Wee Cuties

Published Saturday 7 March 2009 by Jeanette Gallagher RVN

A Kitten can be a fantastic addition to a household, and for the family's youngest, they are great fun to be around, but it must be remembered that taking on any pet is for life and so choosing your kitten should be done with plenty of thought and care. To help you on your way, here are a few helpful tips:

• Firstly, if you are buying your kitten from a breeder, make sure they are registered breeders!
• Kittens should be with their mother for at least 6 - 8 weeks. Kittens learn a lot from the mother, so taking a kitten too early can leave it very nervous and even sometimes a little bit cheeky! Kittens that have been handled kindly from a very young age tend to be well-socialized, making the first few months of introducing the kitten to the family a lot easier and happier.

When you bring your new kitten home:

• Take your cat home at a time when someone will be there for the first few days, it's not wise to leave your kitten alone in a strange place for long periods.
• It's known that cats are independent, but they also need a lot of TLC! Daily grooming might be essential for some cats, but it's also a good time for bonding!
• Try to raise the cat indoors to get it used to people and other animals.
• Be gentle and calm, wait for the kitten to come to you, for some kittens this may take a while, but be patient.
• Make sure you have your kitten vaccinated. The 1st of the 2 part injection can be given from 9 weeks, and then the 2nd part given 3 weeks later. This will help protect your pet against flu enteritis and feline leukaemia, Remember, an annual booster is required.
• A worming tablet should be given from 6 weeks. Adult cats should be wormed every 3 months. Worming is extremely important if there are children in the house! It is advised that you purchase these tablets from a registered veterinary clinic rather than a supermarket or pet shop.
• Don't leave objects about the house kittens like to find new things to play with, and if the wee one picks up something too small, it could choke.
• Keep the litter tray in the same place, so the kitten knows where to go. Clean it regularly as the cat may
  reject a dirty tray.
• Have your kitten micro-chipped, this makes it easier for the local Vet to identify your wee one if it is handed in, hopefully it will never happen.
• If you are not considering breeding from your kitten, then seriously think about neutering. Females can be neutered from 4 months and males from 6 months. Make an appointment with your local vet as soon as possible to get this quick procedure done, it has many benefits.

Finally, it is very important that you register your kitten with a vet!