Gryphonwood Birmans
Raising Birman kittens underfoot to be strong in mind, body and spirit.
These guidelines are provided to help you care for your new kitten. These hints, plus lots of tender, loving care, will help you keep your kitten healthy, playful, and affectionate and continue to ensure desirable behavior and social development into adulthood. ACCLIMATIZATION TIME Please remember that this is your kitten's first time away from the only home it has ever known, and it will probably be insecure and confused at first. Give the baby time, and don't expect it to be best friends with you right away. Keep the kitten's introduction to other family members and pets as quiet and stress-free as possible and, most of all, give it time to become used to the new home and family. 1. Show the kitten its litter box, food, and water as soon as you get it home, and then be prepared for accidents! However, don't spank or punish the baby if it misses its litter box during these first critical days! Rather, pick it up, put it in its box, and make digging motions with its front paws. Young kittens sometimes forget where their boxes are, or suddenly realize that they have to go now -- this is normal, and will pass quickly. Your kitten is similar to a 2-3year old child in this respect and you need to help it avoid making mistakes. 2. Introduce the kitten to one baby proofed room at a time; offer encouragement and petting, but allow it to explore in its own time. After it is comfortable and settled down in the first room, allow it to proceed to others. Try not to startle the kitten, and again, remember that this is a very scary and stressful time, which brings us to: Stress: Your kitten has had the full three series of kitten vaccinations and is in good health. However, it is not unusual for a new kitten to hide, be skittish, or to eat only a little for a couple of days. Please call us if the kitten refuses to eat or drink at all, as it has only very small reserves and a problem can develop quickly. Give lots of petting, soft and quiet talking and encouragement, and you'll find that the kitten will quickly adjust. 3. Be aware that the kitten will probably cry a lot the first couple of nights. Although it is completely weaned, it is used to having the comfort of constant companionship - the baby misses Mom, litter mates, the smells of 'home,' and is scared and lonely. As soon as it makes friends with you and your other pet(s), this crying will stop. Allowing him to sleep with a companion will go a long way toward ensuring that you both sleep through those first couple of nights. Avoid letting the kitten have full run of the house at night unsupervised or you may have difficulty finding him in the morning or he may get into mischief when left on his own. OTHER PETS: If you have other pets, wait until the kitten is settled and comfortable (this may take up to a week) before introducing other animals, one at a time. Never leave the kitten alone with the other pet(s) until you are certain that they are good friends (this may be several Gryphonwood Kitten Tips
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Gryphonwood Birmans
Raising Birman kittens underfoot to be strong in mind, body and spirit.
weeks!). When the kitten must be left ensure that it has a small, safe room with a litter box, bed, food and water. Pets will grow accustomed to each other by visiting under the door and in a week or so will be much more accepting of each other. Be certain to give the 'old' pets lots of attention, in order to keep them from being jealous and to avoid stirring territorial instincts too strongly. It is always possible that the original pet may not take too kindly to someone new using its litter pan/food dish. Be prepared for this by giving the new kitten its own litter pan and food and water dishes. FOOD -- WHAT KIND, HOW MUCH, HOW OFTEN? CANNED FOOD: Your kitten is completely weaned, and has been eating 2-3 tablespoons of canned food 2 times a day (Breakfast and Dinner). Do not leave it down for more than 2 hours, especially in the heat – cats can food poisoning just like people do. Your kitten has been introduced to Royal Canin Babycat Canned, Evo Canned, Whiskas Chicken Pate, Friskies Chicken Pate and Fancy Feast Chicken Pate. We suggest that you continue the canned food routine even when your can becomes an adult. Not only does this promote bonding with your new kitten (they see you as the provider of food…) but enables you to detect a change in appetite early on that might indicate a problem (intestinal blockage from swallowed toys, fur, plastic bags etc.; or the first sign of a medical problem). A cat that stops eating needs to be seen by a veterinarian within 24 hours to diagnose – unlike dogs, waiting longer can result in life threatening liver damage. Your kitten will appreciate canned food that has been refrigerated being warmed slightly and mixed with a fork. If you heat food in the microwave, be sure to stir it up thoroughly before offering it to the