Welcome home, little whiskers! Bringing a kitten into your family is exciting—and a responsibility we’re honoured to help you with. At Alpha Animal Hospital in Abbotsford, we keep visits calm and positive, and tailor timing and care to your kitten’s lifestyle and needs. Because one size does not fit all, we will personalise timing and treatments after we examine your kitten and discuss options that align with your situation, priorities and budget.
A simple series to build strong immunity. If your kitten is starting late or has missed a dose, we’ll tailor a catch-up plan by age.
FVRCP #1 (feline herpesvirus/rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, panleukopenia)
• Deworming & flea/tick prevention
• Fresh stool sample test available for screening
FVRCP #2
• Feline Leukemia (FeLV) #1
• Deworming & flea/tick prevention
• Fresh stool sample or follow-up test available to check efficacy
FVRCP #3 (final kitten booster; sometimes given at 18–20 weeks based on risk)
• FeLV #2
• Rabies
• Deworming & flea/tick prevention available
Spay/Neuter (add a microchip if not already placed)
FVRCP booster (1-year)
• Rabies booster (as applicable)
• FeLV booster for at-risk cats
If you’re starting late, we’ll design an age-based catch-up plan.
Ask about split-visit vaccine appointments for additional safety or if your kitten has a history of vaccine sensitivity.
Rabies is a core vaccine like FVRCP. FeLV vaccine is also very important for protecting young kittens.
FeLV/FIV testing: We may test at intake (and before/around the FeLV series when practical); retest about 60 days after any possible exposure.
Want to save on preventive care? Ask about our Kitten Wellness Bundle—payment-plan options available.
Intestinal parasites (roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, coccidia) are common in kittens. Signs can include diarrhea, vomiting, a pot-bellied look, and poor growth. Kittens can pick them up from their mother (before/after birth), the environment, fleas, or prey.
Can parasites affect people? In rare cases, yes. Good hygiene, regular deworming, and prompt litter clean-up help protect the whole family.
Deworming plan: Every 2 weeks until ~12 weeks, then monthly until ~6 months (we can adjust if needed).
For adult cats: indoor—yearly fecal; outdoor/hunters—every 1–3 months or fecal every 3 months + targeted deworming.
Why stool tests? They find parasites even when no signs are present and confirm that treatment worked.
First-year fecals: Plan 2–4 tests (intake, after deworming, and again by 6–12 months).
Fleas & tapeworms: Consistent flea control helps prevent tapeworm infections.
Heartworm risk varies by region. If your kitten came from or you plan to travel to a heartworm-endemic area, ask us about testing and monthly prevention—we’ll tailor timing to your itinerary.
• Scoop litter daily
• Wash hands after handling litter or soil
• Keep play areas clean
• Pregnant people should avoid litter box duty
Baths: Not usually needed for most kittens—but helpful for long-haired ones. Use kitten-safe shampoo; keep water away from ears/eyes; keep first baths brief and positive.
Brushing: Short sessions build trust, affection and prevent mats.
Ears: Check weekly; clean only with vet-approved products.
Nails: Trim small amounts often; reward calmly.
Teeth: Start early with cat-safe toothpaste and a soft brush or finger brush.
Helps prevent roaming, spraying, fighting, heat cycles, and certain reproductive diseases.
We offer pre-anaesthetic bloodwork to identify hidden issues early and improve safety and recovery.
Recommended at 6–8 months (we may advise earlier or later in specific cases).
Consider microchipping at the same visit.
Home care: Pain control as prescribed, e-collar if needed, activity restriction for 10–14 days. Monitor the incision; call if you see swelling, discharge, foul odour, or if your kitten won’t eat.
Wet + dry balance: Cats have low thirst drive; including wet (canned) food supports hydration and urinary health. Offer balanced and measured portions of dry food to complement wet meals.
Starting point: Aim for ≥50% high-quality canned kitten food; feed kitten-specific diets until 9–12 months.
How to feed: Small, frequent meals; introduce new foods gradually over 7–10 days. Provide fresh water—skip cow’s milk.
Treats: Use sparingly; ideally ≤10% of daily calories.
Targets: We’ll help you set daily calories and track body condition (BCS) at each visit.
Slow feeders: Puzzle feeders or timed feeders provide enrichment.
Start in one quiet room with litter, water, food, bed, and toys.
Let curiosity lead—open the carrier and allow voluntary exploration.
Expand their world room-by-room over several days.
Sit nearby, speak softly, and let them choose when to interact.
