A step by step program to ensure your kitten gets the proper pediatric medical care.

Getting Started

Your kitten needs to see the veterinarian as soon as you know you are receiving a new member of the family.  Immediate concerns are parasites and contagious diseases. Parasites are not only life threatening to your kitten but they can put your family at risk for serious disease also.  Providing your kitten protection from contagious diseases as soon as possible helps keep it safe and healthy.

The Veterinarian at Hope Animal Hospital has designed the following program to provide the proper early care for your new kitten.

Initial Visit

The initial visit will be tailored to your kittens needs based on age and health status. The visit will include:

• Complete Physical Examination:  The Veterinarian will evaluate your pet’s health status and look for any problems.
  
  
• Fecal Examination:  Our advanced centrifugation technique is designed to detect the presence of roundworms, hookworms, coccidia, and some types of tapeworms.
  
  
• Deworming: All kittens are infected with roundworms during the pregnancy or during nursing.  We always deworm for roundworms and hookworms to protect your kitten and family.
  
  
• FeLV/FIV Combo Test:  Your kitten will be tested for Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV).  Both of these deadly contagious diseases attack a cat’s immune system.  The diseases can be dormant for periods of time, so testing is the only way to make sure your pet is free from these viruses.  During the dormant period kittens are contagious to other cats.
  
  
• Evaluation of nutritional status:  Many kittens have special nutritional needs due to parasitism, poor nutrition, and poor environment.  The Veterinarian will recommend an appropriate diet and supplements if needed.
  
  
• Litter box advice:  Most kittens are naturally liter box trained.  Some times there are problems due to other factors.  The veterinarian will go over any problems you are having and help to correct it.
  
  
• Pedicure: Kitten need frequent nail trims to keep sharp nails from scratching and to train them to allow easy nail trimming when they are older.
  
  
• Vaccination:  The Veterinarian will give vaccinations as indicated by you kittens age and health status.  Below are listed diseases your Veterinarian will consider vaccinating against at this time.
  
  
  • Feline Panleukopenia:  Known as feline distemper this is a deadly contagious disease of the intestinal tract.
  • Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis: A deadly contagious respiratory disease.
  • Feline Calicivirus:  A deadly contagious respiratory disease.
  • Feline Leukemia:  A deadly contagious disease that attacks a cat’s immune system.
  • Feline Immunodeficiency Virus: A deadly contagious disease that attacks a cat’s immune system.
  • Bordetella:  A respiratory disease that can progress to serious disease.
    
    
    

First Follow Up Visit

At the follow up visit in three weeks the Veterinarian will again tailor the treatments given to your pet’s needs.

• Complete Physical Examination
  
  
• Fecal Examination
  
  
• Deworming
  
  
• Evaluation of nutritional status
  
  
• Litter box advice
  
  
• Pedicure
  
  
• Booster Vaccinations
  
  
• Home Again Microchip Identification:  A microchip provides a permanent form of identification with a unique number that cannot be altered.  The procedure is similar to administering a vaccine.  The microchip comes preloaded in a sterile applicator and is injected under the skin between the shoulder blades.
  
  
• Heartworm Disease and Prevention:  Heartworms are a deadly parasitic infection of the heart that is passed by biting mosquitoes.  This infection can easily be prevented by giving a tablet monthly or applying a spot-on product monthly that also prevents fleas.  We will provide your kitten a kit that includes the first heartworm prevention product.
  
  
  

Second Follow Up Visit

At the follow up visit in three weeks the Veterinarian will again tailor the treatments given to your pet’s needs.

• Complete Physical Examination
  
  
• Fecal Examination
  
  
• Deworming
  
  
• Evaluation of nutritional status
  
  
• Litter box advice
  
  
• Pedicure
  
  
• Booster Vaccinations
  
  
• Rabies Vaccination:  Rabies is still a dangerous disease with no reliable treatment available.  We must continue to take this disease seriously to protect our pets and families.
  