kitten. Microwaves tend to get food very hot in some places, and not hot at all in others, and you don't want the kitten to burn its mouth. DRY FOOD: There is also California Natural Chicken and Rice and Royal Canin BabyCat dry food available at all times. We suggest that the kitten gradually be moved to the California Natural dry, eliminating the BabyCat over the next month or two and remain on this dry food exclusively until they are 1 year old. At 1 year of age we recommend gradually introducing Hill’s Oral Care to the California Natural until you have a 50:50 mixture. This will go a long way toward maintaining good dental care and health through adulthood. Birmans do not usually over eat and we have found that the CalNat is an excellent food to prevent hairballs in adulthood. If your Birman becomes heavier than desirable, it is suggested that you increase the amount of canned/wet food that you feed him and increase the Hill’s Oral Care (lower in calories) and reduce the CalNat in the dry mix. You may need to put a measured amount of the dry out for the day, but only do this if your veterinarian recommends controlling the quantity of food. In our experience, ‘Diet’ cat foods tend to cause additional problems as they are higher in carbohydrate and create large ‘fluffy’ stools. These stools sometimes cause problems Gryphonwood Kitten Tips
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Gryphonwood Birmans
Raising Birman kittens underfoot to be strong in mind, body and spirit.
with being unable to properly express anal glands, and seem to be less able to pass the normal amount of hair through the system, occasionally resulting in fur ball blockages in the stomach and small intestines. The additional carbohydrate in the diet has also been linked to dental and diabetes issues when used long term. Although we recognize that the cat was not designed to eat meat flavoured cereal products, we also recognize that most owners are unable or unwilling to provide a completely canned or raw diet. So the dry foods that we recommend are the ones that we personally have had success with and that don’t contain poor quality ingredients. WATER: – your kitten has been receiving Guelph municipal tap water. Our drinking water in this area of Guelph is very hard and is treated by UV light and ozone. It is not chlorinated, nor does it have added fluoride. I strongly suggest that for the first several weeks you purchase Nestles or President’s Choice bottled water as it is bottled from the same well and treated in the same manner as our tap water. Your kitten can transition to your tap water, but a sudden change over can result in either the kitten refusing it because it smells and tastes different or in diarrhea because it is just one more stressful thing added to the rehoming process. Water needs to be fresh – dumped and changed once or twice a day. More often if your kitten drops kibble or food in it, as this will cause it to spoil. Cats are very sensitive about how fresh water is and will refuse stale or soiled water – to their detriment. A cat water fountain that is properly cleaned and maintained will help to maximize a cats water intake. TREATS: Treats won't hurt the kitten's health so long as they don't exceed 10% of the diet. If you make a regular habit of giving a treat after you finish eating, the kitten will learn to look forward to it and won't bother you, your family, or your guests while you eat, but will wait patiently. Treats can also be used to reinforce positive behaviours, such as accepting nail trimming, baths or combing. Contrary to popular belief, cow's milk isn't good for cats, as most can't digest it properly, and consequently get diarrhea. Lactose free Whiskas’ Cat Milk may be introduced in small, small quantities as a treat if you desire. DISHWARE: We recommend at least two sets of china dishes. Crock style (straight sides) seem to prevent tipping and only need to be 1-2 inches high. Some cats seem to have an issue seeing their reflection in stainless steel, but if your kitten or cat accepts stainless steel these are also acceptable. Plastic dishes can harbor germs in the surface which can cause feline acne. Feline acne is a skin infection that looks like small pimples on the chin, which redden and swell causing discomfort. They can be very difficult to clear up. If this problem arises, consult your vet for the best method of treatment. Dishes should be washed well and air dried daily. Once a week you many need to ‘descale’ water bowls by soaking them in vinegar and water prior to washing to remove lime scale build up. Do not add new food on top of old food – the saliva from the Gryphonwood Kitten Tips
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Gryphonwood Birmans
Raising Birman kittens underfoot to be strong in mind, body and spirit.
cats mouth will moisten the old food and it can spoil/mold unseen at the bottom of the bowl. Always use a separate plate for canned food and pick up any remaining wet food after two hours.
