How should I take care of my kitten ? Adopting a kitten is a wonderful experience, but we must remember that kittens are sensitive creatures which need special care for proper development.
If this is the first time you’ve adopted a kitten, you will need to take care of some basics before they arrive. If you prepare, the kitten is likely to adapt more quickly and your relationship will be much more positive.
Cats are scrupulous animals, so we recommend you leave their food dish, water bowl and litter box in separate areas. If you have other cats at home or you plan to adopt more than one kitten at the same time, we recommend you have a box for each one. This way you can help avoid conflict.
How should i take care of my kitten in new environment:
You will also need to clean all the instruments every so often and renew the water regularly. It’s also important to get a scratcher. This way you can prevent your cat from scraping their claws in the furniture.
Finally, you’ll need to leave them a bed somewhere quiet and away from disruption. We also recommend a quiet nest somewhere else for them to hide when they are afraid or if they simply want some peace.
Feeding & nutrition:
If we have adopted a one month old kitten or younger, it is imperative we go to a veterinarian to obtain artificial kitten formula which will be their entire diet. It is important to emphasize that you should never separate a mother from her kittens unless it is strictly necessary.
From birth, the kittens need colostrum and then breast milk to receive various benefits, particularly for their immune system. After two months of life, we can start weaning them onto solid food progressively.
We should offer them daily small portions of wet food or kitten specific Pate. Later we can wet their dry food with a little water to help them ingest properly. After we can switch to dry food completely.
The optimal age of adopting a kitten is at 3 months of life. This is when they are completely weaned, immunized and have learned necessary behaviors from their mother, such as grooming, basic hygiene and feline body language.
At this stage, the kitten should eat solids without a problem. There are several types of feed we can offer kittens, each with advantages and disadvantages. It will be the decision of each guardian what type to offer. While their feed provides all the necessary nutrients for the feline, it is not always easy to find quality commercial product.
On the other hand, homemade diets can help guarantee we are using only quality natural products. They will need a veterinary follow up to rule out the presence of parasites or nutritional deficiencies.
Bonding & health activity:
If we have adopted a kitten older than three months, which has stayed with their mother, we can virtually assure they will be properly socialized with other cats, preventing fear and aggressive behavior. Socialization is also fundamental for learning other habits typical of their species. We need to be aware that socializing an adult cat is complicated and sometimes practically impossible.
This is why we need to continue socializing the kitten when they arrive. Introduce them to all kinds of people, objects, sounds, environments and where possible, other animals.
A cat may not actually enjoy a toy you buy them because you don’t engage with them in the right way. They need to play and have fun with you, especially if they have no other feline friends.
You will need to spend time with the kitten playing and bonding together. In addition to these activities, they will need one thing above all, love. Your kitten will never be happy if they do not have a loving and caring family by their side.
They will want to sleep on top of you and lick you as a sign of affection. It is false to say that cats are not carrying animals which given the right opportunity can become your best friend.
Brushing both helps keep their fur clean and strengthens our bond with a kitten. It is also useful to monitor them for parasites or specific health problems. We can use a rubber brush for short hair cats, a carding brush for medium hair cats and a rake type brush for long hair cats.
Understanding cat behavior:
Offering our kitten environmental enrichment is important to prevent problem behavior. It also helps stimulate their intelligence and avoid stress, anxiety and depression. It more helpful to take care of my kitten.
We can enrich their day-to-day with intelligence games, food, vending toys or catnip.
Even a cardboard box can provide plenty of stimulation apart from intelligence games. Encouraging physical activity is important for developing muscle. It also helps to prevent obesity.
We can buy our kitten tunnels or cat trees or even simply play streets up in high places so they have to work to get to them. It’s very useful to engage your kitten.
Congratulations on the new addition to your family!
Healthcare & vaccination:
Vaccinating your kitten is essential for their health and well-being. Here’s a typical vaccination schedule for a newborn kitten:
It’s essential to consult with your veterinarian for a personalized vaccination schedule tailored to your kitten’s specific needs and health status. They can provide guidance on which vaccines are necessary based on your kitten’s lifestyle, risk factors, and regional considerations. Additionally, your veterinarian can advise you on other aspects of your kitten’s healthcare, such as parasite prevention and nutrition.
Deworming or kitten will be a fundamental aspect of their health, especially if they have access to the outside or other animals. This will help to prevent infestations by internal or external parasites.
Deworming should start at 1 1/2 months of age and be supervised by the veterinarian. It is recommended we deworm the cat every 15 days until the kitten reaches 3 months of age.
Then deworming should be done once a month until the cat reaches 6 months of age and once every three months thereafter. We need to bear in mind the advice of a professional veterinarian, since both internal and external deworming should be done with specific products.
For kittens with the correct dosage, we will also initiate the vaccination schedule at about two months of age. The first vaccine for cats is often the feline trivalent, which is used to protect the cat from feline pan, leukopenia, feline rhinotrachitis and callosivirus.
These vaccines will need a booster shot on an annual basis and we will need to strictly follow these schedules if we want our cat to grow up healthy and happy. It is essential to take our cat to the vet every six to 12 months.
Highly recommended vaccination schedule:
1. 6-8 weeks: The first vaccination usually occurs between 6 to 8 weeks of age. This vaccination is often a combination vaccine that protects against common feline diseases such as feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia (FVRCP).
2.10-12 weeks: The second vaccination is typically administered between 10 to 12 weeks of age. This booster shot helps to strengthen their immunity against the diseases mentioned above.
3.14-16 weeks: The third vaccination is given at around 14 to 16 weeks of age. This booster shot is crucial for ensuring that your kitten’s immune system is adequately prepared to fight off infections.
4.1 year: After the initial series of vaccinations, your kitten will need a booster shot around one year of age to maintain their immunity. This booster shot reinforces their protection against diseases and helps to ensure long-term immunity.
5. Annual boosters: Following the initial series of vaccinations and the one-year booster, your cat will typically require annual booster shots to maintain their immunity throughout their life.
It’s essential to consult with your veterinarian for a personalized vaccination schedule tailored to your kitten’s specific needs and health status. They can provide guidance on which vaccines are necessary based on your kitten’s lifestyle, risk factors, and regional considerations. Additionally, your veterinarian can advise you on other aspects of your kitten’s healthcare, such as parasite prevention and nutrition.
make your kitten leaping for joy with a feather toy, snuggling into a cozy bed, or munching on tasty treats. These products are designed to keep your furry friend happy and healthy. Treat your kitten to these special items and enjoy countless precious moments together. Give your kitten the best care possible – because their happiness is worth it.