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Kitten Care - How To Care For Your New Kitten |
 Kitten care. Kittens are a wonderful addition to every home but there are some things you should know before you adopt a kitten. This article looks at what is involved in caring for a kitten. Including what's the best age to adopt a kitten, what do you need to buy, what food should your kitten eat & how to care for your kitten.
What age should you adopt a kitten?
Kittens should not leave their mother until they are at least 10 weeks of age. Not only does the mother cat provide the kitten with the basic necessities it needs such as food (milk), love & warmth, but she also teaches the kitten how to behave. That includes manners & toilet habits.
What do I need to buy?
Basic supplies & equipment you will need for your kitten will include;
- Cat bed
- Food & water bowls
- Cat carriers (for trips to the vet)
- Scratching post
- Litter tray
- Toys
- Grooming eqipment (this is especially important if you are adopting a long haired cat)
- Food
See here for a full list of essential products for kitten owners.
Feeding a kitten?
It is always recommended that you speak to the people you are adopting the kitten from to find out what the kitten has been fed. You may decide to feed a different diet, but any changes should be made slowly so, or risk upsetting your kitten's tummy.
There are many premium brands of food especially made to meet the nutritional needs of a kitten. Your veterinarian can advise you on which brand they recommend.
Raw chicken necks are a good way to help maintain the health of your kitten's teeth. These can be given to your kitten once or twice a week.
Note: Never give a kitten or cat cooked chicken bones as these are too brittle & can splinter & cause injury.
Can I give my kitten milk?
Unless you are adopting a very young kitten that hasn't been weaned, then the best drink for your kitten is plain old tap water. Many cats & kittens are unable to digest cow's milk & it can cause an upset tummy.
Kitten proofing your home:
Just like toddlers & children, kittens are able to get into trouble quite easily. Before you bring your kitten home you should take a look at how to make your home safe for a young & adventurous kitten.
Common problem areas include;
- Toilet. Many kittens have sadly drowned by jumping into the toilet. Make sure the toilet seat is kept down at all times.
- Electrical cords. Kittens like to chew things. Keep electrical cords out of reach (if possible), and if you do catch your kitten showing an interest, there are products available that can be painted on the outside that have a bitter flavour & deter the kitten.
- Poisons. Keep poisons out of the way of kittens.
- Nooks & crannies. Get down on your hands & knees & look around for nooks & crannies your kitten could climb into & get stuck in.
- Plants: There are many types of plant that are highly toxic to cats & kittens. For a full list, read here.
For a more detailed list on how to kitten proof your home, read here.
Cat bed:
Decide where you would like your kitten to sleep & stick to it. If you are okay with your kitten sleeping on the beds then by all means do so, but don't start something you do not plan to continue.
Regardless of where you decide to let your kitten sleep, a good quality cat bed should be provided for your kitten.
Just like humans, cats appreciate having a warm place to sleep too. When deciding where to put your kitten's choose carefully. Try not to put it in a high traffic area where it will be continually disturbed. Place it where the kitten can be kept warm in winter & cool in summer.
Cat Toys:
Kittens are active creatures & enjoy nothing more than an interactive game with their carers. There's a vast array of cat toys available on the market. Maybe a catnip mouse, or a wand like toy your cat can stalk & hunt.
Don't ever roughouse your kitten with your hands. It may be cute when the kitten is little, but it's not so cute when the kitten grows up & has been taught to attack hands. Hands should be for loving, and toys for playing!
Finding a veterinarian:
From time to time your kitten will need to see a vet. Even cats in good health should have an annual check up to make sure everything is well. The best way to find a vet is via word of mouth from friends & family who have pets. When you do find a vet, find out if they offer a 24 hour service. If they don't, you will need to find a back up animal hospital that does provide 24 hour emergency services.
Desexing your kitten:
There is still a fair amount of controversy as to the best age to desex a kitten which I will not go into in this article. Speak to your veterinarian about the best age they feel a kitten should be desexed. With cat shelters absolutely brimming with cats & kittens desperate for a home, please don't contribute to the problem by allowing your kitten to have babies when it grows up. It is just contributing to the problem.
Love:
Despite their reputation for being aloof, cats & kittens need love and attention. Do you have the time & energy to provide this? Cats come with many different types of personality, some are content with the occasional pet, others need a lot more attention. Some like to sit within close proximity to you, others will want to be on your lap the second you sit down. But, the love you give your cat will be repaid ten thousand fold. But if you are not prepared to commit time & love to a pet, please reconsider.
Toilet:
A good quality litter tray is a must. It is a good idea to buy a small tray with low sides for your kitten so that it can easily climb in & out. When it gets older you can change to a type that will suit your requirements more. This may be a fully enclosed tray, a self cleaning tray or something else.
As with food, try to use the same brand of litter your previous kitten's care has been using & slowly change it over to your preferred brand. Clumping litter is best avoided with kittens.
Kitten teething:
Just like humans, cats have two sets of teeth. The deciduous (baby) teeth, followed by the adult teeth. Deciduous teeth begin to erupt around 2 - 4 weeks of age. Kittens have 26 deciduous teeth. These teeth are retained until around 4 months of age when they are replaced by the permanent (adult) teeth. Often you won't notice that the baby teeth have fallen out, they may be swallowed by your kitten.
Vaccinations:
Kittens require 3 vaccinations, spaced out over several weeks.
First - 6-8 weeks.
Second - 10-12 weeks.
Third - 14-16 weeks.
Please note: These guidelines are for Australian kittens. Each country has different vaccine schedules & you should speak to your veterinarian.
Cat parasite control:
Kittens become infected with worms via their mother & should commence as follows;
- Every 2 weeks from 2 weeks of age until 12 weeks of age.
- Every month from 12 weeks of age until 6 months.
- Every three months from 6 months.
Fleas are another common parasite & kittens should be regularly treated to keep them free of fleas. Most flea products can not be used on kittens under 6 weeks of age, so if you have a very young kitten that has fleas, they will need to be removed manually. Read here for further information on removing fleas from newborn kittens.
There are many great products that are on the market to treat fleas. The best ones I have found are the topical ones which are applied to the back of the neck once a month. Some of these products also treat roundworm, hookworm & ear mites also!
Cat Health insurance:
Health insurance is a great way to help cover the cost of unexpected vet bills & usually costs only a few dollars a month. It is definitely something you should consider when adopting a new kitten.
Read here for more informatuion on cat health insurance.
Cat Identification:
Microchipping is the best way to idenfity your cat. It is a small chip (around the size of a grain of rice) that is inserted into the cat behind the neck. If your cat goes missing, most veterinarians & shelters have a scanner in which they will be able to check your cat for a microchip & locate you quickly & easily. The benefit of microchips is that they are permanent & can not be lost like identification tags can be.
Read here for more information on cat identification.
Related articles:
Kitten Care
Human Foods Which Are Poisonous To Cats
Toilet Training A Kitten
Can Cats Drink Milk?
Bringing A New Kitten Home
Idenfitication For Cats
Kitten Food
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