How to Buy and Take Care of a Kitten by John Davis

When it comes to raising kittens, the philosophy is pretty similar to that of bringing up children. If you provide proper care and training when they’re young, it increases the odds they’ll grow up to be healthy, well-adjusted adults. So if you recently adopted a kitten, start incorporating this advice as soonas possible.MJ the kitten

MJ the kitten.

1) Don’t Treat Your Kitten Like an Adult Cat

Just as a human infant has vastly different needs than a teenager, a kitten will have care requirements distinct from those of a fully matured cat. In addition, you should consider a kitten’s various stages of development when caring for her:

Under eight weeks of age. At this early age, a kitten should still be with her mother and litter mates. Because kittens this young are unable to regulate their own temperatures, they rely on one-another’s body heat to survive. In addition, they are still developing vision and leg coordination. If you adopt or foster an orphan kitten in this age group, special care will need to be taken, including bottle-feeding thekitten every two hours up to four weeks of age and possibly helping your kitten pee and poop. It’s best to consult with a veterinarian for specific instructions and advice. Eight to eleven weeks of age. Kittens are usually weaned by eight weeks and should be eating kitten kibble by this stage. Other big changes will start occurring during this period as well. As your kitten begins developing complex motor skills she will become a force of nature — running, jumping, playingand exploring. This is a delightful period of kittenhood, but also one that can be dangerous to your kitten if she isn’t appropriately supervised. Start setting boundaries for your kitten and keep her in a safe, enclosed room while you can supervise her. Two to four months of age. This is a phase of rapid growth for kittens in which they’ll have almost three times more energy than an adult cat. They’ll need three to four individual meals a day during this time. According to the ASPCA, these meals should be about 30 percent protein. Four to six months of age. Kittens in this age group are reaching adolescence and, thus, sexual maturity. Talk to a veterinarian about having your kitten spayed or neutered before your kitten reaches this stage to avoid unpleasant habits like territorial spraying and accidental litters. (Learn more about spaying and neutering here.)

2) Reward Good Behavior and Socialize, Socialize, Socialize

The socialization and training your cat receives during kittenhood will affect how well she will likely interact with people and other animals when she’s older. “I remember the first time I fostered kittens and how worried I was about scaring them,” says Jane Harrell, Petfinder senior producer. “What I didn’t know was that that was a critical socialization period for them and not exposing them to things made them more nervous as adults. Now when I foster kittens I do everything I can to get them exposed to as much as possible – loud noises, walking on leashes, strangers, you name it! It all helps them become better-adjusted, healthy adult cats.”

As a new kitten’s parent, it will be up to you to guide her and show her that the world is a wonderful place. Consider trying some of these training and socialization methods:

Teach her to use the litter box by placing her in the box after meals and play sessions Pet her frequently Get her used to weekly combing and grooming. (Learn more about cat grooming) Introduce her to toys Allow her to experience different walking surfaces (carpet, linoleum, etc.) Take her outside on a lead or in her carrier (It can be very dangerous to allow a kitten outside withoutone.) Give her objects to explore, such as boxes and paper bags Play loud music and make noise Have friends over and ask them to play with her and give her treats Provide appropriate scratching alternatives (such as scratching posts) and reward her with toys, praise or treats when she uses them Do not allow her to bite or scratch during play. If she does, redirect her attention to a toy. Expose her to other cats and kittens (as soon as they’re up to date on vaccinations, of course!). Thereare even kitten socialization classes; do an internet search to see if any are available in your area. Take your kitten in car rides, giving her treats the whole time, and get her used to her carrier. (Check out these tips for getting your cat to like his carrier.) Reward friendly behavior with treats or praise. Do not reprimand bad behavior, instead, ignore her when she displays inappropriate behavior. (Give her a time out.) Challenge your kitten to think by teaching her tricks. (Learn how to teach a cat tricks.) Always be patient

3) Make Preventive Care a Priority

To help ensure your kitty has a lifetime of good health, start early in providing her with preventive care:

Schedule an appointment early. No matter what, schedule your kitten’s first vet appointment within aweek of getting her. Early and frequent vet visits will help socialize your kitten with the vet and help the vet establish a baseline for your kitten’s health. Ask about intestinal parasites, fleas and heartworm. Have a veterinarian check your kitten for worms and intestinal parasites, and have her de-wormed, if necessary. And while heartworms aren’t as much ofa problem for cats as they are for dogs, some kittens may be susceptible, so also ask your vet if he or she recommends a heartworm preventative. The biggest parasitic threat to your kitten, however, is fleas. You can start administering topical flea preventatives when your kitten is around 8 to 12 weeks ofage — although some brands are formulated for kittens as young as 4 weeks old. Ask which vaccinations your kitten needs and how often: Preventive care for kittens may include vaccines for feline leukemia, rabies and distemper. These shots are usually first administered when a kitten is around 8 weeks of age, with boosters given every few weeks until she reaches 16 weeks of age. After that, your veterinarian can set her up on an adult vaccination schedule. He or she may also recommend additional vaccinations.

