Kitten Care
Your new kitten’s first days at home are bound to be full of excitement and interest.
It is a good idea to prepare everything that you will need for your new kitten before you collect him or her. Here are a few things that you may need to get ready for your new kitten.
A water bowl and a food bowl
Cats and kittens should have access to fresh water at all times, even if they seem to drink very little. It is advisable to offer your kitten only water to drink rather than milk or other such products. Try to find out on what your kitten was fed prior to arrival at your home and obtain enough of this food to last for a week. Feed only this food for the first few days of settling in and the gradually wean onto Purina Pro Plan Kitten Food by mixing the two together for a few days. Kittens require frequent, small meals. We recommend Kitten Food for the first 8 months of life and then move onto Purina pro Plan Adult Diet. Continue feeding the appropriate life-stage diet for your cat throughout it’s life. Please ask our nurses if you have any questions about your kitten’s diet.
A bed
Many cats are happier in an enclosed area where they feel safe. Often a cardboard box with a blanket inside and located in a quiet corner is an adequate bed.
Toys
Young kittens enjoy games and stimulation. Simple toys such as a ball with a bell inside or tickle sticks provide hours of fun.
A scratching post
This is advisable if you intend your cat to be an indoors cat. If not he/she will most likely find its own alternative around your home. A carpet piece wrapped around an old tube is a cheap alternative to expensive, store bought posts.
A litter tray
This is essential for the first few weeks at least. Keep the litter fresh and keep the tray in a quiet location.
Your first visit to the Vet’s
Your kitten will require a thorough check-up and a course of vaccinations before he/she can go out or mix with other cats. Kittens can be vaccinated from 7 weeks of age with 3-5 weeks between the 2 injections. During your first visit with your new kitten, we will discuss health care aspects with you and chat about any concerns which you may have. Your kitten will be completely protected by the vaccinations 1 week after the second injection.
Worming
We recommend regular worming as the best way to protect your pet and your family from intestinal parasites. Kittens should be wormed every 2 weeks until the age of 12 weeks and then every 3 months after that for life. Our friendly staff are ready to advise you on which worming products to use.
Flea treatment
We recommend that you protect your kitten from fleas and ticks all year long. Safe and effective flea preparations are available as either a spray or a ‘spot-on’. The spray is safe to use on kittens as young as 2 days of age, and protects against fleas for up to 3 months. The ‘spot-on’ can be used on cats from 12 weeks of age. It is easier to administer but only offers protection for up to 2 months. We have several different products available at the surgery.
ID chipping
This is the safest way to ensure that your cat can be identified and returned to you if lost.
Vaccinations
Vaccinations need to be done yearly after the first course to ensure that your cat remains protected from killer diseases such as flu and feline leukaemia.
Neutering
Neutering may be done from 6 months of age. In both the tom and the queen, this is a surgical procedure performed under general anaesthetic. We do recommend routine neutering to prevent unwanted litters problems and the transmission of disease.
Insurance
We recommend that you take out pet insurance as soon as you get your new kitten and keep him or her insured for life. This will give you peace of mind that, if ever your pet is unwell or has an accident, you will be able to afford the best possible veterinary care. There are many policies available; please check the small print to ensure that you are choosing the correct product.
