New kitten and the vet

[tripletots]

We just adopted the kitty we have been fostering since she was a bottle fed 2 1/2 week old. She is now approaching 10 weeks. I took her to the vet Friday, using the coupon the SPCA gives to make sure they didn't miss anything.

We are new to being cat owners and I'm not sure what they do and do not need. I felt like the vet was trying to sell me everything under the sun! Kitty (her name is Boo) has had 3 distemper shots and 3 dewormings. The SPCA said she would need her rabies at 16 weeks. That would take me to right after Christmas, which would be great money wise. The vet did another fecal test for $20.00 and that came back neg. The SPCA had already done three, but the vet said they don't test for everything.

This is where I need help..they want to see her back Dec. 3 for a 4th distemper shot, her rabies and her 1st feline lukemia shot. That is a bit early, but I didn't say anything. I did however start feeling uncomfortable when he tried to have me schedule a laser declawing. She will be indoors only and he thought I needed Revolution to prevent heartworm. I want to keep my kitty healthy, but I also don't want to do what's not necessary. So for those of you with strictly indoor cats.....do you give the feline lukemia shot, do you use Revolution? I have no intentions of having her declawed. I already clip her nails and she does just fine.
Should I find a new vet? I just don't want to be taken.

 

[MickeyMouseGal]

I do agree with the fecal exam. Regular worm medication does not get rid of coccidia, which is very common in kittens.

As for feline leukemia, if she is negative and a STRICTLY indoor (no exceptions) and around only other negative, strictly indoor cats, then the feline leukemia vaccine isn't necessary. Feline leukemia virus is spread by direct nose to nose contact. If she occasionally escapes, or if you foster cats of unknown/untested Felv status, then she should have the vaccine.

Declawing is a very personal decision. I am not against it, but for various reasons my own house cats are not declawed. They were occasionally destructive as kittens, but are all middle aged/geriatric now and pretty much stick to their scratching post.

Heartworms is spread by mosquitos, so theoretically indoor cats are at a much lower risk. In my area, we don't treat any cats with heartworm preventative because it is so rare. I do, however treat my dogs with Frontline to keep them from having/sharing fleas with the kitties.

 

[pixiewings71]

I do suggest getting the vaccines. My cats were supposed be indoor only but they soon discovered the joys of outside and now I can't keep them in. Get her fixed but don't remove her claws. Enjoy your new baby!

 

[bballmom56]

I'm glad you are not planning to declaw her - it is VERY painful for them. If you had not indicated you wanted to declaw her, why would the vet suggest it?

 

[agnes!]

Yeah, the de-clawing raises a red flag for me. Yuck. I mean, I know some people choose to get that done and so be it, but for the vet to strongly suggest it right off the bat and you hadn't even brought it up?... Odd.

On the basis of that alone, I'd be getting another vet. AND I'd be telling the SPCA about the vet's actions as well...I don't think they'd look kindly on a vet that pushes de-clawing, plus...hmmmm...it almost sounds like he mkght have a pushy office (the additional & perhaps un-needed vaccinations?) as well

agnes!

 

[themarquis]

We have two indoor only cats and the only thing they've "had done" is the first round of vaccinations (not including feline lukemia) when they were babies.

There's some evidence that getting them that first round of shots protects them for their entire lives (maybe to a lesser degree than if they get yearly shots). Since they're indoors only, they have little to no opportunity to catch illnesses from other cats, anyway, but it's good to have baseline protection just in case. Feline lukemia is hard for them to "catch" unless they have intense contact (like they would living in the same household) so we skipped that entirely since they are both negative.

We do not do revolution, advantage, or any other medication for fleas/heartworm/etc. I've heard that there's a minimal risk but frankly we just don't think it's worth it to give them those meds for life.

So my advice -- get the kitten the inital vaccinations, do the full deworming/treatment for ear mites/fleas, etc (they often have them if they were at the humane society or who knows where before). Microchip if they do that (great for peace of mind if kitty ever gets out and gets lost). Skip the advantage and all that and absolutely NO WAY declaw. If there's a severe issue with clawing later that makes you interested in declawing, you can research it, but there's absolutely no reason to do it "just because" . (fyi, claw clipping does exactly what declawing does if you keep on top of it, with no painful and disfiguring surgery. Since you started when kitty was young, and he/she is now used to it,it should be easy to just keep them clipped!) Also skip the feline leukemia.

 

[AlleyKat]

We are new to being cat owners and I'm not sure what they do and do not need. I felt like the vet was trying to sell me everything under the sun! Kitty (her name is Boo) has had 3 distemper shots and 3 dewormings. The SPCA said she would need her rabies at 16 weeks. That would take me to right after Christmas, which would be great money wise. The vet did another fecal test for $20.00 and that came back neg. The SPCA had already done three, but the vet said they don't test for everything.

This is where I need help..they want to see her back Dec. 3 for a 4th distemper shot, her rabies and her 1st feline lukemia shot. That is a bit early, but I didn't say anything. I did however start feeling uncomfortable when he tried to have me schedule a laser declawing. She will be indoors only and he thought I needed Revolution to prevent heartworm. I want to keep my kitty healthy, but I also don't want to do what's not necessary. So for those of you with strictly indoor cats.....do you give the feline lukemia shot, do you use Revolution? I have no intentions of having her declawed. I already clip her nails and she does just fine.
Should I find a new vet? I just don't want to be taken.

