Should new kitten be fully vaccinated before introducing to an existing family cat?
Should new kitten be fully vaccinated before introducing to an existing family cat?
We recently adopted a 9 week old kitten. We took her to the vet who confirmed she is dewormed, and that she is due for more shots 4 weeks from the date of her last shots.
We also have a 7 y/o cat who is up to date on shots as of a few weeks ago.
We have the kitten staying in her own spare bathroom for the time being, but we would like to start the slow introduction process as soon as safely possible.
Would we be putting the older cat at any risk if we were to **not wait until getting the kitten the rest of her shots?
Hoping there's something vet professionals here who could offer some advice. Cheers!
I’d be more concerned about the older cat passing something to the younger cat. But if the older one is up to date on shots, indoor only and not FIV positive, the risk is minimal.
I definitely would. You can never be too careful. Cats can just die suddenly over things you didn't even think about.
My main concern would be things not necessarily vaccinated for, like ear mites.
it appears that the kitten is partially vaccinated? i assume at the initial vaccination they tested for the major diseases that affect cats and it came back negative, so introduction is likely fine. i am not a vet, but i have done this multiple times in my households and have felt comfortable after the first round of vaccines since my other cats are all up-to-date and have a flea/tick regimen.
initial introduction should be super slow anyway. unless both cats are chill, they shouldn't be too close to one another for extended periods and without supervision.
Yes, this is the key. As long as the kitten has been tested, and is negative for things like FIV (there are others, this is just first that comes to mind) then I don't see the issue as long as both are indoor only (should be for a multitude of reasons anyhow)
Is the other cat vaccinated and indoor? In that scenario I'd have no issue at all. If it's unvaccinated then definitely not. If it's outdoor then it's risky not just because they can bring diseases in on their feet, but they are also at much higher risk of bringing in worms, ticks and fleas which can kill a kitten. In that scenario I'd probably give the dog a good body check, then start keeping them in.