What will my kitten need at the vet?
October 9, 2008 8:40 AM   Subscribe

Found a kitten. How do I avoid spending $700 billion at the vet?

I picked up an apparently abandoned kitten a few days ago. It's a male, a few months old. Appears to be healthy.

I'm taking it to the vet this afternoon as my wife will be away. I've never owned a cat before and I have no idea what a kitten's health needs are. Some vaccinations, of course, and checking for various parasites. Mainly, I don't want to be sold anything unnecessary (teeth cleaning, labs). What is essential or otherwise important?
posted by neuron to Pets & Animals (21 answers total)
 
Well, you need some labwork to check for parasites, but first things first, if it appears to be healthy then it might not be abandoned at all. Put up signs & post notices in the paper and on local sites to try to find the owners before you give the kitten vaccinations he may already have had. Your local vet might be hooked into a lost-and-found-pet network and can also give you care-and-feeding advice while you seek out the owner.
posted by headnsouth at 8:48 AM on October 9, 2008


The vet should also have a thingy to detect a potential RFID chip that may have been implanted (usually between the shoulder blades, I believe) to see if there is a previous owner....
posted by Grither at 8:55 AM on October 9, 2008


To expand upon what Grither said, you may want to swing by a shelter to have it scanned for an RFID chip before spending any money on the little guy. Not sure if vets charge to scan for a chip, but a shelter certainly wouldn't.
posted by piedmont at 9:00 AM on October 9, 2008 [1 favorite]


If he's old enough, they'll probably want you to get the little guy neutered. You'll need to do this if you're planning on keeping him, but I'd wait until I'd done due diligence in tracking down his owner first. Once you know he's yours however, please do get him neutered when the vet says it's time to do so. (I've only had female cats, so i'm not entirely sure what the suggested neutering age is.)
posted by cgg at 9:00 AM on October 9, 2008


Spaying and neutering when he's old enough, and the lab work to make sure he's all healthy.

Tooth cleaning is important, mind. In my experience vets haven't pushed having me let THEM do it, though; they'll check the teeth, yeah, but ususally they would encourage ME to try to do that (and since it was MY cat they were saying I should try to hold down while I swabbed his teeth, I blanched). But it's an important thing to keep on top of -- the reason why vets were getting me to keep on top of it was because my cat had developed a cavity, and cats' dental cavities can't be filled -- they have to extract the tooth. Which I had to have done to my little guy.

They make "cat toothbrushes", these little fit-on-the-fingertip things which you're supposed to put on your finger and then stick it in the cat's mouth and brush their teeth, but I went the lazy route and got the special "dental diet" kibble instead and that seemed to work.

Fortunately (knock wood), outside of the annual checkups, that one tooth extraction and the spaying, the only other things I've had to buy my cat for the past 16 years have been food and toys.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:01 AM on October 9, 2008


Any good vet will want to test for Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) then give a shot if he does not have it also a rabies shot. Depending on age vet my start to talk about neutering kitty. Other then doing a quick check to make sure heart, lungs, ect. are ok not much else that needs to be done. Though you will need to get some kind of flea treatment going when he gets to 6 to 9 month old.
posted by CollegeNelson at 9:02 AM on October 9, 2008


All good suggestions. Have him tested for FLV and FIV right away. If he has either/both, it'll help to know what could be in store for you.
posted by jdfan at 9:05 AM on October 9, 2008 [1 favorite]


Check with your local shelter, and see if they have a low-cost vet clinic. If not, maybe they could recommend a vet?
posted by radioamy at 9:11 AM on October 9, 2008 [1 favorite]


I had this same thing happen. Had the cat for 3 or 4 years now.

And as to the, Any good vet will want to test for Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) then give a shot if he does not have it also a rabies shot. bit of advice, my vet told me there wasn't a need to check in kittens, since as he put it, "Feluke kills kittens," as as long as you have an alive cat, you're good to go on that one. If it's going to be an indoor only cat and not around other cats, you also don't need this shot.

And all told, I think my bill for ear mites, spaying, and her other shots all came to about $100. I spend more than that a year for food for her (only IAMS) and treats.