CARE -- DO'S AND DON'TS CHOOSING A VETERINARIAN: This is the professional who will literally be holding your kittens life in his/her hands, so ensuring that you choose a veterinarian who will best be able to care for your kitten is a very important part of pet ownership. Some tips to find a good vet: Ask friends, family and your breeder for suggestions and recommendations in your area. Arrange for a first visit without your kitten to speak with a veterinarian and get an overall feel of the facilities. Understand that they may have a busy practice and finding time outside of appointments may be difficult. During your appointment, look around and consider whether the space is clean, modern, well-organized and as low a stress environment for your cat as possible (are there continuous dogs barking, poorly controlled dogs or other pets). Look for certificates of qualification and accreditation on walls, including those for licensed veterinary techs and office managers. Ask questions! Don’t be shy; most vets appreciate it when their clients take an interest in their pets’ care. Do you feel that you have good rapport with the vet? Effective communication is essential to any health care relationship. A vet who gives you the impression that they don’t need to explain or answer owners questions may not be a good fit down the road when you need them the most. These are some of the questions that I ask Is the practice AAHA-accredited? (pronounced Ah Ha) How are overnight patients monitored? If there is not 24 hour monitoring, how do they manage critical patients? If critical patients are transferred to a referral hospital, how are they transported and how far away is the closest referral hospital? What sort of anesthesia / surgical monitoring equipment does the practice use? How are patients evaluated before anesthesia? Cats are small and lose heat quickly during surgery – what do they do to prevent this? Do they re-use endotracheal tubes? What is their post surgical monitoring procedure? Is a licensed veterinary technician present in surgery at all times? What is their protocol for pain management during and post typical feline surgery such as a spay? Gryphonwood Kitten Tips
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Gryphonwood Birmans
Raising Birman kittens underfoot to be strong in mind, body and spirit.
Do they subscribe to the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery? Do they subscribe to the VIN (Veterinary Information Network)? Although there are feline only clinics available in many cities, you will find that very few are actually Board Certified Feline Specialists (last checked there were 3 or 4 in all of Canada) - most have an interest in felines and may have taken continuing education credits on feline medicine, so they may or may not have more knowledge of feline issues than a mixed practice vet or may have a more feline friendly practice. All veterinary hospitals operating in Ontario are accredited by The College of Veterinarians of Ontario to ensure that they provide a professional environment and contain the essential equipment required for patient care, however a few volunteer to take the steps necessary to meet the additional criteria to be accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). An indoor life is a longer and healthier life. Because such potentially fatal feline diseases as Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV), Infectious Anemia and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), not to mention poisons, automobiles, predators, cruel humans, parasites and other hazards - we require that you NEVER allow your kitten to run freely outside or allow your kitten to interact with cats that have not been recently tested (even if those cats are vaccinated – vaccines will not eliminate these virus if they were infected prior to inoculation). Even if the kitten has been vaccinated against FeLV, it may still be at risk of infection. If you choose to ignore this requirement, the chances are good that your kitten will not survive its first year, and you will be in violation of our agreement. If, however, you keep the kitten inside, or only take it out on a leash & harness (as described below) life expectancy is on average 12 years or more. NEVER tie a kitten out on the leash without a human being outside and within a few feet of them – we personally know of three sweet, gentle Birmans who were attacked and killed in there own yards and decks by neighbor dogs. Without you to protect them, your Birman will have no ability to run or defend themselves if tied. They are not barn cats and we have specifically bred them to be docile, overly friendly and trusting - a deadly combination when confronted by an aggressive dog, coyote or evil human being. SAFETY: Before you let your new kitten loose in your home, check for the following safety hazards: Electrical and phone cords left dangling and not covered with bite proof tubing Toilet lids left up (a small kitten can easily drown in a toilet bowl) Open fire screens (use wire to permanently affix them to the sides and centre) Open stairways / lofts / high railings Reclining chairs and hide-a-beds (the mechanism of these can easily crush a kitten who has crawled inside) Hideaway (Murphy) beds (again, they can crush a kitten caught in the mechanism) Gryphonwood Kitten Tips
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Gryphonwood Birmans
Raising Birman kittens underfoot to be strong in mind, body and spirit.
