Kittens - Pet Care at a Glance

Kittens are cute and very, very playful.

Before you choose your kitten it’s important to ask yourself: Purebred or ‘ordinary’ cat? Male or female? Long-haired or short-haired? Homed cat or rescue cat? You also need to think about where you live – urban or rural?
There are many breeds of cat. Just bear in mind that some purebred (pedigree) cats have congenital problems so find out about these before purchase. Health problems will place a heavy burden on you (and the cat) with frequent trips to the vet and possibly medication for life. For example, white cats are prone to sunburn and skin cancer while some Persians and Chinchillas may suffer from conjunctivitis due to their flattened faces.
If going for a rescue kitten it’s advisable to find one through a respected rehoming shelter. These charities will give you lots of advice on caring for your kitten.
If the breeder of your kitten (or rehoming centre) has not already done so you should arrange to have you kitten desexed and vaccinated as soon as possible. This procedure will not alter your kitten’s personality or cause sudden weight gain, which does sometimes occur in dogs.
Desexing of both male and female cats should be before puberty, generally around five or six moths old but can be done while the kitten is between 12 and 16 weeks.

Spaying female cats prevents roaming, unwanted pregnancies and male cats fighting over your cat’s favours. Early spaying also prevents breast cancer and the surgical emergency that is pyometra (infection of the uterus).

Neutering male cats before puberty reduces aggression, urine marking, fighting and roaming. Naturally, kittens that have been castrated can not develop testicular cancer.

Longhaired cats need a lot of grooming to look gorgeous so make sure you have the time and commitment for this. The shorthaired cat is a practical companion, though the Burmese and Siamese are particularly prone to contracting the cat flu virus.

The Kitten At Home

Once your kitten has moved in it will face a host of new sights, sounds and smells.

Provide the kitten with warmth, your company, good food and a private, secure place to sleep and rest. A cosy kitten bed is ideal but don’t be surprised if your new friend finds their own place to sleep.
Keep the kitten indoors until it feels familiar with the new surroundings.
Make sure there’s a clean litter box in an accessible place for your kitten. (Don’t use very strong antiseptic cleaners on the tray as this might put off your kitten whose sense of smell is acute.) Playing with your kitten is a great form of exercise and can help your pet develop its natural hunting instincts.

Kittens can be exhausting but they also provide you with enjoyable exercise. Set aside time for at least two good play sessions a day – say, early morning and evening. Games that involve hunting and pouncing delight them. Playing with your kitten before bedtime will exhaust it (and you) and encourage it to sleep when you do.

Feeding Time

It’s vital to feed your kitten the right food – and the right amount. Cats can be fussy eaters so establish a routine from kitten age to prevent problems later. A six month old kitten needs ½ - ⅔ of a can of cat food or ¾ - 1 cup of dry food and should be fed twice a day.

A high quality commercial kitten food is the best bet as it will ensure that your cat's diet is rich in all the essential nutrients to prevent deficiencies of any nature.

Feeding kittens on just one type of food can cause problems.

For example, a diet of nothing but fish can cause serious skin disorders and gastro-intestinal malfunctions.

Nutritional Secondary Hyperparathyroidism (NSH) is a disease found in some kittens between the ages of four and six months which have been fed a diet comprising almost nothing but meat. Look out for irritability, behavioural changes and an unwillingness to play or run. These kittens like to sit rather than stand and you might see deviations in the paws inwards and weakness in the hindquarters. Secondary problems may include respiratory difficulties and constipation. Improvements can be made by a change in diet, especially one that favours calcium and phosphorus.

If you have any doubts about your cat’s health whatsoever consult your vet.

Kitten Training

Your kitten’s mother will have been taught it where to go to the toilet, either in a litter tray or in the garden. Kittens also need something on which they can sharpen their claws – but preferably not your furniture. Buy a scratching post.
Some breeds can be walked on a lead once old enough.

Your Ill Kitten

Look out for lack of appetite and a general listlessness. Keep your kitten indoors and monitor closely. Vomiting, diarrhoea, sneezing, runny/weeping eyes, straining, crouching, prolapsed third eyelid, ear scratching, bad breath, head shaking, yowling, dribbling, spitting – these are all signs that your kitten needs the care of a vet.

When your kitten is sick it is essential that it receives plenty of love and affection in familiar surroundings. This is why many vets will only keep a kitten in the surgery during critical stages of an illness.

Kittens are generally hardy animals, though, and with good care and a strong bond you will provide each other with years of enjoyment.

DISCLAIMER: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained here it is for educational purposes only. The writer of this article and flynnthedog can not diagnose any physical, mental or behavioural condition in animals nor prescribe treatment. We urge you to consult your vet if you have any concerns about your pet.