Caring for a kitten is a lot of work. With her high energy and intense curiosity and sense of adventure, raising a kitten will keep you on
your toes. Careful attention during the first year of life will set a
strong foundation for a long, loving relationship with your cat.
Kittens aged 8-12 weeks need four meals a day, 3-6 months three
meals, and kittens over 6 months old, two meals.
Follow the guidelines on the food packaging as to how much to
provide in each feeding. Give your kitten both moist and dry food,
so she is less likely to become a finicky eater later. When you offer
moist food, be sure to pick it up after about 30 minutes. Cats love
moist food, but if you let them eat it at their leisure, they will become
"lazy" eaters. Limit the availability of the good stuff, and your kitten
will learn to "get it while the getting is good." It is a good idea to
leave dry food out all day so she can snack on it as she pleases.
It is vital that your kitten learn to eat dry kibble, as the crunchy food
helps keep her teeth and gums healthy.
Your kitten will likely spend a lot of time licking her fur, so you won't
need to bathe her. Both she and you will benefit from regular
brushing sessions, however. Time spent grooming your kitten gets
her used to handling and lets you monitor her health and
development. Many kittens are afraid of a brush at first, or think it is
a toy. If you are patient and loving, you can teach your young cat to
enjoy the soothing sensation of being brushed. Cats often mutually
groom each other, so by brushing her you are expressing your "love" to her.
While you groom your cat, begin getting her used to having her ears, eyes, mouth and paws handled. Move your hands over her body,
restraining her from time to time as you touch and manipulate
different body parts. At first you may only be able to touch her lip,
but over a period of days and weeks you should be able to lift her
lip and touch her gums. When you handle her paws, gently squeeze
her toes to extend her claws. This the technique you will use later to
trim her claws, and the sooner you begin getting her used to it the
less traumatic it will be for both of you.
Kittens have a lot of energy. If you don't provide an outlet for it, she
will find one of her own. Chasing a wind-up toy or ball, stalking and pouncing on a lure attached to a string or just racing around the
room are all positive outlets for her energy. Be careful, however,
to keep the rough play under control. Never use your hands or feet
as a lure. Strongly discourage her from attacking your hands or feet; what seems cute when she's a kitten encourages her to be aggressive
with you. Always keep a stuffed toy within reach so that if she tries
to attack you, you can rub the animal against her tummy to
encourage her to wrestle with it. Check out Cool Stuff for Cool Cats - at JakesDogHouse.com
To care for a cat you will need to:
* Provide plenty of human companionship
* Provide regular, suitable meals with a constant supply of fresh water. We like All Natural,
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* Provide a clean and comfortable bed
* Provide the cat with outdoor access or be prepared to empty and clean a litter tray on a daily basis.. Try Nature Derived Herbal Cat Litter On
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* Groom it regularly. Longhaired cats require daily grooming
* Have it neutered between 4 and 6 months old
* Vaccinate against the major feline diseases regularly
* Worm regularly and provide treatment for fleas
* Take the cat to the vet when it shows any sign of illness - pet
insurance can help offset the cost of veterinary treatment.
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