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You’ve Adopted a Kitten

Now What?

You’ve Adopted a Kitten – Now What?

On this episode of Vet Chat it’s all about the kittens!

It’s All About Kittens!

Bringing home a cute cuddly kitten is an exciting time, however, sometimes we get more than we bargained for and that adorable little kitten might display health and behaviour issues we didn’t count on.

Dr. Ryan Llera discusses health and behaviour issues in kittens.

Worms, Ear Mites, Upper Respiratory Infections

and

Behaviour Concerns in Kittens

Finish this sentence: “April showers brings ______.”  If you said kitten season, you’re right! Not that there’s really a season but we veterinarians do tend to see more kittens in the springtime. And with those kittens can come all sorts of added features – worms, ear mites, respiratory infections, and behaviour issues to name a few. So here’s the basics of what you need to know when adding a new cat to your home.

What you need to know about bringing kitty home

What You Need To Know About Bringing Kitty Home

Worms in Kittens

If you think that pot belly is cute, it might not be a recent meal your kitten has had, it very well could be worms! 

Many kittens are born with worms and sometimes when you get a kitten you will have been told it’s been dewormed. Multiple types of worms can be infecting the insides of your kitten and not all dewormers are created equal. Over the counter worm medications don’t tend to cover all types of worms. 

Life Cycle Of The Worm

There’s also the matter of the life cycle of the worm. Many worms (roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, tapeworms) have life cycles that can take weeks. Sometimes you won’t even seen the worms and your kitten scooting on their hind end is almost never a sign of worms. These parasites may attach to the kitten’s intestines and might not allow them to pass. You could see a lack of weight gain in your kitten, poor appetite, vomiting up a worm, loose stool, or blood in the stool as other signs.  Deworming your kitten is best repeated 3 times at 2 week intervals to eliminate the pesky parasites.

Ear Mites

Ear mites are another type of parasite that may not be noticeable when a new kitten arrives. It can take weeks for ear mites to establish a full nest in kitty’s ear canal.  Imagine a bowl of Rice Krispies crackling in your ear…oh, and it itches like crazy. That is what these cats are experiencing. Aside from the scratching, you may also see a brown crusty accumulation in the ears. Your vet will help clean out the mites but we still need to prescribe a medication to kill off any stragglers and address any secondary infections. Why is this important – because ear mites can be transmitted to your other pets!

Upper Respiratory Infection

Once your new kitten has moved in, everything may seem normal, but it’s possible they are incubating some type of upper respiratory infection. Largely, there can be a viral cause and often a bacterial component as well.  Eye discharge, sneezing, and lack of appetite or energy in your kitten are signs that may be seen.  In some cases, these can be recurring issues that may worsen in times of stress and may need to be periodically managed symptomatically.

Kitten Behaviour Concerns

Kitten Behaviour Concerns

Adding a new kitten into the home brings out a whole host of behaviour concerns.  

Will your new kitty use a litter box? 

Will they damage furniture, other pets, or people by scratching?

How will other pets react or get along with your new kitten? 

These are certainly some things to consider that might change how you introduce a new kitten to the house.  Fortunately, most kittens/cats are instinctively and easily trained to use the litter box. Kittens at an early age can learn to use a scratching post and be trained to get their nails trimmed regularly without much fuss. A new pet can change how others might react in the house, so it’s important to gradually introduce them making sure the older pet residents get their usual amount of care and attention. And if your pets seem stressed, be prepared to make changes and give them some safe space.

Enjoy The Years Ahead With Your Kitten

Enjoy the years ahead with your new kitten

Kittens and cats make wonderful pets and additions to a family. It’s important to remember that fitting them in may come with some surprises that may or may not be apparent at first. Budget appropriately and be sure to follow through on your veterinarian’s recommendations. Enjoy the many years ahead with your kitten and be sure to have them checked annually with your veterinarian as cats are masters at hiding things!

Dr.R. Llera

Dr. Ryan Llera is a small animal veterinarian at the Kingston Veterinary Clinic in Kingston, Ontario. Though originally from Florida, he married a Canadian (who is also a vet!) and they share their home with 2 cats, 2 dogs, 2 horses, and a rabbit. Ryan is also a regular guest writer for the Ontario SPCA blog. You can find more of his writing at drryanllera.com or see what else he is up to on Facebook & Instagram