Have You Made Kitten Health a Top Priority for Your Cute Kitten?

In our busy world, kitten health care can fall by the wayside. Admit it...when was the last time you took your kitten to see your veterinarian?

Keep in mind kittens require more frequent check-ups than adult cats. Kittens do retain some residual immune system protection from their mothers. However, because kittens' immune systems are less developed than older cats, kittens can become more susceptible to infections, diseases, and other feline health problems.

Just like human children, it seems as if kittens are always catching a cold or the sniffles. Make sure your other feline friends are away from your kitten when they are actively sick and sneezing. Colds can spread like wildfire in cramped quarters.

Here Are Some Common Kitten Health Issues:

Hairballs

Parasites-Worms and Ear Mites

Fleas and Ticks

Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)

Feline Obesity

Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)

Feline Allergies

Acne

Diarrhea

Kitten's First Vet Visit

Going to the veterinarian for the first time can be traumatic for kittens. Imagine if you were a naive, young kitten. Imagine all the strange people, sounds, and smells surrounding you. On top of that, you may get stuck with a sharp needle or may be forced to drink yucky tasting medicine. Sounds horrible, doesn't it?

Take your kitten for its first vet visit between eight and ten weeks. Help make your kitten's first visit to the vet go as smoothly as possible. Bring your kitten's favorite toys or snack to help them remain calm.

Above all else try to hold off painful procedures and vaccinations until another vet visit. You do not want your kitten to associate going to the vet with pain or trauma. If that happens, your kitten will make future veterinary visits a nightmare and will put up a fight.

Prior to going to the first vet visit prepare your kitten. Get them use to being touched and examined. Give your kitten regular baths (whether or not they need it) and brush their fur so that they can get use to human touch.

With proper planning, the first vet visit should be relatively uneventful. On the first visit, the vet will want to perform a head to toe assessment of your kitten. As your kitten gets older, you should go to the vet for check-ups once per year barring any immediate kitten health problems.

Here’s What You’ll Most Want to Know from Your Veterinarian:

• Weight

  How much does my kitten weigh? Weight is of utmost importance for kitten health and development. Your vet will want to make sure your kitten is not malnourished or overweight.

• Eyes

  Are there any problems with my kitten’s vision? Severe eye disorders and untreated conjunctivitis can lead to blindness.

• Ears

  Does my kitten have any difficulties hearing? Your kitten's hearing is one of its most developed senses. Ear infections are common in kittens.

• Nose

  Does my kitten have any nasal allergies or difficulties breathing? Allergies and colds are prevalent among kittens.

• Teeth

  Are my kitten’s teeth healthy and growing? Baby kitten (primary) teeth come in around 2 weeks of age; Adult teeth (deciduous) arrive by 7 months of age.

• Heart

  Does my kitten’s heart beat sound regular? Are there murmurs present?

• Lungs

  Do my kitten’s lungs sound clear or congested? Congested lungs could be a sign of pneumonia, fluid in the lungs, or asthma.

• Abdomen

  Is my kitten's abdomen distended? Distended, recurrent vomiting, large abdomens can be a sign of intestinal worms, constipation, overfeeding, or other health problems.

• Bones

  Are my kitten's bones growing properly? Are there any bone or spinal deformities?

• Reproductive System

  Due to my kitten's breed, is it subject to any genetic abnormalities? Does my kitten need to be spayed or neutered?

So What Does a Healthy Kitten Look Like?

Excellent kitten health examples abound. Yet, each kitten is truly an individual and different breeds all look different. But, healthy kittens do share have some common characteristics:

• The Nose Knows
  
  A cool, moist nose equals good hydration. No watery discharge from the nose.

• Active Kittens
  
  All kittens vary on their activity levels. Some kittens are naturally more boisterous than others. Generally, young kittens sleep 70-80% of the day, but should be alert during the hours they are awake. Inactivity in kittens could be a sign of anemia or feline leukemia.

  Remember, felines are nocturnal creatures so your cute kittens may be heard frolicking at night.

• Clean Ears
  
  Inside the ears should be clean, clear, and pink with no dark discharge (which could signal ear mites).

• Good Hydration

  Healthy kittens have clear yellow urine. Dark, tea colored urine could indicate dehydration. Voiding too much can be a sign of diabetes or kidney disease. Feline urine usually has a strong distinctive odor.

• Solid Stool

  Kitten stools should be firm brown to clay colored. Nursing baby kittens may have looser stools because they are ingesting their mother's milk or a milk substitute.

• Lovely Fur

  A healthy kitten possesses no missing fur (unless your cute kitten is a hairless, of course!), no flaking skin, no skin infections (ringworm), and a fluffy fur coat.

• Walk Steady

  Does your kitten walk steady? Are their legs straight with no wobbling? Some kittens are born with extra toes, a genetic condition known as polydactyly.

Photo by Joseph Sardin @ flickr.com

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