Caring for a new kitten

Getting a new kitten is an exciting time; not only are they super-cute but they also provide hours of entertainment as they zoom round your house, bouncing off the walls and climbing up the curtains!  The care they receive in their early days will have an effect on them for the rest of their lives and as cats can now live well into their teens and even twenties it is all the more important that it is of excellent quality.

Vaccinations

Going to your vet and having your kitten vaccinated is very important.  Feline vaccines protect against diseases which are common and which can be debilitating or even fatal.  The first injection is usually give at about nine weeks of age and the second three to four weeks later.  The main diseases protected against are Cat Flu; which is a very common virus and Feline Leukaemia (Felv). Felv is similar to the human form of leukaemia in that it is a cancer of the immune system but it is different because it is virally transmitted.  It is not easy to catch but if a cat does contract it it is a fatal condition.  These vaccines are very safe and should be repeated annually.  The trips to the vets are also a good opportunity for the vet to ensure your new pet is healthy and for you to ask any questions you may have. 

Diet

For the first few days you should give the kitten whatever it had been having with the breeder.  This will help ease its transition into your home and also reduce the chances of it having diarrhoea.  Kittens should be fed a good quality kitten food and the easiest formulation to offer is a dry diet.  Cats are naturally gazing feeders so having biscuits down all the time will encourage this and kittens only have small stomachs, so little and often is best for them anyway.  In the longer term kibble is also advantageous is it is better for dental care, will not go off when left down and often the better quality diets only come in a dry form.  Also, a small serving of wet food daily is helpful in cats as it keeps their water intake up.  The best place to buy a good diet for your cat is either your vet or a pet store, the best foods are rarely found on the supermarket shelves. 

Fleas

Fleas are a common problem in kittens and it is a sensible idea to treat any new kitten for fleas, whether you see them or not.  The best products against fleas are the spot-on treatments available from your vet but for very small or young kittens there is also a spray which can be used.  These products have a duration of action between one and three months and it is a good idea to maintain the protection as young cats are vulnerable to becoming re-infested, especially if they start to hunt. 

Worms

Kittens should be wormed every month from the age of 8 weeks old with a veterinary standard wormer.  Worms infestations can cause significant damage to their immature guts, especially if they are heavy.  Also, fleas are able to pass worms to the cat when they bite them, so any kitten with fleas must be wormed as well.

Insurance

Pet insurance for cats, particularly moggies, is generally inexpensive and can be very helpful if they ever become sick or are in an accident.  One of the most common, and expensive, problems we see in cats is when they have been hit by a car.  They often suffer broken limbs and these can run into the many hundreds of pounds to be fixed.  The best policies will offer 'life-time cover' which basically means as long as you keep paying the premiums they will continue to pay for any on-going conditions and you should aim for at least £3000 of cover for each condition diagnosed. 

Litter training and Socialising

Cats are naturally very clean creatures and most kittens will come already litter trained having watched their mothers.  The best place for a litter tray is a private corner of a room which is easily accessible.  Also, don't place the tray anywhere close to the cats food as they will refuse to toilet near to where they eat.

It is also important to socialise young kittens so they get used to people.  Ideally they will have been handled by different individuals before the left the litter and should continue when they to to their new home.  If you have children you must take care to explain to them they must be gentle with their new pet, young kittens are very delicate and can be easily damaged by well meaning but rough petting.  You should also train them to be easy to examine and get them used to having their teeth, ears and paws inspected.  Long haired cats must be regularly brushed from an early age, they are bound to get knots from time to time, especially the flatter faced pedigree breeds, and must be used to you helping them with them.

Cats are not naturally sociable with their own kind but many kittens are brought into homes where there are already older cats living. (It is important to realise that most cats are more than happy living alone so don't get a kitten to 'keep your cat company' as they may well not get on)  If you do have another cat then it should be able to put the kitten in it's place if it is too boistrous but it can be a considerable source of stress for cats if they have to share anything.  So, each cat should have its own food, water bowl, litter tray (if they don't go out) and sleeping place.  These should all be positioned well away from each other, for example, two bowls close together are one and the same to a cat!

Cats are often seen as a low maintenance pet and in many ways they are but they can live well into their teens and are a considerable commitment.  As with any pet, you must think carefully before taking one on and be prepared to be responsible for it and all its needs, all its life.  That said, a well socialised and happy cat will make a wonderful companion for many years, will always be pleased to see you when you come home and will never need taking for a walk in the rain! 

Neutering

While kittens are very cute, hundreds of them are abandoned in rescues every year because homes cannot be found and so all cats must be neutered at six months of age,.  Before this they should be kept as indoor cats as far as possible.    Most cats will not be sexually mature before six months, so the risk of them becoming pregnant or starting to fight is low, so it is not a problem if they go outside before this but they should be closely monitored and not allowed free access to the outdoors until they have been done.  Also, at 6 months they tend to be big enough to look after themselves, sensible enough to know where they live and most cats are now microchipped when they are neutered, so they are permanently identified.

Microchipping

All responsible pet owners should have their animals microchipped.  The microchip is the size of a grain of rice, is inserted under the skin between the shoulder blades and is a permanent identification.  They are particularly useful in adventurous cats who like to climb and for whom collars might not be suitable.  Although all cats should wear a collar as well if possible.  The needle for the chip is quite large and although the procedure is over quickly and only done once, many owners chose to wait until the cat is neutered and have it placed while they are asleep under the anaesthetic.If you have any questions about your kitten's health, you should contact your vet.