Fringe or any loose trim (kittens have been known to strangle when their heads get twisted in the fringe or in a hole between trim and fabric.) Dangling drapery or blinds cords (another invitation to strangulation) Accessible garbage (especially any kind of bones or string -- bones can either splinter and perforate the stomach or intestines, or form an intestinal blockage) Needles and/or thread; knitting and/or crocheting materials Rubber bands (which can wrap around the intestines) Plastic wrap (the kitten can eat it, strangle on it, or suffocate in it) and milk bag ‘corners’, Plastic bags (a kitten can become trapped and suffocate, or get its head tangled in the loop and panic) Styrofoam (especially packing "peanuts") which the kitten may eat Cigarettes (yes, they'll eat them) and the nicotine is a poison. Yarn toys (if they come unraveled, they can wrap around the intestines or block them) Toys with easily removed and swallowed parts Cellophane (it turns glassy in the stomach and can cause internal lacerations) Christmas tree needles, tinsel, and decorations Open refrigerators, dishwashers, microwaves, ovens, washers, dryers -- always double check for kittens before shutting or turning on any appliance! Put away feathers and toys attached to string (such as kitty teasers) after use. Kittens and cats will often eat feathers and swallow string. Keep your workshop off limits. Cats will jump at moving objects such as drills and power saws. They may also swallow screws, nails, wire, and other small parts. Kittens like to taste about everything. Keep all cleaning products and other chemicals stored away and out of reach. Anything with phenyl- or -sol (check the label) is deadly to cats (this includes Lysol). Cats love to drink out of toilet bowls, so it's wise not to use anything in your toilet. The best disinfectant to use is one part bleach to 30 parts water. Remember, kittens lick their paws, so be careful what you use on your floors and counters. Cleaners that end in –sol tend to be very toxic. Oxy type cleaners are safer. Dishsoap, Vinegar or bleach (but never mixed together) are the safest. Cats love certain scents, and one of their favourites is antifreeze, which will kill a cat in short order. If your kitten should get into anti-freeze, RUN to the nearest vet or emergency clinic. They can save your kitten only if the effects are reversed within a few hours of ingestion. Keep the numbers of your local poison control centre, your vet, and the emergency clinic posted by your phone. Poisonous Plants: The following plants are in some degree poisonous or hazardous to cats: Anemone, black cherry, bloodroot, buttercup, caladium, castor bean, clematis, crocus, cycads, daffodil, daphne (spurge laurel), delphinium, dicentra (bleeding heart), dieffenbachia, Easter lily, elephant's ear, english ivy, foxglove, four o'clock, hellebore, hemlock, holly, hyacinth, hydrangea, indian spurge tree, jack-in-the-pulpit, Jerusalem cherry, jimson weed, lantana (red sage), larkspur, lily-of-the-valley, lily (any variety) Gryphonwood Kitten Tips
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Gryphonwood Birmans
Raising Birman kittens underfoot to be strong in mind, body and spirit.
