What medical care is recommended for 8-week-old rescue kittens?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Congratulations! I recommend at 5 months for the first visit to consist of: fecal test, deworming even if the fecal test is negative, feline leukemia and FIV testing, the FVRCP vaccine every 3 weeks for a total of 2 and the Rabies vaccine. I also recommend spaying and neutering after 6 months of age. I recommend feeding ahigh quality kitten food like Purina Proplan, Hill's Science Diet or Royal Canin until 1 year of age. To watch the weight after 6 months I recommend meal feeding. I wish you the very best!

Congratulations! What a beautiful kitten! Most vets start a vaccine series between 6-8 weeks of age, and will also deworm or check stool samples at the first visit. Following that, they typically need a visit/booster every 3-5 weeks until they are a few months old. The exact vaccines schedule will be individualized by your vet. They may also recommend parasite prevention or routine dewormers. Other things you can do at home include feeding a high quality kitten food, checking their urine and stool output and getting them used to being handled. Becoming well socialized is very important! Make sure they have plenty of vertical space like a cat tree, handle him gently and frequently - get him used to having his nail trims, etc. Don't let him bite you:) It looks like you are off to a great start!

Kittens should have their first set of vaccines between 6-8 weeks of age, so I would schedule an appointment as soon as possible. They can be dewormed as young as two weeks of age, so I would definitely go ahead and do this as well. I would recommend feeding a good quality kitten food such as Hills Science Diet or Royal Canin - these foods are complete and balanced, and contain all the nutrition needed for a growing kitten.

Congratulations on your new kitten! I would recommend taking Smokey for his first veterinary exam one day this week, if possible. At this visit, the vet will check his heart and lungs, palpate his belly, and make sure that he doesn't have any other problems like ear mites or fleas. A fecal exam for parasites, feline leukemia test, and first FVRCP vaccine for feline distemper and other common diseases should be done at this visit. After that, the FVRCP vaccine will need to be boostered every 3-4 weeks until Smokey is 16 weeks or older. He will also need his feline leukemia and rabies vaccines at that time, and can be neutered anytime after 16 weeks of age.

Congratulations on your new kitties! I would recommend taking them to the vet for a check-up when you're able to. The vet will listen to their heart and lungs, and will also check for fleas, ear mites, and other problems that are common in stray cats. Usually, a fecal exam for parasites and FeLV/FIV testing would also be recommended. If they seem healthy, your veterinarian will probably also recommend having them vaccinated for feline distemper, feline leukemia, and rabies.

I would worry a little more about the new kitten passing on diseases to the older cat - viral upper respiratory infections in particular are common. I'd recommend vaccinating both cats with the FVRCP combo and rabies vaccines. If the cats are going to continue to be outdoors then the FeLV vaccine would also be recommended, and I actually usually recommend vaccinating all kittens for FeLV since you never know if their lifestyle might change.

Most kittens will need a dewormer for roundworms and hookworms like pyrantel: https://www.petcoach.co/article/cat-roundworms-ascarids-toxascaris-leonina-toxocara-cati/ I don;t recommend a flea shampoo because they can be toxic and they are not very effective. A better option is to apply a dose of revolution to Lokee which will last for 30 days and is safe on young kittens. Vaccines should start between 6-8 weeks of age. Lokee will also need to be checked for parasites (coccidia are common) and an Felv/FIV test. Here is great information about what kittens need: https://www.petcoach.co/article/routine-veterinary-examinations-for-your-kitten/ I hope this helps.