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How to
care for a kitten
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Kittens are not hard to
look after but they do have some special requirements.
What do I feed a kitten?
Kittens usually start eating solid food at around 4 weeks of
age but still suckle on their mother.
Ready made cat foods that can be bought in the supermarket
usually contain a balanced diet for your cat or kitten. There
are many brands to choose from and many manufacturers make
specific kitten food. Cat food can be bought in cans, rolls,
packets etc. Choosing premium brands is not always necessary
but you can be assured of total cat nutrition if you stick to
the big name brands. Check the packaging for wording such as
'Total nutritional requirements for cats and kittens'.
Supplement your kitten's diet with chopped or
minced fresh meat, fish or chicken but remember fresh meat or
fish alone does not supply your kitten with all the nutrients
it needs.
Give you kitten a variety of foods changing what you give
him regularly. Kittens can become very bored with same food day
in day out and they may refuse to eat.
It also helps guard against raising a fussy eater!
Throw away uneaten food. Don't put it back in the fridge to
give the kitten later as it could be contaminated by bacteria.
Don't feed your kitten dog food as the nutritional
requirements of dogs and cats are very different.
For further information read this article:
Cats are different
Kittens can begin eating dry cat food from an early age and
most find it quite enjoyable. There are supermarket brands and
there are brands that are only available from your vet or pet
food store. The brands that are available from the vets are
premium brands such as Hills and Eukanuba which are
scientifically formulated to meet recommendations of
veterinarians and nutritionists.
Dry food can be left down for kittens to graze on
throughout the day and night.
Water
Your kitten needs fresh water available at all times. Try
not to use plastic bowls as they tip over easily. A heavy
china, pottery or porcelain dish is preferable.
Should I give my kitten milk?
Do not give cats or kittens cow's milk as many kittens are
lactose intolerant and it can cause tummy upsets and severe
diarrhea. Specially formulated milk for cats and kittens is available from
your supermarket. You certainly don't want your kitten to have
diarrhea when you are trying to toilet train it.
More details:
Should a kitten drink milk
 How often do I feed a new kitten?
Young kittens are like babies, they need to be fed several
times a day. Kittens younger than 6 weeks should still be
with their mother and many breeders do not
let kittens go to new homes until they are 10 -12 weeks old. As a rule of thumb kittens aged between 6 weeks and 12
weeks need four or more meals a day. Their stomachs are very
small and they can't eat a lot at a time. At about 12 weeks
they should be fed three times a day and by the time they
reach 6 months they can then go on to twice daily feeding.
Of course the frequency of feeding depends on many factors
including the lifestyle of the owner. A working owner will not
be able to feed the kitten at such regular intervals as a stay
at home carer and it is not always possible to leave food out
for a kitten for a variety of reasons. One reason could be
because of climate. In hot or tropical areas it's not possible
to leave moist cat food out all day as it will spoil and attract
flies. Ants are also a problem in some areas. Another reason
could be that there may be other pets who will eat the food that was
left out for the kitten.
For the owner who is not at home all day there are
solutions to work around these problems such as leaving dry
food out on a permanent basis so the kitten can 'graze' as he
wishes throughout the day. Wet food can also be left frozen in
hot climates so it will be thawed out later. If a pet dog is
likely to gobble the kitty food put it in a room such as
bathroom or laundry with a baby gate across. The kitten can
get through the gate but the dog cannot.
Where will my kitten sleep?
 You must provide your kitten with warmth. This is
especially important in cold climates. Your kitten is used to
snuggling up to his mother and litter mates for comfort and
warmth. There are many different cat beds available in all
forms and sizes and in a huge range of prices. You don't
have to spend a lot of money on a bed as your kitten will be
perfectly happy in a cardboard box lined with a blanket, baby
quilt or lambs wool cover. The important thing is that he has
a warm place to sleep and cuddle up in. If the weather is
really cold put a hot water bottle under his blanket. Try to
make your kitten's bed snug. Cats and kittens love to curl up
in snug areas.
Kittens are heat seekers and you are a good source of heat
for them. That is why they love to curl up on your lap and
they will seek you out in your bed not only for company but
for warmth. If you don't want your cat sleeping in your bed
for the rest of it's life it is best to let your kitten know
what you expect from him from the beginning. Put his bed in a
quiet place away from busy areas and encourage him to sleep
there and close your bedroom door when you go to bed.
On the
other hand you may like your kitten to sleep with you and
that's OK as long as you realise that he will probably share
your bed for life. Cats are well known for their bed hogging
abilities. They can have you clinging to the outer edge of
your bed while they are comfortably sprawled out, full
length occupying nine tenths of it. With a cat sharing your
bed you may have no need for an alarm clock as they will
diligently take over the responsibility of waking you in the
morning with a friendly purr in your ear or a pat of a paw
to your face. Of course, like all cats, they have their own
best interests at heart and by waking you they hope to
secure an early breakfast.
Should I get one kitten or two?
 A kitten is a great pet and a wonderful source of endless
companionship and entertainment for his owners. Two kittens
double the pleasure of kitten ownership. They will romp and
play together supplying you with hours of entertainment. It
also takes the pressure off you having to keep up with their
sometimes demanding constant playtime. When they are tired
they will curl up and sleep together. If you work full time
having two kittens keeping each other company can alleviate
some of the guilt you feel by leaving them alone at home all
day. Having two kittens also solves bedtime problems if you
don't want to share your bed with them. They are more likely
to be happy to snuggle up together in their own bed rather
than yours. Kittens brought up together usually form a
lifelong bond and as adults will enjoy each other's company.
