What to Expect at Your Kitten's First Vet Visit

In this guide

Bringing a new kitten home is exciting, and scheduling that first vet visit early on sets the tone for a lifetime of good veterinary care. Knowing what to expect makes the whole experience smoother for both of you.

When to go

Most vets recommend a first visit within the first week of bringing a kitten home, or around eight weeks of age if the kitten is younger. If your kitten shows any signs of illness before that, such as sneezing, watery eyes, diarrhoea or lethargy, do not wait for a scheduled appointment; call your vet promptly instead.

What to bring

• Any paperwork from the breeder, shelter, or previous owner, including vaccination or deworming records
• A fresh stool sample if your vet has asked for one, usually to check for intestinal parasites
• A secure carrier your kitten has had some time to get used to beforehand
• A list of questions you want to ask, since it is easy to forget them once you are in the room

What happens during the visit

Your vet will take a full history, including diet, environment, and whether your kitten will live strictly indoors or have outdoor access. A thorough physical exam follows, checking the eyes, ears, mouth, coat, skin and body condition, along with listening to the heart and lungs and feeling the abdomen. Most kittens are also checked for external parasites like fleas and ticks and screened for intestinal worms via a stool sample.

Vaccinations and testing

The core kitten vaccination series, protecting against panleukopenia, calicivirus and herpesvirus, along with rabies, typically begins around six to eight weeks and continues in boosters every three to four weeks until around sixteen weeks old. Your vet may also recommend testing for FIV and FeLV, particularly for kittens with a street or shelter background, since knowing this status early helps guide care and any introductions to other cats in the household.

Questions worth asking

• What vaccination and deworming schedule do you recommend for my kitten specifically
• When should I consider spaying or neutering
• What food and feeding schedule suits my kitten's age and breed
• What parasite prevention do you recommend given where we live

Give yourself an hour or so for the appointment, since a first visit usually takes longer than routine checkups that follow it.

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