Caring For Kittens

Choosing a new kitten to bring home is always exciting, and you can look forward to years of pleasure from your new pet. But it is also a considerable responsibility, as she could live well into her teens and even beyond. First of all, you will need to ensure that you have the time and money to care for her properly.

When choosing your new kitten, always make sure you see the kittens with their mother. Make sure that the kitten is healthy; their eyes, ears and nose should be clear and free from discharge, and their coat should look glossy rather than dull and matted. Look for signs of diarrhea and make sure the parents are also healthy. Do not be tempted to go for the ‘runt’ of the litter out of sympathy or you may find yourself spending a fortune on vet’s bills.

Make sure your home is ready for your new arrival- read here for more tips on this.
One of the first things you need to do is to register with a vet. You may already know a good local vet, or a friend may be able to recommend one. It is a good idea to take her for an initial check up. Make sure you ask your vet about vaccinating your kitten against some of the more serious diseases such as Feline Leukaemia- she will need to be vaccinated from around 9 to 12 weeks old, and usually requires two injections. Her breeder may have arranged the first one, if so they should provide you with a vaccination card.  She will also require regular treatment to avoid contracting worms, again your vet will advise on this. When she is old enough, she will also need to be regularly treated against fleas.

Kittens require special kitten food, as their digestive system is still very delicate. Kitten foods contain all the nutrients needed to grow and develop. Kittens’ stomachs are tiny, and they need to be fed little and often; up to 5 times per day until they around 5 months old, after this gradually reduce feeding times to 3 times a day once she is a year old. As with any cat, make sure she always has fresh water available.
It is a good idea to start grooming her from an early age. She will become used to this, and will help her to bond with you. Regular grooming will help to keep her coat in top condition and reduce the amount of shredding.

Playtime is essential, and it is a good idea to set aside a regular time for this. Play helps your kitten develop her natural hunting skills and lets her burn off surplus energy. Buy toys for playtime rather then encouraging her to attack your hands, to avoid problems with biting and scratching later on.

You will need to decide if you are going to breed from your kitten. If not, it is a good idea to have her neutered to avoid unwanted pregnancies. This will need to be done when she is around 6 months as this is when she will become sexually mature. It is a good idea to have her micro chipped as well; this is a small ‘chip’ inserted under her skin. If she becomes lost, and taken to a vet or shelter, the chip can be read with a scanner. Your details will be shown and she can be returned to you.

For more information on caring for and training kittens, see our new ‘Caring for Kittens’ guide.