Basic Kitty Care

Before you welcome your new kitten into the home, it's important to be well prepared. You will need a suitable food dish, a supply of kitten formula food (we suggest you feed your kitten with the same food we feed here at our store for at least a couple weeks, to make the transition of moving to a new house easier on the kitten), a water bowl, brush and comb, litter box and cat litter, and a quality cat carrier. You may also want to have ready, a cat bed, and toys, it will also be a good idea to introduce your new kitten to a scratching post as soon as possible.
Remember that your investment and time taken to care for your new kitten will reward you with the companionship, and affection, of a healthy cat for fifteen years or more.

Grooming

Kittens with smooth shiny coats will grow up having short hair and need little or no grooming. Those with fuzzy hair develop longer coats requiring more attention. Although cats clean themselves, there are difficult-to-reach areas where hair mats tend to accumulate. Comb out little tangles before they become big hair mats. Be gentle. If mats have already begun to develop, try doing just a little every day. If your kitten shows signs of resistance, comb an easy area for a while and then stop. Finish each session on an up note, with you in control. If you stop immediately when your kitten tries to bite, it will learn that biting is an effective method of getting its own way.

Litter training

Place a litter pan in a quiet place where the kitten will not be disturbed. If you want your new kitten to learn to use the litter tray then make sure scoop it frequently. A kitten will more readily do its toilet in a tray that is dry and clean smelling, than one that has urine and stools that are hours old, doing this will also allow you to check on the stool consistency and the amount of urine. Any change in the color or amount of urine, or any sign of runny stools, could be a danger signal.

Put the kitten into the litter box often. If you catch them in the process, quickly put the kitten in the litter box. If you are too late, never press the kittens' nose in the spot, this will cause the kitten to recognize the smell and do it again in that particular spot. Instead place the kitten in the litter box again.

Hairballs

As cats groom themselves, they accumulate hair in their stomachs and often regurgitate it. This process is usually accompanied by loud howling, gagging, retching, and gasping noises that can be very alarming. An occasional small hairball isn't much of a problem, but in long-haired cats, hairballs sometimes become quite large and cause trouble. Minimize the problem by grooming out loose hair before it can be swallowed. You can also use products such as Petromalt Hairball Remedy, which we carry here at the store.

Scratching and Nail Trimming

Kittens need a place to scratch and sharpen their claws. This is such a strong instinct and so necessary for normal development, that unless there is a satisfactory alternative, no amount of scolding will keep your furniture from being torn apart. The simple answer is to buy a good scratching post.Kittens keep their nails in condition by scratching. Nail trimming is seldom required, but when it is make sure to have special trimmers made for cats, you can find a couple different varieties. Remember that because the nails grow so rapidly, trimming is not a useful way to avoid furniture damage.

Dental Care

Nearly all cats have problems with their teeth, including gum disease and cavities, just like people. These problems soon become painful and expensive. Simple things can be done in kitten hood which make a big difference later on. Feed your kitten dry food. It helps keep the teeth clean and having something hard enough to chew keeps the teeth and gums healthier.

Vaccination

Kittens are into everything, they are curious and just love to explore. No matter how clean your home is, no matter how healthy you think your other pets are, your kitten can be exposed to infection. Vaccines are not 100% effective, but will give your kitten a good degree of protection against feline leukemia, respiratory diseases, flu type viruses, feline panleukopenia, feline rabies and others.

Our kittens come with "up to date" shots. They need to be vaccinated at age two months, three months and four months. We also recommend bringing her back to your veterinarian annually as part of a kitten care vaccination program.

Fleas, ticks and ear mites

Fleas and ticks feed off of the blood of your pet causing serious problems such as dermatitis, tapeworm and anemia. Treat all the animals in your house if you find one of them infected. Be certain that all sprays, powders and shampoos that you use are safe for kittens, if you need advice or have any questions feel free to come in and ask. Ear mites can be transmitted from cat to cat. If your kitten is shaking her head repeatedly and scratching her ears, she may have become infested with ear mites. Take your pet to the veterinary to have her ears meticulously cleaned and appropriate medication prescribed.

Spaying and neutering.

Most of us are well aware of the need to prevent unwanted litters. The unwanted cat population, in some areas, is such that large tribes of feral cats roam the streets. Millions of cats are being put to sleep each year in animal shelters because there are no families to take them. Most of these animals are healthy and young.

Neutering males prevents urine spraying, and lessens their desire to escape outside to look for a mate. Neutered males are far less territorial and so there is far less chance of a fight with rival tom, less chance of injuries becoming infected. Spaying females helps to prevent mammary cancer, which is fatal in most cases, and uterine infections, common in un-spayed females. This is a very serious condition that must be treated with surgery and thorough veterinary care. Kittens should be neutered by the age of six months. Surgery is painless, performed under general anesthetic, and is relatively safe. You kitten will be up and about in a day or so of its operation.