Getting your kitten (and you) ready for their first vet visit

As a responsible pet owner, your cat’s health is a top priority. Whether you have adopted or bought from a breeder, schedule a vet visit for your kitten in the first week of bringing them home.

What’s the urgency? Trusted shelters and breeders will have performed the required health checks at birth, as well as taking care of things like microchipping. A vet is an important person in your cat's life and someone that your cat or kitten needs to learn to trust and feel at ease with (this goes for you too).

Health checks for your cat or kitten aim to support their long-term well-being. The sooner you and your cat or kitten can get some face-time with the new vet, the better. Their expertise will guide you when it comes to vaccines, parasites, socialisation and general aspects of how best to care for your kitten or cat.

It’s a good idea to find a vet and make an appointment before picking up your new cat or kitten. Do your research and be sure to visit or call the practice in advance, to see the staff and overall environment.

Things to consider when finding a vet:

• Is the staff welcoming?
• What do the online reviews say?
• Is it a cat-friendly clinic?

This first vet appointment is a positive moment for you and your cat or kitten. But it can be potentially stressful for both of you.

To help it go as smoothly as possible, you should:

• Remember your cat or kitten’s paperwork, which will be used to create their medical file
• Bring any documentation that the clinic has asked you to fill out
• Have your questions for the vet noted down
• Stay calm, if possible

Here are four things you can do to prepare your cat or kitten for their first vet visit:

During the first vet appointment, you can expect the following:

• Your cat will be weighed
• Their teeth, gums and mouth will be checked
• A full body check from ears to paws
• Their heart, lungs and abdomen will be listened to
• Their joints will be checked
• A stool sample may be taken, to check for parasites and worms

Your vet will be on hand to keep your kitten or cat calm during their first check-up. If there is an accidental pee or a bit of aggression, keep calm and provide reassurance. This can be an overwhelming experience at any age, no matter how much you’ve both prepared for it.

Once the check-up is complete, it’s time to ask the vet any questions you may have concerning your new cat or kitten. This can range from behavioural patterns you are noticing to your cat’s diet plan, your cat’s weight,  socialisation tips and vaccination schedules.

If you are being sent home with medication or treatments, make sure you understand how to give it to your pet. It’s also a good idea to book follow-up appointments for the necessary.

As a responsible pet owner, you will be invested in making sure that your cat is properly socialised. This means introducing them to new people, places, sights, textures and sounds in a safe and caring manner.

This will help your kitten or cat to not panic when changes arise in their domestic environment and routine. Another benefit of socialising your kitten is preventing long-term problems with their behaviour as they mature. The more positive experiences they have as a kitten, the more adjusted they will be as an adult cat.

Kittens coming straight from a breeder will already have been exposed to other kittens and humans so they have a good head start on socialisation. However, if you’ve adopted an older cat, you will have to note their behaviour and any potential triggers.

There may be some gentle work to do in creating positive associations for your cat. For example, carefully showing them new places and people, to help build their trust and confidence. Celebrate each milestone!

While cats and kittens are generally viewed as independent creatures, that doesn’t mean you can leave them alone for long stretches of time. Each feline is different but do look out for signs of separation anxiety and handle it appropriately.  

These regular check-ups are important for several reasons:

• They allow your cat to have positive associations with the vet
• They allow your cat to stay up-to-date with their vaccinations, an essential element to their overall health
• They help in spotting common cat illnesses that are easy to treat when caught in time
• They help in spotting common cat issues that come with age, such as weight gain or dental decay
• They allow you to check in with your vet about any concerns you may have for your pet
• They provide an opportunity to discuss options for neutering or spaying
• They help your vet to have the most up-to-date medical records for your cat

For kittens, be ready for frequent visits to the vet in those first few months. This will ensure that all necessary kitten vaccines are administered and allow for their growth pattern to be checked. During the first six months, your kitten will also potentially be spayed or neutered, which requires veterinary intervention.

This early life stage is when you may have the most questions for your vet. From advice on choosing cat health insurance to overcoming any grooming resistance, make the most of your vet’s expertise.