Junior Cats

Looking after your junior cat (7 months – 2 years)

Your junior cat will be active, playful and keen to explore. Whilst no longer technically a kitten, your young cat is still developing rapidly, and their diet and environment will both need to adapt accordingly. This page details the main concerns about looking after your junior cat.

The best diet for your junior cat

We recommend feeding your young cat a complete food specifically designed for cats of this age group. Always make sure that you follow the feeding guidelines on the packaging and, while it might be tempting, it’s not a good idea to give them excessive treats as they can put on weight quickly, especially after neutering.

Junior Cat Diet. Oxford Cat Clinic - Cat Only Vets in Botley & Marston.

Microchipping

If you have taken ownership of a young cat, you will need to check that it is microchipped. All cats within England must be microchipped from 20 weeks of age by law and all microchip details are held on a national database. Your vet will be able to determine whether your cat has been previously chipped if you are unsure. It is important to keep your cat’s details up to date so that if your cat gets lost, or brought to a vet because they are injured or unwell, you can be reunited quickly.

Vaccinations

This is the time that your cat should receive their first booster vaccination – and keeping up with this is a priority in preventing serious illness in your young cat. Your vet will recommend a long-term vaccination programme depending on your cat’s individual circumstances – i.e. are they an indoor only cat.

Junior Cat Vaccination. Oxford Cat Clinic - Cat Only Vets in Botley & Marston.

Worm and flea treatment

All cats should be treated regularly for fleas. – these can transmit disease and cause irritation to cats and their owners. If left untreated, your home may become infested and getting rid of fleas once they begin to breed in your home is a lengthy process! Your cat should also be treated for roundworms and tapeworms regularly – how often will be determined by your vet after carrying out a risk assessment with you. (The result of this risk assessment also determines which Cat’s Whiskers Health Plan would be recommended for your cat.) Like fleas, worms can spread disease and potentially stop your cat from thriving.

Neutering

Ideally your young cat will have been neutered at 4 months, but if you’ve acquired a cat that has not been neutered, then you’ll need to arrange for them to have the procedure. We advise keeping your cat inside until they have been neutered to help prevent unplanned litters. Did you know that un-neutered males are more likely to get into fights and to get involved in road traffic accidents. Hormones are powerful things!

How we support your junior cat

In addition to cat-specialised veterinary care if your young cat is ill or has an accident, we provide a range of services and clinics to keep your feline friend happy and healthy. We offer microchipping, dental care, neutering and vaccinations, as well as specialised worm and flea treatments.

And, as we’re a cat only clinic, your young cat can experience vet or nurse check-ups in a dog-free, non-threatening environment.

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

Special Services for Junior Cats

If you want to do the best looking after your junior cat but are cost conscious, think about our Cat’s Whiskers Health Plan. The plan is designed around best practice preventative healthcare guidelines for your cat, but you benefit from being able to split the cost across 12 regular monthly payments. You also receive generous discounts on the products and services included in the plan, including:

Your cat’s flea and worm treatments for their year as recommended by your vet according to their individual lifestyle
Their annual booster vaccination
Plus 10% off all food and medication

We also run regular nurse-led clinics as part of our preventative healthcare approach, including six monthly health checks and nutritional wellness clinics. These are free if you’re on the Cat’s Whiskers Health Plan.

If you have any questions about the plan, our services, or any worries about looking after your junior cat, then please call us to speak to a member 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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