| Even if you have had years of experience | | | | possibly a Rabies vaccine, depending on |
| with adult cats, taking care of a kitten | | | | local laws or if your cat is considered |
| is a whole new world. Kittens eat | | | | at risk. |
| differently, sleep differently, and need | | | | Two procedures that may be taken care of |
| time to adjust to changes both inside | | | | at different times are spaying/neutering |
| their bodies and in the outside world. | | | | and declawing. Some vets prefer to spay |
| Learn about a kitten's basic needs and | | | | neuter at a younger age, as it may be |
| how to help your kitten grow into a | | | | better for the cat. You need to make a |
| happy, healthy adult cat. | | | | separate appointment for this. Unlike |
| Make Your Home Kitten-Proof | | | | spaying and neutering, declawing is a |
| What, exactly, does kitten-proofing | | | | more debatable procedure. You should aim |
| entail? Particularly if you already have | | | | to understand more about the benefits |
| older cats, what more do you need to do? | | | | and disadvantages of this procedure |
| For one thing, kittens are much more | | | | before you make a final decision. |
| active and curious than older cats. Like | | | | Social Growth |
| human babies, they often satisfy their | | | | In his first month and a half of growth, |
| curiosity by chewing everything in site. | | | | a new kitten experiences tremendous |
| For this reason, you should purchase | | | | changes. Typically, new cat owners will |
| all-natural cat litter and not the | | | | not bring home a kitten until week 6, |
| clumping clay variety that is commonly | | | | when it has been weaned off its mother's |
| used with older cats. | | | | milk. For this reason, typically new |
| Another element of kitten-proofing your | | | | kitten owners will be more involved in |
| home is giving the kitten a safe place | | | | the social growth than physical growth. |
| to be. This need not be an entire room, | | | | If the mother was comfortable with |
| but it does need to be quiet and closed | | | | humans, the kittens will usually learn |
| off from other animals. After a few | | | | that behavior and learn to socialize |
| days, give the kitten and the other | | | | easily with people. However, if your |
| animals some closely supervised time to | | | | kitten has not become accustomed to |
| get acquainted. If your new kitten has | | | | being handled by humans by the age of |
| not been to the vet, keep it quarantined | | | | six weeks, it will be difficult to train |
| from other animals until you can be | | | | this behavior later, and the cat may |
| certain he does not have any infectious | | | | always be somewhat more skittish than |
| diseases. Give the animals a few weeks | | | | others. |
| to get used to each other and do not | | | | Be sure to teach your kitten at a young |
| push too hard; before you know it, the | | | | age that hands are not toys, they feed, |
| safe room will be a thing of the past! | | | | pet and hold the kittens. |
| The First Visit to the Vet | | | | Introducing Canned Food |
| The first visit to the vet should take | | | | Kittens need many more nutrients than |
| place shortly after you have gotten your | | | | adult cats. However; with smaller |
| kitten, particularly if it was a stray | | | | stomachs they must each more regularly. |
| and you do not know its medical history. | | | | A six-week-old kitten should have four |
| This is particularly important if you | | | | daily feedings until he reaches 12 weeks |
| have other household pets that could be | | | | of age. From 12 weeks to six months, she |
| infected if the kitten has any | | | | can take three daily feedings. After |
| communicable diseases. Until you take | | | | that point, feed your kitten once daily, |
| the new kitten to the vet, you will need | | | | like other adult cats. |
| to keep him away from the other pets. | | | | When choosing food, keep your kitten's |
| At the veterinarian's office, your | | | | health top priority. Do not feed your |
| kitten will undergo a detailed physical | | | | kitten:table scraps or milkdog foodadult |
| exam. This will include looking at baby | | | | cat food |
| teeth to determine age, measuring | | | | All of these may be easy options for |
| temperature, palpating organs, listening | | | | you, the pet owner, but the kitten will |
| to the heart, brushing fur for signs of | | | | not receive the nutrients she needs. |
| fleas, and checking eyes and ears. After | | | | Instead, feed her a well-balanced diet |
| the physical examination is complete, | | | | of food made specifically for developing |
| the vet will perform several tests, such | | | | kittens. Begin with canned food, which |
| as: | | | | is more calorie-laden for energetic |
| Fecal float checks for worms | | | | kittens. Later on, you can start |
| Blood Tests check for FeLV and FIV | | | | supplementing with dry food. |
| viruses | | | | Now that you have learned the basics of |
| Depending on your kitten's age when you | | | | kitten care, bring home your new kitten |
| first take her to the vet, she may be | | | | and enjoy the time you spend together. |
| vaccinated. Vaccinations take place at 9 | | | | She will be an adult cat before you know |
| to 10 weeks of age. Kittens are given a | | | | it! |
| booster shot at 12 and 14 weeks and | | | | |