A kitten brings a wealth of enjoyment and companionship to a home. When they first arrive home your kitten will probably feel a little apprehensive and will be missing the companionship of his/her mother and littermates. To make this transition stress- free, allow him/her to explore their new surroundings without too much interference or noise. Children should be reminded that the new kitten needs lots of love and also rest therefore should not be overhandled.
Any other family pets should be introduced to the new arrival slowly and under close supervision
Sleeping Quarters
It is a good idea to section off a part of your house or make up a bed for your kitten in the laundry. He/she will be used to cuddling up to their brothers and sisters so may cry when put to bed for the first couple of nights.
Provide a bed, basket or box to curl up in. Kittens love warmth so make sure the new bed is cosy and inviting. You can also place a hot water bottle in with him/her but care should be taken to ensure it is not too hot.
You may decide that you want your kitten to sleep in your bedroom with you. This is fine once it is older, but your kitten may find it difficult to find its way around the new house at night and can injure itself falling off the bed in the dark. It is best to start your kitten sleeping in a safe secure place until it is old enough to stay out of harms way.
Feeding
Your kitten should be fed on a balanced diet especially formulated to suit its stage of life. We recommend a premium brand kitten biscuit, as they are made from high quality ingredients and provide all the nourishment a kitten needs.
Kittens can regulate their food intake well and so meals can be offered often but it is alright to leave a few biscuits out at all times for your kitten to eat. Two or three main meals spread throughout the day are best with kitten biscuits available at anytime.
Changes in diet should be made gradually as sudden changes can cause diarrhoea and other problems.
Kittens at play
Environment enrichment is essential to help direct your kitten’s playful behaviour to desirable objects. Your kitten needs items to chew on and play with, to ensure it is not learning to climb curtains and wrestle power cords!
We recommend a cat scratching post laced with catnip to teach your kitten from an early age where to direct their claws. Lattice balls, furry mice, and other toys like fish on string are all designed especially for the development of your kitten’s co-ordination and will provide them with hours of fun.
House Training
If you are lucky, your kitten will arrive to you litter trained. They learn this behaviour from watching their mothers and so tend to pick it up very quickly with other cats around.
There are certain signs you should watch out for that will alert you when your kitten needs to toilet. These include:
- Vocalisation.
- A sudden panicked reaction or fussing behaviour.
- Digging in bedding or on paper.
There are also times when you should ensure you place your kitten into its litter tray and praise it whilst encouraging it to dig, to prevent accidents.
- First thing in the morning.
- After every sleep.
- After being left alone for a period of time.
- After every meal.
- Last thing before you put your kitten to bed.
Of course accidents will happen! If you catch your kitten in the act you should immediately place him/her into the litter tray and praise them.
NEVER spank your kitten, rub his/her nose in it, or reprimand after an accident has occurred. A kitten is too young to be able to connect this with what he/she has done wrong.
Using praise is the best method of training. Kittens are clever, clean animals and so where a litter tray is provided, they will always prefer to eliminate there. Give your kitten lots of praise whenever it does the right thing.
Socialisation
The peak socialisation period in a kitten’s life is up to 14 weeks. By 6 weeks of age, your kitten has learned to respond to visual and scent threats. By 7 to 8 weeks of age, it has developed good eye and paw co-ordination and social play develops between 6 – 12 weeks.
As fearful play and fighting behaviour can start at or after 14 weeks of age, it is imperative to handle your kitten as much as possible before this time. Your kitten needs to become accustomed to as many new experiences and people as possible. At this age a kitten can even willingly learn many training commands including sit, stay and come. Food rewards always work best when training kittens.
Kitten Kindy
Kitten kindy classes are great fun for owners and kittens alike. You will learn more about raising a happy well adjusted kitten. The classes place a strong emphasis on enriching your cat’s environment and teaching responsible cat ownership. Advice is also on hand for any problems or questions you may have regarding your kitten.
Feel free to call our hospital should you require additional information, advice or guidance with raising your kitten.
