Your kitten’s first visit
Your kitten’s early veterinary experiences can shape how comfortable they feel with future visits. Starting with a Gold-level Cat Friendly Practice® means their environment, handling, and care are designed with the specific needs of cats in mind.
The first visit
What we check, and what to bring
Bring any records from the breeder, shelter, rescue, or previous veterinarian. If possible, bring a fresh stool sample as well.
- A complete nose-to-tail physical examination, including the mouth, eyes, ears, heart, lungs, skin, and abdomen
- Weight and body condition, giving us a baseline as your kitten grows
- A check for fleas, ear mites, and other external parasites
- Fecal testing for intestinal parasites when recommended
- FeLV and FIV testing when appropriate based on your kitten’s history and risk
- A vaccination schedule based on your kitten’s age and previous vaccines
- A discussion about the appropriate timing for spay or neuter
Vaccines
The kitten vaccine series
Kittens need a series of vaccines, not just one visit. Early in life, antibodies received from their mother can interfere with vaccination, which is why vaccines are repeated at specific intervals as your kitten grows.
Core protection includes FVRCP — feline herpesvirus, calicivirus, and panleukopenia (feline distemper) — along with rabies. Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) vaccination is also recommended for kittens, with future vaccination based on lifestyle and risk.
The number and timing of visits depend on your kitten’s age and previous vaccines. We will give you a personalized vaccination schedule with the actual dates your kitten is due.
Parasite screening, deworming, and flea prevention are also discussed during these visits and tailored to your kitten’s age, history, test results, and risk.
Why here
Why a Cat Friendly Practice® matters
Animal Republic is recognized as a Gold-level Cat Friendly Practice®. This means our approach to feline patients — from the hospital environment to handling and medical care — is designed around the specific needs of cats and to reduce unnecessary stress during veterinary visits.
Dr. Fazeli is a member of the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) and has completed the Cat Friendly Certificate Program. He also shares his home with two cats, Munchie and Morad.
After the first visit
The next few months
Your kitten will return for several short visits while completing the vaccine series. The number and timing depend on their age and previous vaccinations, and we will give you the specific dates.
Along the way, we will discuss parasite prevention, indoor and outdoor risks, microchipping, nutrition, litter box habits, and the right time to spay or neuter.
Once the kitten series is complete, we will recommend a regular preventive-care schedule based on your cat’s age, lifestyle, and health.
If we find something that needs more than routine wellness care, our in-house laboratory, imaging, and surgical suite are available in the same hospital.
Common questions
Questions we are asked
When should a kitten first see a vet?
As soon as you bring them home, ideally within the first few days, even if they came with health records. That first visit is mostly a physical examination and a plan, and it is the visit where we look for parasites and heart murmurs.
How many visits does the kitten vaccine series take?
More than one. Kittens need a series because immunity from their mother interferes with the early doses, and the spacing depends on their age at the first vaccine. The series starts at 6-8 weeks of age and vaccines are repeated every 3-4 weeks until at least 16 weeks, typically 3-4 visits depending on the age the series begins and any previous vaccine history.
Does my indoor kitten need vaccines?
Yes. Core protection includes FVRCP — feline herpesvirus, calicivirus, and panleukopenia (feline distemper) — along with rabies. Rabies vaccination is also strongly recommended for cats, including indoor cats. Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) vaccination is also recommended for kittens, with future vaccination based on lifestyle and risk.
Call us or schedule a visit
Call us with your questions, or to schedule a visit for your pet.
- Address
- 6937 Warner Avenue
Huntington Beach, CA 92647 - Hours
- Monday – Saturday, 9 AM – 8:30 PM · Tue to 6 PMSunday: closed.
- Phone
- (714) 274-9305