You're also supposed to take them in annually for visits. I'm about 2 years overdue for mine.
posted by cjorgensen at 9:38 AM on October 9, 2008


radioamy is right- most shelters will either have or know of places you can go to get low cost help. Some vet offices might be sympathetic also if you tell them the situation. My vet gave me a discount when i brought in a stray temporarily until a rescue could take him (since our apts wouldnt let us keep more than 2...). And if you are worried about unnecessary services get more than one opinion from more than one vet.. just like anything.

Blood tests are kind of essential. You want to know whats going on. I can see passing on teeth cleaning for now.
posted by zennoshinjou at 9:44 AM on October 9, 2008


1. Put up signs, check in with shelters, post a "found" notice in Craigslist & your local LJ community.
2. Get kitty scanned for a chip.
3. If you have any other pets, take kitty immediately to vet for tests to determine FeLV/FeIV and other communicable disease infection. If you don't have any other pets, this can wait until your found notices have had a week or so to bring an owner forth.
3a. At the vet with clear ownership of kitty, you'll want to get the checks above right off, along with: worming, shots, flea treatment (if necessary), and a general exam which should include a determination of the actual age.
3b. 6mos or older: neuter kitty. Under 6mos: this can wait.
3c. Find out from vet if kitty needs teeth cleaned, claws clipped, and/or anal gland expressed. If so, figure out if you can do it yourself (have vet show you how) or if you'd like vet to do it.
3d. There is probably a low-cost animal clinic associated with the animal rescue movement in your area. Search on the web for it. They often put ads in the pet section of Craigslist. They can do all of the above and usually for an extremely low price.
4. Get kitty chipped. If it got out once, it'll probably try again, and a collar doesn't help since cats are geniuses at getting their collars off.
5. Buy good quality cat food so that kitty thrives and has full nutrition from the start, or you'll be buying crazy expensive special foods to fix the issues caused by food with poor nutrition. You'll want to mostly feed kibble but provide a bit of wet food, as cats often don't get enough moisture and the combination will keep their insides flowing smoothly.
6. Consider getting a water fountain for kitty - this will encourage it to stay hydrated and will keep water supply cleaner, longer.
7. Love that kitty for all it's worth, which is quite a lot by this point :D
posted by batmonkey at 9:50 AM on October 9, 2008 [3 favorites]


As far as getting sold anything you don't need, it's worth considering what vaccinations you're willing to get. I don't say this from the standpoint of the various anti-vaccination rants going around, but the real (small, but finite) risk of injection site sarcomas in cats -- every injectable vaccination has a slight risk of this, and the more you get, the higher your odds over the lifetime of the kitty.

A four-way vaccination should be standard, and you definitely need it. Likewise, if you're in a rabies epozootic area, rabies shots are probably required by law. Beyond that, you get into choices. For example, an indoor-only cat not living with indoor outdoor cats is at a very low risk for Feline Leukemia, and I personally wouldn't get a cat vaccinated for it, but many vets would strongly suggest it. There are a few other vaccines starting to get strongly recommended from vets these days as well -- if your vet recommends such, tell him you'll think about it, get your four way and your rabies if you need it, and go google up on the rest before getting them. (When googling, focus on sites that aren't financially involved in producing or administering pet vaccines; cat fancy (organized cat showing) related sites are probably your best bet).

I like early neutering, if you have a vet who will do it (my vet routinely neuters 4 mo old kittens). Ask if the animal requires an overnight stay -- some vets don't invest in facilities to mask down cats or kittens with isoflourine and use ketamine and ACE instead, requiring a longer recovery from anesthesia (and thus often an expensive overnight stay). Paying a bit more to a vet who uses Iso and can send your kitten home an hour later might be cheaper -- don't be afraid to phone around and ask.

The most important things to remember about a vet are a) don't be afraid to question, and b) be willing to shop around for a vet that meets your criteria for reasonable service and costs.

Best of luck, and enjoy your new kitty.

(the usual caveats; IANAV, IANYV, just a reformed cat breeder and exhibitor)
posted by nonliteral at 10:17 AM on October 9, 2008 [1 favorite]


A lot of good advice, especially about the feline leukemia.

