The following guidelines are our general recommendations for preventative health for your feline. Because each animal is unique, we will tailor your cast’s health program and vaccinations as needed for optimal care in the medford area. A physical exam at each visit is very important because our pet’s age in 6-9 months what we do in 14-16 years. This will give you time to discuss any issues about your kitten’s health, behavior, nutrition and diet in this extremely important developmental period. Although adult cats should be examined by our veterinarians every year to discuss vaccinations and other preventative health care needs.
| 8 weeks: |
Wellness examination |
| DRCC vaccination: This is a combination vaccine including Feline Distemper Virus, Rhinotracheitis virus, Calicivirus, and Chlamydiosis |
| Feline Leukemia (FeLV)/Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) test - We want to be sure your kitten tests negative before giving the 1st FeLV vaccination |
Deworming: We recommend bringing in a stool sample for analysis at this time so we can be sure to use the proper dewormer |
| |
| 12 weeks: |
Wellness examination |
| 2nd DRCC vaccination |
| Feline leukemia (FeLV) vaccination |
| 2nd deworming |
none |
| 16 weeks: |
Physical examination |
| 3rd DRCC vaccination |
| 2nd Feline leukemia vaccination |
| |
| 6 months: |
Rabies vaccination (booster required in 1 year) |
| Spay or castration surgery |
| Microchip insertion |
| Annually: |
Wellness exam |
| Dental examination (with teeth cleaning as necessary) |
| DRCC vaccination: Feline Distemper Virus, Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus and Chlamydiosis |
Feline Leukemia (FeLV) vaccination |
| Deworming: We recommend bringing in a stool sample once a year and using a broad-spectrum dewormer 1-2 times per year, especially for indoor/outdoor cats |
| Nutritional and body condition evaluation |
none |
| Every 3 Years: |
Rabies vaccination |
| Annually: |
Biochemistry/Complete Blood Count/Urinalysis every 1-2 years beginning at 8 years of age |
| Thyroid function assessment every 1-2 years |
| Tonopen evaluation for glaucoma (increased eye pressures) |
ECG evaluation for heart arrhythmias (abnormal heartbeats) |
| Blood pressure determination – one of the early indications of kidney or thyroid disorders in cats can be increased blood pressure |
| Thoracic (chest) radiographs to evaluate the heart and to check for the presence of lung tumors |
Aging Chart for Cats
| Age |
0-20 lbs |
|
| 5 |
36 |
Adult |
6
|
40 |
|
| 7 |
44 |
|
| 8 |
48 |
|
| 9 |
52 |
Senior |
| 10 |
56 |
|
| 11 |
60 |
|
| 12 |
64 |
|
| 13 |
68 |
|
| 14 |
72 |
Geriatric |
| 15 |
76 |
|
| 16 |
80 |
|
| 17 |
84 |
|
| 18 |
88 |
|
| 19 |
92 |
|
| 20 |
96 |
|
Beginning around 8 years of age cats are considered senior animals. This is the age when many medical conditions begin to appear. Consequently, it is extremely important to have consistent annual wellness examinations and to have periodic bloodwork at this time in order to identify any medical conditions early before they become a problem. Diagnosing early will allow us to better manage any problems with dietary or medical means.
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