| Housing
:
Roaming cats are prime candidates for fights with other animals,
traffic accidents, and communicable diseases from other cats.
Their life span can be expected to be considerably shorter as
a result. Many cats are strictly indoor pets and are perfectly
content, as long as they have access to a clean litter box and
fresh water at all times. I strongly recommend that for a healthier,
happier pet you consider keeping your kitten indoors only. If
your pet must go outside, make sure you know where it is at
all times, that the kitten is old enough to manage on its own,
that it is identified in some fashion (microchip ID or breakaway
collar and tag), current on vaccinations, and not outdoors in
extremely cold, hot, or inclement weather. If you don't want
your kitten in certain areas of the house, start training it
immediately to avoid those areas. When choosing where your kitten
will sleep, keep in mind that cats are nocturnal animals and
will be active at night. Placing soft bedding materials in secluded
corners will help your kitten to feel at home.
Litter
training :
A kitten will housebreak itself. Provide it with a clean litter
box and make sure the kitten knows where it is located. Edges
of boxes should not be too deep for a kitten to navigate and
the box should be kept scrupulously clean. A good rule of
thumb is that there should be one more litter boxes in the
house than the number of cats residing there, and the boxes
should be kept in different locations affording some privacy.
Choice of litter (eg, clay, sand, recyclable paper) is up
to the kitten owner, although some cats appear to have substrate
preferences. Many veterinarians recommend staying away from
litters with deodorant and baking soda additives as they can
irritate your cat's respiratory tract. If your kitten (or
cat) isn't using the litter box reliably, it could be because
of dirty litter, illness, litter preference, or psychological
stress.
Meals
:
Cats are carnivorous, which means that they have an absolute
requirement for some animal-source ingredients, such as meat,
poultry, or fish, in their diets. There is no such thing as
a good vegetarian diet for a cat. Without animal-source ingredients
in their diet they will become deficient in certain nutrients
which can prove life-threatening.
When choosing a cat food, it is best to choose one that is
appropriate for the life-stage of the cat. For example, kittens
should receive kitten food and adult cats should receive adult
cat food. Fresh water should always be available. It is an
old wives' tale that cats must have milk, and, in fact, milk
may cause a cat to have diarrhea. Amount fed will depend on
the diet, as well as the age, size, and activity level of
your kitten. Kittens can be fed free-choice or at set mealtimes;
however, many veterinarians recommend feeding all pets at
set mealtimes because intake can be more easily monitored.
Use stainless steel bowls because plastic and ceramic bowls
can scratch, leaving crevices for bacteria to hide. The latter
types of bowls (and resultant resident bacteria) have been
associated with feline "acne" and skin irritation.
Health
examinations and vaccinations :
Have your kitten examined by a veterinarian to ensure that
it has no major health problems. Your kitten will need a series
of vaccinations for respiratory disease (rhinotracheitis virus,
calicivirus, and chlamydia) and panleukopenia. Vaccinations
are usually given at 3 week intervals from approximately 6
to 15 weeks of age. Blood testing for feline leukemia virus
and feline immunodeficiency virus is recommended and the first
of 2 feline leukemia vaccines can be given at approximately
12 weeks of age (booster is usually 3 weeks later). At 15-16
weeks old, the kitten can receive its rabies vaccination.
Your veterinarian may also recommend a vaccination for feline
infectious peritonitis. This disease is almost always fatal,
but the risk of getting the disease in most cases is relatively
low. Kittens should be checked for intestinal parasites (2
stool samples 3 weeks apart), fleas, and ear mites and appropriate
medications given for these problems. Your veterinarian may
also recommend a preventative for heartworm disease, which
is more commonly associated with dogs, but can also affect
cats. These are general guidelines. Remember, your kitten
is an individual and need for specific vaccinations, timing
of boosters, and risk factors for disease are best assessed
by your veterinarian.
Grooming
:
Cats do a good job of grooming themselves, but regular brushing
to prevent matting of hair is important. Cats rarely need
a bath, but one can be given if necessary. Cats object to
bathing in slippery tubs, so give your kitten something to
cling to, such as a wood platform or a wire screen. Use a
shampoo designed for cats and kittens. Place cotton balls
in the kitten's ears to keep out water and use an ophthalmic
ointment (obtain one that is safe for kittens from your veterinarian)
in its eyes to prevent burning from shampoo. Towel dry the
kitten completely and gently comb out any mats. Kittens' teeth
should be carefully brushed on a regular basis. Your veterinarian
can provide you with an appropriate toothbrush, dentifrice,
and instruction on how to perform this task so that your kitten
learns to accept this as part of its daily care.
Toys
:
Toys should be strong enough to withstand chewing, not have
bells or squeakers that could be torn off and swallowed, and
large enough so that the entire toy cannot be swallowed. String,
thread, balls of yarn, and ribbons are deadly toys that can
be swallowed and become lodged in the digestive tract; do
not allow your kitten to play with these items.
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