We had a wonderful consult with Dr Katy. Molly-cat was very impressed with her vaxx-giving skills, and calm and caring manner. We will be back with Molly’s brother !
The Ark Kitten and Cat Care
Getting a kitten or a cat can be an exciting time for you, your family and your new bundle of fluff! However, there’s a lot to learn about how to best care for your cat or kitten, and lots of things that you need to do to ensure that they stay safe and healthy.
At the Ark Veterinary Hospital we are dedicated to provide the best service for your cat or kitten. On the page you can find information about vaccinations for your kitten or cat. Also we explain everything about preventative care like worming, ticks and fleas. How to create a safe environment at home, appropriate training and healthy nutrition.
If you have any questions do not hesitate to call us at: 02-9416-1300 or book an appointment online with one of our experience and qualified veterinarians below.
Consults and packages
Individual cat and kitten consults
We offer individual consults and packages for kittens. At our individual consults our experienced veterinarian gives your kitten or cat a complete health check. They make sure that your kitten or cat is totally healthy and give you advice if treatments are necessary.
We also give you information about vaccinations, worming, tick and flea treatment, desexing, behaviour and all other information you require.
The Ark comprehensive kitten care package
The Ark is committed to ensuring your kitten’s health and a good quality of life. Therefor we try to make vet treatments and pet care more streamlined and easier for you.
We’ve introduced a comprehensive kitten care package. This package contains everything your kitten needs in their first year of life to set them up for a healthy adulthood. We tailored the package to the different stages of your kitten growth. So we can let you know when your kittens adult teeth are emerging and what to do, when to come in for vaccinations and worming, and at what point your kitten needs to be desexed.
If you want to know more about this package please contact our friendly staff on 02 9416 1300.
Reviews from our customers
Awesome staff! Caring, professional and friendly. They love your pets too!!
Cate Green
This is a very nice practice. They are very professional, thorough and provide different treatment option. Well communicate and really stress free. Highly recommended.
Simon Tam
Tick and worm treatments for cats and kittens
Ticks
Ticks can be very dangerous for your cat or kitten. Without treatment, tick paralysis can be life threatening. If you have a cat that goes outdoors it’s important to stay alert during tick season (spring and summer) and keep an eye on ticks. We offer over-the-counter preventative care treatments which can help keep your pet free of ticks:
- We recommend that you use an over-the-counter treatment provide the most comprehensive protection
- Our tick treatment for cats provides protection against paralysis ticks for 4 months. It comes as a chewable tablet, so is easy to administer.
Fleas
While fleas are not life threatening like the paralysis tick, they make life uncomfortable for your pet. The are causing excessive itchiness, and can lead to health conditions such as flea allergy dermatitis and anaemia, which will require further treatment. In addition, fleas can be passed onto their pet’s owners, making life very itchy for you too!
- Our tick treatment for cats provides protection against fleas for 3 month. The tablet is and easy to administer.
At the Ark we offer an automated reminder. This means that you receive an update from us when your cat or kitten is up for a flea or tick treatment
Nutrition for cats and kittens
Food for kittens
In their first year of life kittens have a lot of growing to do! It’s really important that they are fed a balanced diet during this time so they can grow properly, as well as set them up for good health in adulthood.
- We recommend feeding young kittens under 6 months three times a day, as their tiny tummies get full before they can get all the food they need.
- After this, you can feed them once or twice a day without any problems.
Food for cats
Good nutrition is essential to your cat’s overall health. The best diet for your cat is one that replicates what she would eat in the wild—a moisture-rich, meat-filled diet. Cats require more quality-source protein in their diets than most other animals.
- We suggest feeding your cat a diet combining quality canned and dry foods.
Free nutritional consult
Our nurses are specialised in kitten and cat nutrition plans. If you want to know more about healthy nutrition for your cat book a free nurse appointment today to get advice on when and what to feed your kitten or cat. They can also show you our range of premium, veterinary formulated foods.
A kitten or cat-proof house
Kittens and cats are very inquisitive and playful, so it’s really important to remove any potential dangers in your house so they don’t accidentally hurt themselves. We’ve put together a checklist you can use to make sure you’ve set up a safe and comfortable environment for your furry friend that will keep them occupied with fun things to do but also keep them out of mischief!
- Keep all electrical wiring and any poisonous substances out of reach.
- Close off balconies and high decks.
- Remove any plants that might be toxic to your cat. If you’re unsure about a plant, please run it by one of our nurses, who will be able to tell you if it is safe or not. A particular plant to be careful of is the arum lily, as eating any part of the plant can have toxic side effects, especially in a tiny kitten.
- Provide your kitten or cat with a soft bed in a quiet spot. Cats enjoy their privacy and like to feel safe and secure.
