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This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. It is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional. Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a veterinarian immediately. Take it slowly, and make sure she is okay with it before you touch them. Either way, they really should not be handled that much at all until they are about 2 weeks old.
If you do handle them, be sure to either wear gloves or wash your hands thoroughly before and after. Get help tips for choosing a kitten, such as personality & knowing her health history, and how to prepare for her arrival at home. Kittens may be small, but to keep them safe and happy there is a long list of items vital to having the right environment for your kitten to thrive. Selecting the breed of kitten that will best suit your family and lifestyle is the first step in finding the perfect new addition to your home.
One Year: No Longer a Kitten
They really need as much time as possible to learn from mama cat and develop good social skills with other pets and humans. As mentioned earlier, felines, like other pets, learn the essentials better early on in life. And this they learn from playing and socializing with their mother and siblings. When separated too early, kittens miss out on this crucial learning stage.
By five weeks of age, kittens are confident enough in their newfound mobility that they become curious and playful, making it an excellent time to start socializing them. It's also a good idea to set aside a quiet area as "base camp" for your kitty to get used to her new surroundings. This space should be off-limits to other pets, and young children should only be admitted with adult supervision. Furnish the space with a litter box, food and water dishes, comfortable bedding, and a toy. It is usually a good idea to keep the food and water away from the litter box, as cats don't generally like to eat near where they do their business — but then again, who does! This area will serve as a safe space for your kitten to not only get to know you, but also to get used to the strange sounds and smells of her new home.
Bringing home a kitten
Choose a room for the litter box; a bathroom works well. Set up the litter box with one to two inches of litter, and place it in a corner, if possible. If the dog is prevented from rough play and chasing, the kitten should quickly learn its limits with the dog, including how to avoid confrontation by climbing or hiding.
This will allow her to get comfortable in her own space without disturbing your own. Slowly, they will learn that nighttime is for sleeping, and you're not going to come to her every cry. It also avoids setting a bad precedent where you have to get up every night.
Cat Health
A cushy carrier such as a SleepyPod is comfortable and can be strapped in using the seat belt. Again, be sure to include ID and a jacket and leash for extra security. Brachycephalic (flat-nosed) cats such as Persians are not allowed in cargo due to potential breathing issues. Soon, both of you will feel comfortable in your new surroundings. Cats are experts at finding the most obscure hiding locations.
As they get older, you’ll get used to the amount that they eat and when. Cats older than six months should be fine if they’re fed twice a day while older cats may only need their food topping up once a day. It is common for re-homed cats to show no interest in eating, often for several days.
Preparing for Your Kitten
Making kitten-related purchases is part of the fun, especially when it comes to choosing them new toys to play with. Before you begin buying novelty items and expensive treats, here’s a list of essential things your kitten will need before they arrive. Bonding will occur between the existing cat and the kitten. They will play together, groom each other, and sleep near each other.
Now that you know all about kittens and how to raise them, you're well-equipped to provide your new kitten with a warm and welcoming home and a great life. "Free Kittens" Ads.We emphasize charging an adoption fee for your kittens. This is to avoid any of the tragedies that can go along with these ads. "Free Kittuns," by Jim Willis, although fiction, is an excellent description of the very real pitfalls of these ads. For the same reasons, do not attempt to give away kittens from a box outside your supermarket, nor post "Free Kittens" signs on poles.
If it's your cat that you've had for a long period of time, she probably won't mind if you touch her kittens. If it's a stray, or a cat you've only had for a short while, she might not like it if you come near her babies. Jean Marie Bauhaus is a freelance writer and blogger who has been writing in the pet health and lifestyle space since 2014.
This condition can be life-threatening, as kittens will quickly become dehydrated and lose weight rapidly. Even if they don’t develop severe diarrhea, kittens taken too early often become malnourished and fail to put on weight. Kittens are energetic with small stomachs, so it is best to feed them little and often. When your kitten first arrives, aim to check their food and replace it four times a day – as well as providing plenty of fresh water.
As your kitten becomes more comfortable, they’ll enjoy the playfulness of being around children. Avoid using your fingers to encourage a cat in your direction too. Most kittens aren’t keen on being in a cat carrier, especially as their environment is new and strange to them. To keep them calm, consider placing a blanket or item from their home inside.
At this stage, it might be helpful to have a couple of litter boxes around the house, just to make sure she has easy access to one while she's figuring things out. By the time your kitten reaches their first birthday, a kitten is no longer considered a kitten but is now a full-grown cat. Follow the recommended feeding guidelines on your kitty's new cat food to determine how much to feed. Kittens shouldn't be separated from their mother and littermates until they have been fully weaned and socialized. You can also wait twelve weeks to allow time for the next important round of vaccinations in the kitten timeline.
The weaning process is usually completed by the time they're 8 to 10 weeks old. Kittens should remain with their mother so she can handle the weaning process for the most effective transition. Kitties learn to feed themselves by watching their mother eat and trying to copy what she does. During the weaning stage, kittens should be gradually introduced to canned and dry kitten foods. Food should be kept in an area away from their mother so they become accustomed to spending more time away from her. Between the 7th and 10th week, kittens could go to new homes, but they are still learning from their mother.
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