Taking Care of Kittens 101:
The Basics
Taking care of kittens requires lots of love and patience.The first few months of life are critical for kittens. Proper kitten care lays the groundwork for kittens to develop into strong and healthy cats.
Bringing Kittens Home for the First Time
Imagine being a young kitten pulled away from the safe and comfort environment of life with your siblings and mother cat. In your new home, you endure new smells and sites. You may be afraid and lonely.
Taking care of kittens requires anticipating their needs. Give your new kitten guidance. Don’t let them wander around your home unattended. New young kittens can easily get into trouble around the house, especially when they do not know the rules of your household.
Your new kitten may seem foreign to your other pets. Don’t introduce them to your kitten quite yet. Let the kitten get settled first. Put your other pets in another room away from your new kitten.
If you have children, remind them not to crowd around the kitten. Allow the kitten to have its space for a while. Often, children get excited about a new pet and want to play with it as much as possible. The kitten may become frightened, get annoyed with being petted too much, and scratch your child. Remind your children to play gently with the new delicate kitten.
Kitten's Own Room
It is important that your new kitten have a space of its own. Having its own room will allow your new kitten time to gradually adjust to life in your home. The room could be an extra bathroom or spare bedroom. Just choose a quiet peaceful room with minimal traffic. If possible, put on classical music. It’s calming and kittens love it.
Make sure the essential supplies are in the room: litter box, food, water, and toys. You may choose less essential supplies like collars. In taking care of kittens make sure they do not to become bored. Keep in mind that a bored kitten can spell trouble. Kitten-proof the room by removing dangerous objects.
Giving your kitten its own room for a while also saves you from having to clean constantly around the house and is an important part of caring for kittens. Your new kitten is not use to finding its way around your home. It may become confused and have difficulty locating its food or litter box. Having its essential supplies in one room will minimize your kitten's confusion and your housecleaning, as removing cat urine odor is difficult.
How long should a kitten stay in its own room? It really depends on your kitten. A shy kitten may not leave the room the first few days. It may just peak its head out to check out surroundings. Other more outgoing kittens may want to look around you home right away. Let the kitten be the guide.
Lastly, remember not to leave your other pets unattended around your kitten, until they demonstrate that they will not hurt them. An older cat may start to groom your kitten. That’s a good sign. A dog may sniff your kitten’s rear end and sit peacefully with them.
Grooming Kittens
Grooming is an essential part of taking care of kittens. Proper grooming requires the right supplies. Get your kitten use to fur and teeth brushing and bathing early. Brushing its fur and teeth enables your kitten to become use to human touch and being closely examined. Combing your kitten's fur is also an excellent way to remove fleas. Dental care is not just for aesthetic reasons. Healthy dental habits prevent oral infections and bad breath that can occur without proper care. Establish a routine.
Cat groomers may play a role later on in a kitten’s life. If your kitten will be a show cat, you may want to use a professional groomer. But for young kittens, groom them yourself. It’s a great way to bond with your new kitten.
Taking Care of Kittens That Live Outdoors
Outdoor kittens often have a harsh and short life. They are prone to diseases more than indoor kittens. Weather exposure, car accidents, and mean people who want to harm them are just a few problems that outdoor cats face. Rabies is an ever present threat and outdoor cats can transmit diseases to their owners.
If you choose to make your kitty an outdoor kitten, make sure they are spayed/neutered. Also, be aware that kittens have harder time than adult cats regulating body temperature. So, kittens may not be suited for outdoor life. Outdoor cats may need deworming every six months because they are exposed to other infected felines outside. If you choose to raise an outdoors kitten, here are some tips.
Winter Kitty Tips
- Kittens should be inside warm, dry environment ideally.
- Make sure water and wet food do not freeze.
- Discard old antifreeze. Kittens may become thristy and drink it.
- Felines like to be where it's warm. Your kitten could be hiding near your car’s engine. Check under the hood.
Put sunscreen on your kitty’s nose and areas uncovered by fur. Skin cancer is a risk.
Watch your kitten or cat for signs of heat stroke or exhaustion.
Make sure your kitten has plenty of fresh, cool water.
Do not leave your cat or kitten enclosed in a car unattended. They could develop a heat stroke and die.
Taking care of kittens that live indoors is much easier. An indoor kitten’s life is more structured and routine. As an owner, you more control over what the kitten is exposed to. Indoor life is obviously the best choice for kittens.
Remember…taking care of kittens requires not only love and patience, but also the right planning and supplies.
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