Bringing a new kitten to your home is exciting but at the same time, it can be a little daunting too, for you and your tiny kitten. Each one has a unique personality; some are confident while others are shy. Whatever personalities, they have, coming into a brand new home can be a traumatic experience as they are leaving their mother and little brothers and sisters for the first time. You will have a lot of fun raising a kitten, but you have to remember that it is also a huge responsibility.
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Here are tips to help make sure that you take the best care of your new kitten:
Verify her age – It is very important that you learn your kitten’s age. For the first 10 weeks, kittens have very specific developmental needs in terms of nourishment, socialisation, warmth and excretion. This is why most shelters and breeders typically wait until they are of proper age before putting them for adoption. If you have brought an orphaned kitten home, make sure that you consult your vet for special instructions on how to care for your little ball of fur.
Find a good vet – Obviously, you need to find the best vet to take care of your kitten. You can ask friends to recommend one or if she comes from a shelter, they can help you find the best one. You will need to take her for an exam and tests for health problems like feline leukemia, parasites and birth defects. You can also ask important questions, including advice on how to litter train your kitten.
Buy quality food – It is not as easy as you may think to feed a kitten. It is not like going to a convenience store and grabbing a bag of cat food. Growing kittens need as much as three times more nutrients and calories than adult cats. This is why you need to make sure that you find a good-quality food that is designed specifically for kittens. The best way to ensure that your little kitty gets the nourishment it needs to grow healthy and strong is to choose a name brand food that is formulated for kittens.
Establish a feeding schedule – To ensure that you keep up with your kitten’s appetite, you should set up a daily feeding routine. You should consult your vet to make sure that you are not overfeeding or underfeeding her – you can find out how much and how often to feed her. At 3 to 6 months, you should feed your kitten 3 times a day. At 2 months, you can go down to twice a day. Continue feeding her kitten food until she reaches adulthood, 9 to12 months. Avoid giving her milk as it can cause diarrhoea.
Be alert for any signs of illness – Young kittens are susceptible to many illnesses and it is important to make sure that you catch a health issue in its early stage. Contact your vet immediately if your kitty shows any of these symptoms:
The philosophy behind raising a kitten is quite similar to that of raising children. If you provide proper care and training to your kitten starting at a young age, it increases the odds that she will grow up to be a healthy adult cat that gives you many years of fuzz, loving companionship.