mistletoe, morning glory, mountain laurel, oleander, philodendron, poinsettia*, poinciana (bird of paradise), poison ivy, poison oak, pokeweed, rhododendron, solandra (trumpet flower), star of Bethlehem (snowdrop), sweet pea, thorn apple, tulip, wisteria, and yew. * Some experts have removed poinsettia from the list of harmful plants.If you wish to keep a plant or two we suggest potted edible ornamental grass, mint, oregano, parsley etc. Do not pot chives or any members of the onion/garlic family as they can cause a type of anemia in all cats. PET POISON HELPLINE 1-800-213-6680
www.petpoisonhelpline.com
COLLARS AND LEASHES: We generally do not recommend collars, as the kittens are microchipped, but if you use a collar on your kitten check it daily to be sure it isn't becoming too tight as the kitten grows. Conversely, a kitten can easily catch its lower jaw in a too-loose collar. A breakaway collar is the best choice, as it will separate if it becomes caught on something. If you train your kitten to a leash, use a harness designed for cats -- never a collar (a cat will only struggle against the pull of a collar around its neck, but is more amenable to the behind-the-front-legs tug of a harness). Remember that harnesses are not totally secure, and a cat wearing a harness and leash should NEVER be left unsupervised. The cat may slip out of the harness, or strangle himself on the leash, or be attacked and unable to flee. Never allow a child to ‘walk’ the cat without close and constant adult supervision. Never walk a leashed cat near a roadway or on a busy sidewalk unless you're sure the cat is very calm (cats that can be trusted not to panic in these situations are literally one-in-a-million!). The noise and motion of cars, people, other animals, etc., can cause a cat to panic, slip its harness, and dash into danger. The best place for your leashed cat is in your own quiet back yard with you. GROOMING: Birmans present little grooming problems. Their coats are easy to maintain, and a weekly combing with a wide-toothed comb (about 9 teeth per inch) followed by a narrow-toothed comb (about 12 teeth per inch) is all that is generally necessary (use a flea comb on the face and ear furnishings). Keep in mind that regular grooming is necessary to prevent the cat from developing hairballs which can cause vomiting and/or intestinal blockage. We have found that the California Natural is an excellent food for preventing hairballs and the potential intestinal blockages that can happen if the fur clumps in the small intestine instead of passing. You will have to comb your cat more often in the spring and fall, which are seasons of heavier shedding. Pay particular attention to the areas behind and below the ears, the flanks, the britches, between the back legs, and under the front legs. These are the areas where mats most readily form. Gryphonwood Kitten Tips
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Gryphonwood Birmans
Raising Birman kittens underfoot to be strong in mind, body and spirit.
If you wish to keep your cat looking like a champion, an occasional bath with a good pet shampoo, followed by blow-drying and a good combing is recommended. If the tail is extra oily (a particular problem with unaltered male cats), rub corn starch into the dry tail and leave overnight. Then wash out the tail with Dawn dishwashing liquid. Be sure to rinse all traces of soap out of the coat, and don't ever leave the cat unattended with shampoo on its coat. Your kitten has had a bath before it came to you, but each kittens tolerance will be different. If the kitten objects to the blow-dryer, place it in its carrier with the dryer on the lowest setting propped up about 12 inches from the door. Leave the kitten in the carrier for about 15 minutes, then comb it out and allow it to air dry in a warm, draft-free room. Keep the heat set on low whenever using a blow-dryer on a cat. You will find more tips and hints on our website or you are welcome to contact us for suggestions. DECLAWING: Declawing is a mutilation of a cats toes, not the minor operation that proponents of this procedure would have you believe, and is expressly forbidden in our agreement. Those in favor of declawing point out that most cats can still climb trees after declawing. This is all very well until the cat is cornered without a tree, back to the wall, and has nothing at all for long-range defense. Additionally, a declawed cat is very likely to bite (because it doesn't have its claws for defense) and to refuse to use its litter box (because its mutilated toes hurt when it tries to dig). It is perfectly possible