The first veterinary visit does three jobs at once: it checks your kitten’s health, it starts the relationship with a practice that will care for this cat for fifteen years, and – if you bought from a breeder – it protects your health guarantee. Book it before collection day.
Quick answer: Russian blue kitten’s first vet visit — here’s the short version. Every kitten leaves us vet-checked, F3 vaccinated and microchipped — meet our healthy kittens for sale.
Timing: the deadline that matters
Most breeder health guarantees require a veterinary examination within a short window after collection – commonly 48 to 72 hours, sometimes up to seven days. Missing it can void your cover entirely, even if the illness began before you collected.
Book the appointment before you collect, and confirm the practice can see you in time. Health guarantees explained covers the window in detail, and what to do if your kitten is unwell covers the urgent scenario.
What to bring
- The vaccination certificate and all veterinary records the breeder provided
- The pedigree certificate and purchase contract
- The microchip number
- A fresh faecal sample if the practice has asked for one
- Notes on what the kitten has eaten, its litter habits, and anything you have noticed
- A list of your questions – written, because you will forget half of them in the room
- The kitten in its secure crate, not loose in the car. Crate guide
- Your payment method, and your insurance details if you have taken out cover. Is insurance worth it?
What the vet will do
- Weight and body condition scoring. Establishes a baseline. Healthy weight.
- Full physical examination. Eyes, ears, nose, mouth and teeth, heart and lungs by stethoscope, abdomen palpation, skin and coat, lymph nodes, joints, spine, hydration, temperature.
- Parasite check. Coat examination for fleas and flea dirt, ear check for mites, faecal examination for worms and protozoa such as giardia and coccidia if a sample is provided.
- Vaccination review and scheduling. Confirming what has been given and booking the next. The Australian schedule.
- Microchip scan and confirmation. Verifying the number matches the paperwork, and arranging the ownership transfer. How to transfer.
- Desexing discussion. Confirming whether it has been done, or planning it. What to know.
- Parasite prevention plan. Monthly flea, tick and heartworm prevention plus a worming schedule appropriate to your area. Worming and flea control.
- Nutrition advice. What to feed, how much, and how to transition. What to feed.
- Behaviour and management advice. Litter, scratching, socialisation, handling, introducing other pets.
- Written notes and a treatment plan. Ask for these – they are your record.
What it costs
| Item | Typical Australian cost |
|---|---|
| Consultation | $60 – $120 |
| Vaccination (if due) | $80 – $140 |
| Faecal examination | $30 – $60 |
| Parasite prevention, first month | $15 – $40 |
| Microchip transfer (registry fee) | $0 – $40 |
| Typical first visit total | $100 – $300 |
Much of this is often already covered by the breeder, in which case the first visit may be a consultation only. The vet checks your kitten should already have tells you what to expect to be done, and kitten vet costs in year one gives the full annual picture.
Questions worth asking at the first visit
- Is my kitten at a healthy weight for its age, and what should it weigh at six and twelve months?
- When is the next vaccination due, and what does it cover?
- Which parasite prevention do you recommend for my area, and how often?
- Has the microchip transfer been lodged, and what do I need to do?
- When should desexing happen if it has not been done?
- What should I feed, and how much, at this age?
- Is there anything in the examination you want to recheck?
- What are the after-hours and emergency arrangements for this practice, and what is the nearest 24-hour clinic?
- Do I need to register my cat with the council?
- What signs should prompt me to call you rather than wait?
- Are there any breed-specific considerations for a Russian Blue I should plan for?
- When should I start dental care, and how? Dental care at home
Making the first vet visit low-stress
A frightened kitten at twelve weeks forms lasting associations with veterinary care. Worth the effort:
- Crate-train for a week or two beforehand so the crate is not novel. Crate training.
- Travel at a calm time of day, not in traffic
- Cover the crate partly with a light cloth if the kitten is visually stressed
- Bring a familiar-scented cloth
- Ask for a cat-only waiting area or a separate room if available – many Australian practices now offer this
- Do not arrive early and sit in a waiting room with dogs
- Use treats and calm praise throughout
- Handle paws, ears and mouth gently at home from week one so examination is familiar. Socialisation and training basics
- Stay calm yourself – cats read your tension
After the visit
- Expect some sleepiness for the rest of the day, particularly after vaccination
- A small lump at the injection site is common and usually resolves – mention it if it persists beyond a few weeks or grows
- Reduced appetite for a day is common
- Keep the kitten quiet and warm
- Watch for facial swelling, vomiting, breathing difficulty or collapse after vaccination – these are rare but are emergencies. Contact the practice immediately.
- Diary the next appointment, and set reminders for parasite prevention
- File the written records with your contract and pedigree papers
- Complete the microchip transfer if it has not been done. How
Establishing the ongoing schedule
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Every month | Flea, tick and heartworm prevention |
| Every 3 months (adults) | Worming – more frequently in kittens |
| 12 – 16 weeks | Second or third F3 vaccination |
| Annually | Health check and booster vaccination |
| Annually from age 7 | Blood and urine screening for kidney and thyroid function. Senior care |
| Ongoing | Dental care at home and assessment at each visit |
| Monthly | Weigh at home and note body condition |
First-year costs and monthly running costs budget all of it.
The two things to get right
Book the appointment before collection day so you are inside the guarantee window, and bring the written veterinary records so the vet can confirm what has already been done rather than repeating it.
Quick answers
When should my new kitten first see a vet?
Inside your health guarantee window – commonly 48 to 72 hours after collection. Book the appointment before you collect the kitten.
What does a first kitten vet visit cost in Australia?
Typically $100 to $300 for a consultation plus any vaccination, faecal testing and parasite prevention not already done by the breeder.
What should I bring to the first vet visit?
The vaccination certificate, all veterinary records, the pedigree certificate and contract, the microchip number, and a written list of questions.
Is it normal for a kitten to be sleepy after vaccination?
Yes, for the rest of the day, sometimes with reduced appetite. Facial swelling, vomiting, breathing difficulty or collapse is not normal and is an emergency.
Related reading
Russian Blue Kitten’s First Vet Visit: FAQs
How much does it cost to act on this?
When readers ask about russian blue kitten’s first vet visit, the budget question comes first: our Russian Blue kittens are $2,500 with a $250 deposit, vet-checked and fully documented — see current Russian Blue kittens for sale.
When should I book the first vet visit?
Within a week of arrival — russian blue kitten’s first vet visit continues with your own vet for boosters and a baseline check. Read what to expect at the first visit.
What should I do next about russian blue kitten’s first vet visit?
Read our 99 kitten-buying FAQs, then enquire — we reply within 24 hours and will happily talk through russian blue kitten’s first vet visit for your situation.
Independent guidance: The Australian Veterinary Association publishes independent pet health guidance for owners.
Ready to meet your kitten?
Our Russian Blue kittens are raised in our family home, vet-checked, vaccinated, microchipped, wormed and socialised before they travel. We reserve with a $250 deposit and deliver Australia-wide.