Don't agree to have anything done that you don't feel is necessary! You should always be consulted and given a choice on whether you want a procedure done or not!

Ask tons of questions as to why they feel certain things are necessary. If YOU don't feel they are and don't want them done, it's in your power to say so.

If you don't feel this vet is right for you, shop around!

Call your local SPCA, they may be able to direct you to someone who suits you/your pet's needs(and your wallet) better!

 

[xsigynx]

I have 2 cats and a dog. One of my cats did receive the Feline Leukemia Shot, and one did not. They are both negative. They are both strictly indoors. If you're cat DOES NOT go outside, there is really no reason for it to have the Leukemia shot. They should get the other shots, though. And as kitty gets older, she really will only need to have her rabies updated. As for fleas, depending on what area you live in, you may need to have her on flea stuff, such as advantage. Revolution is good, but if your kitty doesn't go outside, and mosquitos aren't very prominent in your area, than don't. I live in Florida, and I have to keep all my animals on flea stuff year round and heartworm preventative on my dog. Including my indoor cats, since they can come in on my dog.

As for the vet, if they give you any feeling at all, don't go back to them. You don't HAVE to keep seeing them.

Edit: Also, I am an advocate for not declawing cats, I really believe it is selfish and unnecessary. And if they vet is telling you or anything, don't. I have never met a vet that really wants to declaw.

 

[pearlieq]

I would find a new vet. This one sounds like a money-grubber who you will never be able to trust to have your or your cat's best interests in mind.

In my opinion, a reputable vet would never suggest declawing to you during a routine visit.

For me, a decent vet would treat declawing as a necessary evil at best. If there is destructive clawing behavior that the owners won't or can't address in other ways, or if there is an otherwise good owner that just isn't willing to adopt a cat without it being declawed, a good vet may be willing to declaw as the lesser of two evils--it beats having the cat wind up homeless.

But for them to just suggest it out of the blue as an available service without being prompted by the owner? No way. That's someone who is in the business for money, not because they love animals. And I wouldn't want that person making medical decisions for my pet.

 

[AlleyKat]

I would find a new vet. This one sounds like a money-grubber who you will never be able to trust to have your or your cat's best interests in mind.

In my opinion, a reputable vet would never suggest declawing to you during a routine visit.

For me, a decent vet would treat declawing as a necessary evil at best. If there is destructive clawing behavior that the owners won't or can't address in other ways, or if there is an otherwise good owner that just isn't willing to adopt a cat without it being declawed, a good vet may be willing to declaw as the lesser of two evils--it beats having the cat wind up homeless.

But for them to just suggest it out of the blue as an available service without being prompted by the owner? No way. That's someone who is in the business for money, not because they love animals. And I wouldn't want that person making medical decisions for my pet.

 

[PatsGirl]

We have a new kitten (18 weeks old or so) and our first feline so it is all new to us as well. Anyways, we had three visits by the vet, at 8 weeks, 12 weeks and 16 weeks, for vaccines and the last one included rabies. She said that no leukemia shot was necessary if we kept the cat inside at all times. Other than being neutered at 6 months the vet said once yearly visits for immunizations was all that was necessary. I did ask about flea/tick meds and she said that it was possible that we might bring those things in and should be on the lookout. I am also pet-sitting for six weeks this winter for two old dogs (yeah, really dogs, not those guys, lol) and she said we should be especially aware that they might bring in fleas if they are outside animals which they are. But, it sounds to me like you are being taken advantage of.

 

[tripletots]

Thanks for everyone's advise. I do believe I will find a new vet. I did feel uncomfortable in the exam room because I felt like he was trying to sell me everything. As for the declawing, he asked me if she was tearing up the furniture. I told him no, not at all, but she was tearing up my legs and that I had talked to the foster coordinator at the SPCA and she told me to cut her nails with regular clippers. I did and that works just fine. I feel bad that she can't climb my legs anymore as it was cute, but she was tearing up my legs! That's when the vet said I should schedule an appointment to have her LASER declawed. He made it sound like it was painless. I didn't ask anymore questions about it because I had read weeks before about the declawing procedure.

Oh, by the way, the vets office is new and very nice inside compaired to the vet I take my dog to. I guess I don't really need to watch tv on a very nice flat screen while waiting.

 

[nuke]

I would vote for a new vet. We had a similar experience with a vet that insisted on care that turned out not to be necessary.

With my two new kitties I asked for a recommendation from the shelter they came from and I'm very please with this vet. Her services are reasonable and she actually spent time answering my questions and never even mentioned declawing or heartworm.

 

[quentina]

For shots, I go to PEtco when they have their clinics on weekends. I only use my vet for injury or illness. FOr the price the vet charges to walk through the door, I get all the shots.

 

[Mish19]

It seems to me you're paying for the new office with the flat screen TV with all the extras he's trying to have done for your cat. I agree with everyone else, find a new vet! Enjoy the kitten, post pics!

 

[tripletots]

It seems to me you're paying for the new office with the flat screen TV with all the extras he's trying to have done for your cat. I agree with everyone else, find a new vet! Enjoy the kitten, post pics!

I don't know how to post pictures on Disboards. I figured out how to post my own avatar, which I did. It's of our little kitty when she was 4 weeks old. The picture is so tiny, she's hard to see. Also, black cats do not photograph well.