Kitten Advice

Vaccinations

It is important for you to have your kitten vaccinated as soon as you can. The vaccinations protect your kitten from contracting various life-threatening diseases such as;

• Feline leukemia
• Cat flu

 We recommend that you speak to your vet for advice on vaccinating your kitten against these diseases.

Diet

Deciding which diet to feed your kitten can be confusing as there are many diets available on the market.

We have a wide range of dry and wet cat feeds ranging from Whiskas to Royal Canin, to give your kitten the best possible start in life. Come and see us for advice on choosing the right diet for your new kitten.

Fresh water should always be available.

Worming

Kittens should be wormed regularly until they are 6 months old (weight dependent) then every 3 months throughout the rest of their lives.

Ask our staff for advice on the best worming treatment for you and your pet’s needs.

Fleas and Ticks

Fleas and ticks are a very common problem and it is likely that your kitten will come into contact with them during its life. There are a variety of treatments available to treat both parasites but as a rule prevention is better than trying to cure the problem.

If you have more than one pet in your household it is important to treat them all in order to prevent them from becoming infested.

Ask our staff about available treatments.

Neutering

Kittens can be neutered from around 4 months of age whether they are male or female. Unless you are wanting to breed from your cat vets recommend you have them neutered before letting them out.

Neutering can prevent your male kitten urine spraying in your house and will also help prevent him wandering off in search of a female.

A female kitten can get pregnant from as young as 5 months of age so it is important to consider getting her spayed as soon as you can. Spaying can also prevent your kitten getting mammary tumors in later life.

Litter Training

You will probably find that most kittens are litter trained by the time you take them home at 8-9 weeks old. It is important to remember that moving away from their mother and siblings to a new environment with different sights, sounds and smells can be a very daunting time for a young kitten. To help your kitten settle in and get used to its new litter tray here are some tips;

• Place the tray in a quiet but easily accessible location and be sure to show your kitten where it is
• Don't put the tray near the food or water bowls, cats don't like to toilet near where they eat
• Clean the tray regularly, if it gets too soiled your kitten won’t use it
• If your kitten has an accident never punish it, this will only encourage it to toilet secretly when you are not around
• Always praise and encourage your kitten every time it uses the tray to encourage positive association

Toys

Your kitten will enjoy playing with toys and there is a wide variety available to choose from.

Cats also have a natural instinct to sharpen their claws regularly. To prevent damage to woodwork and furniture it is recommended that you buy a suitable scratching post.

Micro-chipping

Having your kitten micro-chipped is an excellent way of ensuring it has a permanent and inexpensive form of identification should he/she ever go missing.

It is a simple procedure which involves injecting a small chip about the size of a grain of rice into the scruff of your kitten’s neck. The microchip is then registered with your details on a national database.

If your kitten is ever lost he/she can then be scanned and re-united with you as soon as possible.

Micro-chipping is now available in store!

Socialisation

It is important that your kitten meets and forms relationships with other cats and learns to interact with humans and other species. Kittens need to be handled safely and gently by a variety of people, including children to provide them with a range of positive experiences.

Consideration also needs to be given to other things your kitten might encounter during its life;

• Car journeys
• Groomers (especially long haired cats)
• Vets
• Household sounds

Food, attention, and play are things your kitten will enjoy and can be used to establish pleasant associations.