Having said how wonderful it is to own two kittens it is
just as acceptable to own just one. Your kitten will bond
with you and offer you a life time of pleasure. Cats are
solitary creatures by nature and do not crave companionship
of other cats. In fact it can be very difficult to introduce
a new kitten into a household where an existing cat has
already established itself.
Introducing new kittens to other cats
Litter Box Training. How to house
train your kitten
Teaching your kitten to use a litter box is not difficult.
Cats are instinctively clean and fastidious and toilet
training your kitten to use a kitty litter box or to toilet
outside is relatively simple. There are a few basic requirements such as a litter box and
some kitty litter and a little time and patience.
Read more about how to toilet train your kitten
Read more about how to clean cat urine
 Kittens and Rough Play
Kittens play aggressively because that's what comes naturally to them. Many
people get a kitten believing that they are sweet cuddly little pets but be
aware they have their moments. Kittens can be all teeth and claws!
You have to remember that kittens have an instinct to play rough. It is
part of a normal kitten's development to play aggressively because they are
learning the predatory skills that a cat in the wild would need
to know for survival. On a reassuring note, most kittens grow
out of the aggressive stage and grow into adorable, sweet
natured cats who would never dream of biting or scratching
you.
Read more about aggressive kittens who bite and scratch
A kitten needs a scratching post
One thing is absolutely certain. You will never stop a
cat from scratching but you can divert his claws from your sofa,
furnishings or carpet to something more appropriate. It is
relatively easy to stop your cat scratching your furniture.
Read more about how to stop your kitten scratching the
furniture
Vaccinations
Unless properly vaccinated, your cat runs the risk of
contracting one of several, possibly fatal, infectious
diseases. These include Infectious Enteritis (Panleucopenia),
Leukaemia and ‘Cat Flu’ (Infectious Respiratory Disease).
Read more
about Cat Flu
The vaccination regime can vary in different countries so
ask your vet about the right schedule for your kitten.
Parasites - Worms and Fleas
You need to keep your kitten free from worms and fleas.
Fleas can make your pet very uncomfortable and a heavy
infestation of fleas can kill a small kitten. Parasitic worms
such as tapeworm, roundworm and hookworms can make your kitten
ill with symptoms such as weight loss, diarrhea, vomiting,
loss of appetite, poor coat condition and a pot bellied
appearance.
How often do I worm my kitten?
Usually you will need to treat kittens three times at 2
weeks apart and then every two months till they are 6 months
old. From then on, worm every three to six months. Ask at your
vets for suitable worming medication. Usually a consultation
isn't necessary and they will sell worming medicine to you
over the counter. Worming medicine comes in paste, top spot or tablet
form.
Read more on worming a kitten or cat
Read more about how to give a cat a pill
Problems with fleas
Fleas can be a problem in especially in warm humid areas.
As soon as you bring your kitten home you should deal with any
fleas that he may have. If you don't address the issue
immediately you could soon have a flea infestation on your
pets and in your house.
Read more on how to kill fleas on very young kittens
Read more on how to get rid of fleas on your pets and in your
house.
Toys for your kitten
Cats are very playful animals. Kittens
spend most of their waking hours playing and an adult cat of any age will
still enjoy a silly moment or two and will enjoy playing with cat toys.
There are many cat toys on the market but you needn't spend a
lot of money as kittens love playing with homemade toys just
as much.
Read
more about Cat toys to make and buy
Grooming your kitten
Shorthair kittens require little more than a once a week
brushing. Use a brush with soft bristles that will not harm
the kitten's skin. Use soft gentle strokes and make it
enjoyable for the kitten. Longhair cats require a daily
combing to avoid matting of the fur. For this,
use a comb with wide-teeth that is specially designed for
cats. Brushing your cat's fur on a regular basis will
help keep their coat shiny and healthy, and will also give the
owner and the pet some bonding time together
Hairballs
Cats can develop hairballs. While an
occasional hairball is no cause for alarm, if your cat is
vomiting up a hairball more than once or twice a month, it's
time to think about a plan of action.
Read more about Cats coughing up hairballs
Neutering and Spaying
It is strongly recommended that you have your kitten
neutered or spayed. Un-castrated male cats will roam, get in
fights and spray pungent smelling urine around the place. They
are prone to injuries and abscesses from cat fights incurring
veterinary expenses for you.
Read more about Cats spraying urine
 Female cats can come into season as early as four months of
age. Female cats that have not
been spayed come into heat every few weeks. When they are in
heat they can be very noisy and try to escape at every
opportunity. They are at risk of picking up serious life
threatening infectious diseases from mating with unknown cats.
Read more about a Female Cat in Heat
Spaying or neutering your cat will take it's mind off reproducing and
make it a far better, affectionate pet for you.
With all the unwanted cats and kittens that are euthanized
in the world today there is no need to bring more of them into
the world. Be responsible.
Male cats are usually castrated at six months of age and
females can be spayed at four months. Some vets neuter or spay kittens
at a much younger age.
Love your kitten
Love your kitten and and treat it well. Give it plenty of
kindness and affection and you will be rewarded with a loyal
companion for many years to come.
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