Kittens

Caring for your new kitten (0 – 6 months)

Welcoming a kitten into your home is exciting and they will certainly keep you on your toes during their first six months. They are growing and developing rapidly during this first life stage and need a lot of care and attention. This page goes over the main concerns about caring for your new kitten.

Feeding your kitten

Your kitten may be small, but they are developing fast and will need the right food to support their needs. We recommend feeding them a complete food designed specifically for kittens – this will have the right level of protein and essential nutrients to support rapid growth.

Caring For Your New Kitten - Feeding. Oxford Cat Clinic - Cat Only Vets in Botley & Marston.

Microchipping cats. Oxford Cat Clinic - Cat Only Vets in Botley & Marston.

Microchipping kittens

A microchip is a tiny implant that is placed just under your kitten’s skin in the scruff of the neck. It contains your contact details so if your kitten gets lost you can be traced. The information is held on a central database and can be easily updated if you move house. As of June 2024 it’s a legal requirement in England to have your cat microchipped.

Vaccinations – protecting your kitten against disease

Certain viruses are prevalent among cats and core vaccinations provide protection against what can be extremely serious illnesses. The first course of injections for your kitten starts at around eight weeks, with a second injection at around 12 weeks and a third about a month later. Your kitten’s first booster will be due at around 6 months.

Caring For Your New Kitten - Vaccination. Oxford Cat Clinic - Cat Only Vets in Botley & Marston.

Caring For Your New Kitten - Worming. Oxford Cat Clinic - Cat Only Vets in Botley & Marston.

Treating your kitten for worms and fleas

Fleas can be very serious for small kittens, so you should begin a suitable flea treatment schedule. Your kitten will also need protecting against intestinal worms. They will need treatment for roundworms from three weeks old and for tapeworms from 12 weeks (unless your kitten has fleas, then sooner). Getting on top of these preventative treatments early will ensure your kitten is as healthy as possible during this important phase of their life.

Neutering your kitten

It might seem crazy, but kittens are able to reproduce at only 5 months, so it’s important to get them neutered before then. We recommend neutering at 4 months of age, not only does this prevent unwanted litters, but also helps with behavioural issues such as wandering, excessive spraying of urine and fighting.

Neutering cats. Oxford Cat Clinic - Cat Only Vets in Botley & Marston.

How we support your kitten

As a cat only clinic, bringing your kitten to the vets couldn’t be easier. Our non-threatening environment will make your kitten feel at ease. You may, however, have to fend off our over-enthusiastic nurses and reception team who can’t resist a kitten cuddle! During this first visit we can check for problems that may be present from birth, such as a cleft palate or hernia. We also provide vaccinations, neutering, microchipping, and flea and worm treatments, and will recommend the best treatments for your kitten based on their health and your home environment.

Cat Life Stages - How to look after your kitten. Oxford Cat Clinic.

Special Services for Kittens

We offer a kitten package as part of our Cat’s Whiskers Health Plan that includes everything you need concerning caring for your new kitten during their first six months, giving you an affordable way to spread the cost.

We run regular nurse-led clinics and recommend that once your kitten reaches six months, you bring them along for a six-month health check, and bring them to a nutritional wellness clinic for a check over – this is especially important after neutering as cats can begin to carry excess weight at this time.

You can find general pricing information for our most routinely paid for services here.

If you have any questions or concerns about caring for your kitten, feel free to call us to speak with one of the team.

01865 243000 (Botley Clinic) | 01865 950700 (Marston Clinic)

Need to see a vet in Oxford?

If your cat is ill, or you are concerned that they are just not quite right, then book to see one of our cat-specialist vets. If you’re not registered with us, then you can register here or give us a ring on 01865 243000.

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