- Buy a scratching post. Kittens and cats need to wear down their nails so they don’t get too long. Without a scratching post, they might decide to use your furniture!
- Make sure your cat has their own designated food and water bowl.
- Provide your kitten with some toys to play with. For a kitten, anything, even a piece of string or crumpled up paper can be a toy! They love to chase things, and playing with your kitten is an important bonding experience.
- Ensure you have a cat carrier. This makes transporting your pet much easier, and reduces the stress and fear your kitten may feel while travelling
Microchipping
Microchipping is a legal requirement for cats in NSW when they are registered. Microchips are small implants, about the size of a grain of rice, which are placed under your kitten’s skin behind their neck when they are very young. This procedure is non-invasive and our veterinary staff have years of experience to make it as comfortable for your kitten as possible. The microchip contains a special number registered to your name, which is the best way to identify your pet if they go astray. Vet clinics and pounds can use scanners to access your contact information to get them home quickly. It’s therefore very important that if your contact details change, you update them with your local council so your kitten can always find their way home.
Cat and kitten behaviour and training
Litter Training
If your cat is going to spend a lot of time indoors, it’s important to get them used to using a litter tray. Most kittens will use a litter tray instinctively, but it can be a good idea to put them in their tray about half an hour after they are fed. Actively praise them when they use it you can help to reinforce the behaviour.
- Place the litter tray away from your kitten’s food and change the litter frequency as cats do not like using soiled litter trays!
Training or playtime?
It’s important to keep your new kitten active and occupied, to fulfil their natural sense of curiousity. Often when playing kittens will stalk, chase, pounce on and bite their toys. Kittens love to have access to lots of levels, so low perches or kitten hammocks can keep play interesting for them! However, it can be easy to accidently encourage biting and scratching during play, which can set up bad habits in an adult cat. Here are some tips to prevent scratching and biting behaviours as your kitten gets older:
- Try and keep some distance between you and your kitten, using toys that don’t encourage direct contact with your skin
- Exclaim loudly if your kitten bites or scratches you, even if it isn’t too painful, and walk away. Your kitten will quickly learn that playing rough will end the game and be gentler in future
Grooming for cats and kittens
The Ark grooming salon
Cats, especially long haired, need regular grooming even though they’re highly clean animals and groom themselves. Regular grooming promotes blood circulation, gets rid of dead falling hair, and giving your kitty a glamorous new look and spa day treat!
We provide compassionate low-stress grooming session for your cat in our comfortable grooming salon. Our groomer understand cat’s behaviours and their possible fears connected to the grooming process which enables the cat groom to be completed with the least stress involved.
If you want to book a great pampering session for your cat please click the button below.
Brushing and nail clipping
All cats require brushing to keep their coat in top condition, and often really enjoy grooming. Particularly if you have a long-haired breed, a slicker brush, comb or both may be needed to properly maintain their coats and keep their fur un-matted. We recommend you brush your new kitten daily, as this gets them used to being handled and can be a great bonding experience.
While trimming your kitten’s nails can seem daunting, like everything, if they become used to it when they are young, you are less likely to have problems with nail maintenance when they are older. Playing with your kitten’s feet or touching their nails can help them become familiar with the process. Our nurses are happy to show you how to safely trim your cats nails, so if you are unsure book an appointment online today.
Vaccinations for cats and kittens
Vaccinations for kittens
From 8 weeks onwards, your kitten will require a series of vaccinations to protect them from serious infectious diseases. These vaccinations cover feline enteritis, calicivirus, rhinotracheitis and chlamydia. An additonal vaccine will also protect them against feline leukaemia. Vaccination booster shots are also given at 12 and 16 weeks to age to ensure the best protection.\
Vaccinations for cats
Every year your cat will need an injection. This will give them combined protection from feline enteritis, rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, chlamydia and leukaemia.
For more information on how vaccinations work and why they are so important, visit the vaccinations page.
Desexing cat
Desexing is a standard and simple procedure that we recommend you perform when your kitten is 5-6 months old – it is slightly different in male and female cats, but prevents them from both breeding or carrying a litter of kittens. Particularly in males, desexing reduces testosterone levels, which can be linked to behavioural problems in adult life. For comprehensive information on the procedure and its benefits, visit our desexing page, but we’ve put together a quick list of some of the benefits of desexing your kitten:
- Male cats are less likely to wander in search for a mate or fight with other cats in the neighbourhood
- The risk of cancer in the reproductive organs is greatly reduced
- Reduction in anti-social or aggressive behaviours, as well as territory marking in male cats
- Reduction in populations of stray cats in shelters and on the streets – this also means less unvaccinated cats that may transmit diseases through the pet community
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