat to the vet?
After the initial vaccination series and spaying or neutering, we recommend
yearly veterinary visits for cats throughout adulthood, and then every 6 months or more for senior cats or cats (10 years and older) with chronic medical conditions. The yearly veterinary visit will include a full physical exam, weighing, and a discussion of diet and behavior is the best option for early disease detection to help extend the life of your cat.
yearly veterinary visits for cats throughout adulthood, and then every 6 months or more for senior cats or cats (10 years and older) with chronic medical conditions. The yearly veterinary visit will include a full physical exam, weighing, and a discussion of diet and behavior is the best option for early disease detection to help extend the life of your cat.
What are FeLV and FIV and why am I testing my kitten?
Felive Leukemia Virus and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus are cat-specific diseases that can cause serious illness, and in some cases, even death. Both viruses are most commonly transmitted through cat-to-cat bite wounds, but FeLV can also be transmitted through cat-to-cat grooming or through a mother’s milk. Because both viruses have the potential to lead to serious long-term health problems for cats, we recommend testing all kittens and recently adopted cats to establish their viral status. Cats that spend time outdoors or who become acutely ill should also be tested. If your cat tests positive for either virus, our vets will offer guidance on what to expect and how best to manage your cat’s healthcare.
How do I provide the best environment for my cat?
The Feline Veterinary Medical Association and the International Society for Feline Medicine, world experts on feline medicine and wellbeing, outline Five Pillars for creating a secure environment for your cat:
- Provide a safe space for your cat to retreat to and hide in if needed. Ideally, the space would be off the ground, soft and cozy, just big enough for a cat to curl up in, with closed sides and both front and rear entries.
- Multiple and separate access to key resources, like food, water, litter boxes, toys, and sleep areas. Food and water should be kept separate from litter boxes and cats in multi-cat households should be fed apart and have access to their own safe spaces. Litter boxes should be in easily accessible areas away from loud noises or anything aversive that would make a cat
avoid the area. - Opportunity for play and predatory behavior with interactive toys and food puzzles that satisfy a cat’s natural instinct to stalk and hunt. Cats should be allowed to chase and catch “prey,” at least occasionally, to avoid frustration. Food puzzles are especially useful for mimicking hunting behavior and allow a more natural feline eating style.
- Positive, consistent, and predictable social interactions with you, their human companion! Cats love predictable routines, which includes regular feeding times, play times, and cuddling. A cat’s individual preference will determine how much human touch and interaction they will seek out. The more predictable your personal interactions with your cat are, the greater sense of ease you will create, and the happier your cat will be.
- An environment that respects a cat’s acute sense of smell and their other senses. Cats will use their sense of smell to evaluate their surroundings and mark their territories by rubbing their faces and bodies around areas they inhabit, leaving behind pheromone signals that help to soothe and relax them. Avoid using scented cleaners, perfumes, or diffusers that can overwhelm a cat’s sensitive nose. Also be mindful of loud noises or lights that may be irritating to your cat. Cat music or videos can provide relief for otherwise anxious cats.
How do I manage my cat’s scratching and protect my furniture?
Cat claws are anatomically unique in that they are retractable, which means they can be exposed or withdrawn depending on their need. Cats use their claws for hunting and capturing prey, for fighting and defense, and for marking territory. In the wild, cats will scratch inanimate objects such as trees or fences, both as visual and scented markers of their territories. Scratching helps to sharpen a cat’s claws by removing the dead outer sheath and provides exercise by stretching the muscles in their legs and backs. Understanding that scratching behavior is necessary and normal can help you to create an environment that allows a cat to express this natural behavior. Cats that are under stimulated tend to scratch more. Resource management as outlined above will also play a factor in how much your cat scratches. Most younger cats prefer the texture of sisal rope, though older cats may prefer carpet. A variety of textures, including sisal, carpet, natural bark or wood, corrugated cardboard, and rough fabric should be offered to determine your cat’s individual preference. Scratching posts should be
offered in both vertical and horizontal orientations and in a wide variety of locations, including near windows. Vertical scratching posts should be sturdy with multiple levels and at least 3 feet tall. Enticing your cat to the appropriate scratching surfaces with catnip, food, or cat treats can also help. Never reprimand your cat for scratching an unwanted area, as a negative interaction can cause increased anxiety for your cat and make the scratching worse. Regular nail trimmings done at home or in the veterinary clinic can minimize the damage from scratching. Other solutions for inappropriate scratching include nail caps (Soft Paws), sofa scratch guards, double sided sticky tape, and triangle scratchers.
offered in both vertical and horizontal orientations and in a wide variety of locations, including near windows. Vertical scratching posts should be sturdy with multiple levels and at least 3 feet tall. Enticing your cat to the appropriate scratching surfaces with catnip, food, or cat treats can also help. Never reprimand your cat for scratching an unwanted area, as a negative interaction can cause increased anxiety for your cat and make the scratching worse. Regular nail trimmings done at home or in the veterinary clinic can minimize the damage from scratching. Other solutions for inappropriate scratching include nail caps (Soft Paws), sofa scratch guards, double sided sticky tape, and triangle scratchers.
How often does my kitten need to be groomed?
Cats and kittens do an excellent job of grooming themselves so rarely do they need to be bathed at home. Brushing cats every day with a soft bristled brush will stimulate the circulation to the skin and help to redistribute natural oils. This will help reduce the development of mats and can significantly decrease shedding. The introduction of brushing should be done gently while your cat is quiet and relaxed. Always pay attention to signals from your cat that brushing is welcome and stop if your cat starts tail flicking since some cats will find brushing too stimulating and may cause them to bite if over-excited. Some long-haired cats may require bathing, so
introducing them to bathing early in life may better condition them to tolerate this kind of handling. Cats who develop mats that cannot be brushed out may need to be shaved either by a groomer or your vet. NEVER attempt to cut-out mats with scissors as serious skin injuries can occur.
introducing them to bathing early in life may better condition them to tolerate this kind of handling. Cats who develop mats that cannot be brushed out may need to be shaved either by a groomer or your vet. NEVER attempt to cut-out mats with scissors as serious skin injuries can occur.
When should I spay or neuter my kitten?
We recommend spaying and neutering both female and male cats by 5 months of age, before a female cat has her first heat cycle to minimize the risk of mammary tumors later in life, and before a male cat reaches sexual maturity and starts to spray in the house. Your vet will discuss more specifics with you during the kitten series.