Paranoid about feline distemper in kitten

Hello,

My girlfriend and I are adopting an 8-week old kitten from a Siamese breeder (as my girlfriend does not show severe allergies to them as she did from domestics)...

However, I've been reading up online about kitten health, and me being naturally paranoid, I've become substantially terrified from feline distemper. We are supposed to pick our little boy up tomorrow, right after the breeder gets back from their first vaccinations (including distemper), but I've read that it can take several weeks to become effective...

What are the chances that my kitten will get fatally ill from it after I bring him home? We are having him be an indoor cat, and we are going to avoid interacting with other cats for a month or so to try to avoid introducing more parvovirus particles into our home although we know they are likely already in the environment...

What should we do? I don't know what is mother-borne antibodies are like at the moment as they started weaning them at 6 weeks.

My guess you should be fairly safe, at least, especielly as you are aware and taking the possible precautions.


The thing Im wondering about is the breeder is letting the kittens go at 8 weeks. It is early. At least 10 weeks is the usual for reputed breeders, most hold on the 12 weeks.


Good luck and much pleasure!


ps. Welcome to the Forums!

Originally Posted by StefanZ

The thing Im wondering about is the breeder is letting the kittens go at 8 weeks. It is early. At least 10 weeks is the usual for reputed breeders, most hold on the 12 weeks.

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I agree, 8 weeks is far too young. Many Siamese breeders keep them above the regular 12 weeks, until 14-16 weeks.

Anything that I can do to help the kitten along given that he is only 8 weeks old?

Keep an eye on him & give him lots of care and attention.

Your breeder should have also given you a health garuntee so if something did happen you would at least get a partial refund (I know, not a big comfort but pedigree cats can be expensive).

The kitten won't be UTD on shots until a week past the booster (which depending on your vet needs go be done 2 - 4 weeks after the first shot).