to train your kitten not to scratch your furniture, and by keeping its claws clipped will protect your possessions while it is learning its manners. Provide at least one, or better yet, several scratching posts for your kitten as soon as possible. (The kitten has been used to using one at our house.) Try to get the posts covered with a material of a different texture than your carpeting or upholstery, so the kitten doesn't get confused about which object is O.K. to scratch and which isn't. (A wooden post wound tightly with heavy sisal rope [they don't like nylon or plastic] makes an excellent scratching post.) Encourage and praise the baby when it uses the post; squirt it with a spray bottle of water and shame it when it uses something else (see 'Training' below). Double sided tape or motion detector air canisters are excellent deterrents if your cat has focused on an inappropriate surface, as they are effective without you being present. TRAINING Contrary to widespread belief, cats are trainable by proper methods: rewards and tangible but removed punishment (see 'Spray Bottle Method,' below). People expect to have to spend time training a puppy – and a kitten is not any different. If you want a well mannered pet you need to put the gentle time in to train it to your house rules. Be firm and patient with your kitten. By teaching it the house rules now, you can avoid future behavioral problems. Actions that are cute in a kitten may not seem so cute in an adult (such as chewing fingers or sitting on the dining room table). If the kitten scratches Gryphonwood Kitten Tips
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Gryphonwood Birmans
Raising Birman kittens underfoot to be strong in mind, body and spirit.
its claws where it shouldn't, say "NO," take it to its scratching post, and make scratching motions with its feet. Kittens respond well to a firm voice and patience. They are naturally fastidious, and want to behave. NEVER strike/hit/slap/flick etc. your kitten with your hand or anything else. NEVER scream/yell at the kitten. NEVER lock it up in a crate if it makes a mistake – it won’t associate the punishment with the crime and will simply be afraid. A frightened kitten will only learn to fear and avoid you. Gentle, but consistent behaviour modification will reap the reward of not only a cat that knows the boundaries, but is still loving and trusting of you. THE SPRAY BOTTLE: Behavior problems that don't respond to "NO!" can usually be modified by giving the kitten a quick shot of water from a spray bottle. This method removes you from the punishment in the kitten's mind, which is desirable for two reasons: The kitten doesn't begin to fear you as a source of punishment (as it would if you spank!), and it thinks the water is an 'Act of God,' and will refrain from the undesirable behavior even if you aren't around. (A similar method works to keep your kitten from running outdoors: Stand outside, hose in hand, door open, and spray the kitten when if sets foot outside. After a few times, the kitten will decide that there's nothing out there that it wanted anyway! Another method some friends of ours use as a backup is to attach a water gun with velcro to their front door [they even got a water gun the same color as the door!]. When they go in or out they remove the gun and hold it ready to squirt an errant kitten. Works every time!. Do NOT give this task to a child as it too often becomes a game of teasing the cat…another way of creating poor temperament as a kitten learns to fear the children. THE PENNY CAN: Keep a tin coffee or other metal can with pennies close by areas that are a problem. A loud shake of the can will startle the kitten and you can redirect its behaviour. PICKY MAT OR DOUBLE SIDED TAPE: Plastic office mats/runners with picky sides can be placed on surfaces such as sofa’s or beds that you want to teach the kitten to avoid. You must be consistent and never allow the kitten on the surface, otherwise they will be confused. Double sided tape can be placed temporarily on corners of furniture (not leather) if you see the cat trying to scratch there. MOTION DETECTOR / AIR CANISTER: The Motion Detector/Air Canister is our favorite method of deterring cats from getting onto counters/stoves. Ceramic/smooth top stoves can be especially dangerous, as they retain burning heat for a long period of time. These can be purchased at Canadian Tire, Pet Smart etc. and are very effective. Gryphonwood Kitten Tips
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Gryphonwood Birmans
Raising Birman kittens underfoot to be strong in mind, body and spirit.