I had/have indoor cats and they didn't get the vaccine. A good vet will tell you what you need and not try to get you to pay for what is not necessary. A stray should get checked for worms and ear parasites, and then have a few vaccines.

Cats teeth should be cleaned when they are adults, some mouth and teeth problems can cause systemic infections if not caught and treated. I usually wait for a while to get this done. I don't do it myself, I am not that brave. It is easier if they sedate the cat and then clean the teeth.

Chips are good, but not all shelters and vets have the same scanners. I do it anyway, it always helps if cats or dogs run away.

There are good books and on-line sites for this. I personally like Michael Fox---
posted by chocolatetiara at 10:18 AM on October 9, 2008


For a first vet visit, the vet should do a thorough physical exam, an FeLV test, and administer an initial set of vaccinations. Many vets routinely deworm kittens at the first appointment, especially if the kitten's origin is unknown or it's from an outdoor mother. Other vets elect to test a stool sample--either a sample you bring in from the litter box or a sample the tech collects manually. Flea treatment may be standard or optional depending on the vet.

Ask your vet about a "new kitten" or "vaccination" package that offers a reduction in price over the individual costs. My vet offers a couple of different packages priced depending on the kitten's age, gender, and whether you choose to add optional vaccines. The packages include the initial exam, stool check, vaccination series, and spay/neuter. If the cost is still too high, see if the vet will negotiate on price for a rescued stray, let you spread out payments, or refer you to a low-cost clinic at an SPCA/Humane Society/shelter. Spaying a female is a more complicated surgery and will cost more than neutering a male.

As for what's required: Some vaccinations (e.g., rabies) may be required by law and you want to spay/neuter to prevent more kittens and protect the long term health of your cat. I strongly suggest you have the kitten tested for FeLV; the Elisa or SNAP test is a simple, in-office test that shouldn't cost more than $50. Talk to your vet about what vaccines she recommends for your specific situation. Vaccine options and protocols are constantly evolving so what your vet recommends should change over time. As with any other doctor, if she can't answer your questions satisfactorily or help you make the decisions that are right for you, find another vet.

What's optional: Microchipping is a good idea, but it's not mandatory. If there are fleas, then you should do a flea treatment. If kitty is an indoor-only kitty from here on out, this will probably be the only flea treatment you need to do.

What else you should do: Ask if the vet or vet tech can show you how to clean kitty's teeth and trim his nails. Practice at home gently rubbing his teeth and gums with a washcloth and spreading his paws as if to clip the nails. You want to get him used to these things while he's young. Kittens lose baby teeth just like humans, so a full-scale dental cleaning shouldn't be an issue at this point.

At home care: Feed a high quality wet food as your primary food (this AskMe names several brands of good foods) to help with urinary health. Keep the litterbox clean--again urinary health, but also for human noses. Get the kitten used to being handled, picked up, and, if he's long haired, brushed. Provide a scratching post to encourage good scratching behavior. Learn what kitty likes--hiding or being out in the open, being up high or being underneath things--and try to accommodate him for good mental health (both yours and kitty's).

Finally: Play, cuddle, and enjoy!
posted by weebil at 10:41 AM on October 9, 2008 [1 favorite]


Something not mentioned but I consider something of a requirement is a once-a-month flea medication like Advantage or Frontline during the summer, or all year if you live in the South. Don't know how our indoor cats managed to get them, but with fleas an ounce of prevention is worth a ton of discomfort.
posted by KirkJobSluder at 11:27 AM on October 9, 2008


See if you can sign up for CareCredit, an extremely low-interest credit card specifically created for pet and human health care payments. Maybe too late for this afternoon, but for future vet visits you could find a vet that accepts it.
posted by bettafish at 2:23 PM on October 9, 2008


Here's my predictable, and undoubtedly unpopular opinion: owning an animal costs money, the kitten has no say in the matter. What you are categorizing as "unnecessary" is just good veterinary care. Teeth cleaning isn't the issue, addressing infections, x-raying for oral resorptive lesions and extracting affected teeth early enough to save other teeth (not to mention systemic harm), is - that costs money, cleaning is important, but what you can do at home is not even remotely related to what is done by a vet with proper training and equipment, other than involving the health of the teeth. Honestly, dentistry by a vet who knows what they are doing is important for both health and quality of life, as is at least occasional bloodwork to find and address problems before they worsen enough to cause symptoms. By all means save the $20 or whatever your vet charges for things like Feline Leukemia vaccines, but owning an animal costs money, no matter how you slice it, animals get sick, and animals need regular preventive care, not just vaccinations once in a while.
posted by biscotti at 6:20 PM on October 9, 2008


Response by poster: Thanks, everyone, for your input.

