What should I keep in mind during my first vet visit?

Your little kitten will be relying on you to take good care of her from the moment you bring her home. Register her with a local vet as soon as you can. Keep all her health documents, and the vet’s phone number, handy. 
 

Getting used to the carrier

To make the journey much more pleasant for your little one, we'd recommend a cat carrier with a secure lock. It's all too easy to escape from an ordinary cardboard box, or from your arms. She'll feel much more comfortable if you turn the carrier into a home away from home by putting something with her smell on it inside. Place a toy or a blanket inside – something that smells of your kitten as it will reassure her and make her feel safe. At first, she might be a bit wary of her cat carrier. Get her used to it by putting it out a few days before you need it. Make sure it’s locked to keep her secure while travelling.
 

The first appointment

Keep her inside the carrier until you go into the examination room. Stroke and talk to your kitten to help her feel secure, during the examination. If she’s comfortable during the first visit, she’s more likely to be relaxed on future visits as well. You vet will also advise you on how to keep your kitten mentally and physically, healthy and happy.
 

When is it an emergency?

In some cases, immediate treatment by the vet is necessary. The sooner your kitten gets medical help, the sooner she can recover. Keep in mind some symptoms that need urgent attention:

• Blood in urine or poo
• Diarrhoea – pooing more than twice an hour
• Straining in the litter box with no results
• Vomiting more than three times an hour
• Lethargy
• Weight loss in a short time
• Laboured breathing
• Flinches or cries if touched
• Something hanging out of her mouth (eg. string or tinsel)
• Change in “normal” behaviour