BITTER APPLE GEL: If your Birman is having difficulty understanding not to mouth/bite/chew things, hands, fingers, toes he can be deterred by purchasing and using Bitter Apple Gel on hands an feet. This can also be safely placed on other hard surfaces. Generally, the mouthy period only lasts a few months from about 4-7 months of age while they are teething. Be aware of Birmans who chew or suck on fabrics, plastic bags, mats. This is a difficult behavioral issue that may last into adulthood and requires extreme vigilance to avoid both damage to items and expensive and life threatening intestinal blockages. If this period lasts beyond 8 months of age you may have to work to prevent problems with this ‘cat’ form of obsessive compulsive disorder. Please contact us if you experience this, as Birmans (along with Siamese and other emotionally sensitive breeds) are one of the most affected breeds. PLAY -- WHEN, HOW LONG, WHAT KIND? Kittens and adult Birmans like to play. Generally, the morning or early evening (following afternoon naps) is the best time if you want an enthusiastic response, especially in an adult cat. We try to discourage rough play, as this can make the kitten too aggressive. (If the kitten kicks at your hand or bites at your fingers, say "NO," blow in its face, and remove your hand.) Toys are for playing with, hands are ONLY for petting. Soft toys with no small, easily removed and swallowed pieces are good toys; a twisted paper attached to a string tied to a stick is wonderful. With it you can go 'fishing for kittens,' and the pouncing and jumping it elicits is great exercise for the kitten. (If you use this type of toy, don't leave the kitten unattended with it; the kitten may well get dangerously tangled in the string or consume it.) Remember that what your kitten needs most is your time and attention. Especially if it is left alone during the day, it will be very glad to see you in the evening, and demand quite a bit of attention. Please remember that kittens are emotional, sensitive, living creatures, and don't allow your friends, children, or other pets to mishandle this baby. One sure way to guarantee an unsatisfactory pet is to mistreat it, even inadvertently. On the other hand, plenty of attention, love, and considerate play will result in a companion who will give you years of joy.
GENERAL NOTES VACCINATIONS You kitten has received all three sets of core kitten vaccinations. These protect against Feline Viral Rhinotraechitis, Calici Virus and Panleukopenia, commonly referred to as FVRCP. Booster shots will not be required for these diseases until the kitten is 16months old. Your kitten has not been vaccinated against Rabies. Provincial law mandates that cats and dogs receive vaccination against rabies, and given the potential consequences of Gryphonwood Kitten Tips
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Gryphonwood Birmans
Raising Birman kittens underfoot to be strong in mind, body and spirit.
contracting this disease, even as an indoor cat, we strongly recommend that it be given at 6 months of age. If you and your veterinarian decide to vaccinate the kitten against Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) vaccine, be aware that having had the FeLV and series does NOT guarantee the kitten will be immune to FeLV; you must be just as careful about exposing the kitten to possible FeLV positive cats as you would be if the shots had not been given. Our cats have been tested FeLV negative and are not exposed to cats of unknown status. There are potential side effects, and these are generally rare but are worth discussing with your veterinarian as you weigh out the risks and benefits. If you elect to vaccinate against FeLV then you are accepting these risks, including the increased risk of FIP in a breed already known for susceptibility to FIP. The Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) vaccines are controversial and not considered effective. In particular the FIP vaccination has been demonstrated to prime the immune system to respond negatively in the presence of mutated feline enteric coronavirus. We do not use flea collars, first because their effectiveness is questionable and second, because flea collars can cause skin sores on long-haired cats, due to the concentration of poison around the neck. Rather, a seasonal application of Revolution or Advantage (from the veterinarian only – never use the brands that you purchase at the pet store) are much more effective and also ensure that internal parasites are controlled. Congratulations on your new family member! I have put a great deal of love, sweat, tears and money into bringing this little one into the world and will continue to be concerned for his/her well being for the rest of the kittens life. I am always open to providing you and your veterinarian with all the background and history of your kitten, its ancestors and the Birman breeds idiosyncrasies. Do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions, concerns or just want to pass a picture or update on to me.
Heather Reynolds Oliphant Gryphonwood Birmans
Gryphonwood Kitten Tips
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