  
• Rabies Tag:  Your county rabies tag will be provided to you with this program unless you plan to not alter your pet that lives in St. Louis County.  If that is the case you must pay for an unaltered pet tag.
  
  
  

Last Pediatric Visit

Your kitten is growing up and although he will continue to need examinations every 6 months and various vaccinations and diagnostic tests your kitten is done with the kitten series with this visit.

• Complete Physical Examination
  
  
• Fecal Examination (only if positive last visit)
  
  
• Deworming (only if needed)
  
  
• Evaluation of nutritional status:  Kittens can start gaining too much weight at this time and may need a diet change to keep a slim figure.
  
  
• Litter Box Advice
  
  
• Pedicure
  
  
• Booster Vaccinations (only what is needed)
  
  
• Six months of Interceptor:  Interceptor is a heartworm prevention that also controls roundworms, and hookworms.  You will give this monthly prevention for the rest of your pet’s life. You can upgrade to a spot-on product called Revolution that prevents heartworms and fleas for a small additional charge.

The above program outlines our Silver Kitten Plan.  For more savings continue reading to find out about our Gold and Platinum Kitten Programs.

The Gold Kitten Plan

The Gold Kitten Plan includes everything listed in the Silver Kitten Plan but includes the ovariohysterectomy (spay) or castration (neuter) surgery for no additional charge if the surgery is done by 5 months of age. If the pet is altered later additional charges will apply.  Our surgeries include the following services:

• Pre-anesthetic blood work
• IV Catheter
• IV Fluids
• Anesthesia
• Ovariohysterectomy or Castration
• Laser Surgery
• Advanced Monitoring
• Pain Management

To learn more about the procedures and care we take for your kitten's health and comfort, please visit our surgery page.

The Gold Kitten Program provides for most of the needs of your new kitten. You will enjoy the convenience of a having your kitten’s pediatric vaccinations and alteration surgery prepaid.

Platinum Kitten Plan

Many problems can come up in the first 6 months of a kitten’s life that may not be apparent on the first visit.  The Platinum Kitten Plan covers those common extra tests that may need to be done.  Having your kitten on the Platinum Kitten Plan means that if your kitten needs the following tests done because of an abnormal clinical sign or examination finding they will be done at no additional charge.

• Giardia Fecal Test:  Giardia is a protozoa infection that can cause intense abdominal cramps and diarrhea in people and pets.  If your pet has diarrhea this program includes one test for Giardia.  
  
  
• Ear Mite Swab:  Ear mites cause intense itching of the ears as well as debris in the ear. This microscopic test finds if mites are present in your pet’s ears.  An initial test, when warranted, and a follow up test if your pet is positive are included in this program.
  
  
• Milbemite:  Milbemite is a one time treatment for ear mites that we apply at the hospital when needed.
  
  
• Ear Cytology:  Ear infections are common in young kittens and if your pet is infected we will want to know the cause.  Two ear cytology tests are included in this package if your pet has an ear problem.  Medications for ear infections vary and will not be covered by this program.
  
  
• Skin Scraping:  Young kittens many times start loosing hair and sometimes it can be due to mange mite infections.  If during the first 6 months your pet has signs of mange we will do this microscopic test twice if needed to find mites. Treatment varies according to the mite found, therefore medication and additional skin scrapes will be charged for.
  
  
• Fungal Culture:  Ringworm is a contagious disease that affects the skin of both pets and humans.

The Platinum Kitten Plan insures that if your kitten has a problem with ear infections, hair loss, and diarrhea the initial tests will be covered.  In the case of ear mites the treatment is covered.  This is not all inclusive for diagnostic tests but covers the most common tests new kitten parents may have to pay for.  The savings allows you to say yes to needed tests and medical care without having to worry about additional charges.

Please contact Hope Animal Hospital by phone or e-mail to find out the discounts available for purchasing one of our Kitten Care Programs and about the payment options.