These building blocks will give your kitten the best possible start in life, but don’t forget that she’ll stillneed plenty of attention and care when she gets older.

Newborn Kitten Care

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Newborn kitten being held

During the first few weeks of life, a kitten's primary concerns are feeding, keeping warm, developing social skills and learning how to excrete on his own. In most cases, humans will simply watch the mother cat perform her duties. However, if the kitten in your care has been separated from his mother or if the mother cat has rejected her young or cannot produce enough milk, caring for him is up to you.

How Do I Feed a Newborn Kitten?

A mother cat's milk provides everything a kitten needs during the first four weeks of life. If you have newborn kittens who've been separated from their mother, consult with a veterinarian, shelter or experienced foster care giver who can help you find a new mother cat with a small litter—she may be able to nurse the orphaned babies. If you cannot find a foster mother, please consult with your veterinarian about the proper way to bottle-feed with a commercial milk replacer. Please do not offer regular cow's milk to cats of any age. It is not easily digestible and can cause diarrhea.

What Do Kittens Eat Besides Milk?

When the orphaned kittens are three to four weeks old, begin to offer milk replacer in a shallow bowl, then introduce a moist, easily chewable diet. You can make gruel from warmed milk replacer and a high-quality dry or canned kitten food. Serve it in a shallow bowl and feed the kittens several times each day. By five weeks old, they should be getting used to their new diet. By six to seven weeks old, they should be able to chew dry food and you'll no longer need to moisten it.

Kittens need large amounts of energy—about two to three times that of an adult cat. About 30 percent of their total energy should come from protein. Make sure the food you offer is specifically formulated for kittens.

How Often Should a Kitten Eat?

The following is a general eating schedule for newborns and young cats:

Newborn kittens may nurse about every 1-2 hours. At about three to four weeks old, they can be offered milk replacer from a bowl and then small amounts of moistened kitten food four to six times a day. Kittens from six to 12 weeks old should be fed four times a day as you gradually decrease their access to milk replacer. Kittens from three to six months old should be fed three times a day.

How Do I Keep a Newborn Kitten Warm?

If the kitten in your care has been orphaned, it is essential that you keep the young one warm. A heating

pad or a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel works well. The heat source should be positioned so that the kitten can move away from it at will. Please consult your veterinarian about ideal temperatures, anddo take care to monitor the heating pad, if you are using one, to ensure it is functioning properly.

How Much Should a Newborn Kitten Weigh?

An average birth weight for kittens is about 3 1/2 ounces, depending on breed and litter size. During thefirst weeks of life, a kitten's body weight may double or even triple. Gaining 1/4 to half an ounce daily until they are weaned is considered healthy. Kittens who don't gain adequate weight during this early period may not survive.

Can I Hold the Kitten?

Kittens who are with their mother should not be over-handled, especially not during their first week of life—this may upset the mother. If the kitten in your care is younger than one week old, please consult your veterinarian. In order to properly socialize a young feline to humans, start to handle him from the second week on through the seventh week—this is considered an important time for socialization.

Please note, kittens are prone to injury if handled roughly—anyone who handles the little ones in your care will need to be very gentle. Young children in particular should be supervised.

How Do I Teach a Kitten to Go the Bathroom?

After feeding, a mother cat will groom her babies, paying special attention to the anal area. This stimulates excretion, which kittens can't do on their own until their second or third week. If your kitten is no longer with her mother, dip a soft washcloth or a piece of gauze in warm water and gently massage the anal and urinary regions. The warmth, texture and movement mimic a mother cat's tongue.

When the kittens are four weeks old, you can teach them to use a litter box by placing them in the box after their meals. Cutting one side down will make it easier for the kittens to go in and out.Related LinksVomitingVomiting can be a result of something minor, like a cat consuming his meal too quickly, or it can be a sign of a much more serious condition that requires immediate medical attention.TicksMost ticks are visible to the naked eye. It's a good idea to check your cat regularly if you live in an areawhere ticks are prevalent, especially if he spends a lot of time outside.ToxoplasmosisCats most often become carriers of toxoplasmosis by killing and eating wild animals who have been infected—a good reason not to let your cat outside to hunt!SheddingRegularly grooming your cat and vacuuming hair from your house should minimize the inconvenience of shedding. However, if you see bald patches in your cat’s fur or notice a significant loss of hair, the underlying cause may be a health-related problem and should be investigated by a veterinarian.Skin ProblemsThe condition of your cat’s skin is an indication of her overall health. When a skin problem occurs, your cat may respond with excessive scratching, chewing and/or licking.Cat Care: Spay-NeuterIn addition to the many health benefits, spaying or neutering your cat ensures that he or she won’t

contribute to the feline overpopulation problem. Each year, millions of homele