We took "Oscar" to the vet this afternoon. The vet's office is adjacent to the grocery store where I found him. About five minutes after we got there, a woman called from down the street inquiring about a lost kitten fitting the description of Oscar. She hadn't seen my Craigslist ad; I hadn't had a chance to put up any fliers. She also described the other kitten that someone else picked up there at the same time. Kitten and owner were reunited 3 minutes later.

Oscar was in our lives for 48 hours, but we had fallen head-over-heels in love with him. We are all devastated (well, all except our 3 adult cats). My stepdaughter's old cat, who lived with her father, had died on Monday, and had died badly. Oscar came into our lives the very next day, like manna from heaven. Now I'm numb, overwhelmed with a sense of loss. Even though I know the kitten is alive and well.

So we've decided to go to the animal shelter this weekend and adopt a kitten. That's just a couple of days away, but will feel like an eternity.
posted by neuron at 9:33 PM on October 9, 2008


Awww, this is probably the best outcome -- Oscar found his way home after making a new friend, and you're going to give another cat a home!

And I THINK shelters also take care of all the initial vet visits and lab work before they adopt a kitten out, so all you may have to worry about is the spaying/neutering (depending on the age of the kitten, they may have already taken care of that, even), so you can just take your new friend home and love him.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:48 AM on October 10, 2008


And I THINK shelters also take care of all the initial vet visits and lab work before they adopt a kitten out, so all you may have to worry about is the spaying/neutering (depending on the age of the kitten, they may have already taken care of that, even), so you can just take your new friend home and love him.

Well, first it will depend on the age of the cat and how long it has been in the shelter as to whether all vaccines are done (they need 3-4 sets, 3-4 weeks apart), many shelters partner with vet clinics to have your first office visit free, but after that, it costs money. And while "just take your new friend home and love him" sounds sweet and all, what about next year, when he needs another vet visit? What about ten years from now, when he develops diabetes and needs expensive testing, regular vet visits, and home injections? What about next month, when he swallows some dental floss and gets string gut and needs over a thousand dollars worth of emergency and surgical care? You can never "just take him home and love him", you are taking on the responsibility for that animal for the rest of its life, and feeding and caring for it properly is not free or even cheap. Sure, you CAN just get a rabies shot at a free clinic once every three years, while your pet suffers from agonizingly painful teeth which make eating torture (and which you assume is just him being "finicky"), or has a treatable, but expensive to diagnose illness (which you chalk up to him "just being a cat"), or has feline lower urinary tract disease (the symptoms of which you chalk up to "spite").

I am sorry if this comes off as harsh, but please try to look beyond the cuteness factor. Cats are only kittens for a tiny percentage of their lives, please try to think carefully about whether you actually want a CAT in your house for the next 15-20 years, and please, before you decide, do some research into proper care, what you are calling "unnecessary" are anything but. As someone who works in the veterinary field, who runs into people every day who aren't interested in providing anything more than the least expensive bare minimum (even when the animal's quality of life suffers massively), who "didn't think it would cost that much, it's just a cat", who are always looking for the bargain-basement level of care, I beg you to please look beyond the cute kitten. Animals cost money, they are not a necessity of life, and they have no say in the matter, if you cannot or will not afford to look after an animal properly, please just don't get one.
posted by biscotti at 6:49 AM on October 10, 2008 [1 favorite]


Aww, neuron, that's certainly a bittersweet situation.

May the new family member fit in quickly and lovingly :)
posted by batmonkey at 11:49 AM on October 10, 2008


« Older I had ur email but I deleted it   |   Cool Indoor pool Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.