Scent swaps: Exchange blankets/towels and feed on opposite sides of a closed door.
First looks: Use a gate or carrier; keep dogs leashed. Short, calm 3–5-minute sessions.
Watch body language: Pause if stress signs appear.
Go slow: Gradually allow supervised room sharing; provide vertical spaces; separate resources.
With children: Always supervise; teach gentle petting; quiet voices.
Never force interactions. Short, positive sessions beat long stressful ones.
If tension persists, contact us for a tailored plan.
30–60-second sessions 1–2×/day: gently touch ears, gums, paws, tail, collar/harness → treat.
Touch → treat; stop before the kitten pulls away.
Practice exam-positions: chin-rest, stand, side-lie.
Carrier = safe den: Keep out at home; add treats; use pheromone spray before travel.
Introduce surfaces/sounds calmly.
Goal: A kitten who opts-in to handling.
Signs to pause: flattened ears, tail swish, crouching, growl/hiss, swat.
Predatory play: wands, toy mice, crinkle balls, lasers (always end with a catch).
Remove broken toys immediately.
Avoid unsupervised string/ribbon—foreign-body risk.
Provide cat trees, vertical/horizontal scratching surfaces.
Never use hands/feet as toys.
Daily social play builds confidence.
Avoid: string/yarn/ribbon, hair ties, elastics, tinsel, thread/needles, small toy parts, rubber bands.
Watch for: repeated vomiting, drooling, pawing at mouth, loss of appetite, lethargy, painful belly, hiding.
Do NOT:
pull visible string
induce vomiting unless advised
Call immediately.
Lilies, essential oils/diffusers, human pain meds (acetaminophen/ibuprofen/naproxen), onions/garlic, chocolate, xylitol, open-flame candles.
When in doubt—keep it out of reach and ask us.
Use one box per cat + one extra.
Quiet location, away from food/water.
Litter: unscented, low-dust clumping for kittens ≥12–16 weeks; non-clumping paper for younger kittens or respiratory-sensitive homes.
Depth: ~2–3 cm.
Size: ≥1.5× kitten’s body length; low entry.
Scoop daily; wash monthly.
Praise only; move boxes gradually if needed.
Pregnancy in cats can be hard to confirm early via physical exam alone.
Blood test: positive ~25–30 days after mating.
Ultrasound: viability assessment ~20–25+ days.
Radiographs: best for fetal count ≥45 days.
If timing is unknown, we can create a stepwise diagnostic plan.
Use a sturdy top-opening carrier with familiar bedding.
Leave the carrier out at home; add treats; use pheromone spray 15–20 minutes before travel.
Practice short car trips; ask about “no-poke” visits.
Pre-visit meds (gabapentin) available—ask us if your cat is anxious.
Prefer to wait in your car? Let us know—we’ll bring you directly to a cat-friendly room.
Use consistent cues and rules.
Supervise children; teach gentle handling.
Short 5–10-minute training sessions in different rooms to generalize behaviours.
Ear mites: look for head-shaking, scratching, dark debris.
Upper respiratory disease (URD): sneezing, nasal/eye discharge, reduced appetite—call us.
Ringworm: patchy hair-loss or crusts; treatable and zoonotic.
Outdoor/hunting risk in Abbotsford: fleas, ticks, rodent exposure—ask us about prevention.
Pet insurance helps with accidents and illnesses. Review waiting periods, exclusions (including pre-existing conditions), reimbursement %, annual/incident limits, and deductibles.
Ask whether claims are direct-pay or owner reimbursement, and about pre-approval for major procedures.
Examples in Canada: Trupanion • Pets Plus Us • Fetch. Many families also set aside a small monthly pet-care savings fund for unexpected expenses.
Call if you notice:
• poor appetite
• repeated vomiting/diarrhea
• sneezing/eye discharge
• coughing/trouble breathing
• lethargy
• pain
• or any change that worries you
Kittens can decline quickly—trust your instincts.
We’re here to help every step of the way.
Contact Alpha Animal Hospital in Abbotsford, BC to schedule your kitten’s first visit and start on the path to a healthy, confident life together.
📞 Phone: (604) 859-6322
📍 Address: 2362 Whatcom Rd #125, Abbotsford, BC V3G 0C1
The information provided in this post is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute professional veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Every pet is unique. Always consult your veterinarian regarding your animal’s specific health condition before taking any action or changing their care routine.
Our team is dedicated to teaching our clients on how to keep their pets healthy all year round, including proper feeding, parasite prevention, wellness planning, and exercise.
