How To Nurturing Your New Kitten

First of all, i would like to congratulate if you have bring home a new kitten.

Bringing home a new kitten is truly one of life's joys and a rewarding experience.

As a new pet parent, we hope this blog will guide you in providing utmost care to your pet.

Welcoming Your New Pet Home!

While you and your family are understandably excited over the new family member, the next few weeks will be a period of adjustment both for you and your kitten.

The first few weeks can be quite a stressful time for your little pet as it has been taken away from the comfort of its mother and siblings and its new home is an unfamiliar environment where it has to begin to get accustomed to new sights, sounds, smell and sensations.

For the first few days, it will be suffering from separation anxiety and hence during this early period it is vital to avoid any negative influence of the new unfamiliar surroundings.

Preparing Your Home For The Kitten

These are a list of some of the important supplies you will need before bringing your kitten home:

• Food: In consultation with your veterinarian try to keep the same diet or food as provided by the breeder.
• Bowls: Separate bowls for food and water, preferably use bowls that do not tip over easily such as stainless steel.
• Bedding: Cats can sleep up to 18 hours a day, so make sure the bedding is soft and washable, and place it inside a basket or cardboard box in a cozy corner but where there is less movement.
• Grooming supplies.
• A collection of high quality toys for kittens.
• Cat carrier: It is safe, comfortable & ideal to carry and travel with your pet.
• Scratch Post: To support a trait your kitten inherently possesses.

Kitten-Proofing Your Home

Before you know it, your kitten will be busy exploring its new home and hence its best to take precautionary measures.

It is advisable to:

• Ensure there are no loose electrical cords.
• Store household chemicals, cosmetics, etc. on higher shelves or within cupboards.
• Keep breakable items away from reach.
• Keep windows securely fastened.

Helping The Kitten Settle In

Since this is a new environment and can be a daunting experience for the kitten, select a room with minimal activity where it can be kept for the first few weeks to adjust gradually to its new surroundings.

Keep the following essentials in the room, that it can begin to get acquainted with:

• The litter tray: Kept in a discreet corner of the room.
• Food bowl: Placed in the opposite corner
• Water bowl: Kept away from both the food and the litter tray.
• Cardboard box on its side with a blanket inside placed in another corner or behind a couch, so that the kitten has somewhere to hide it it feels a little shy or insecure.
• Cat bed or cardboard box: Positioned away from the litter tray, food and water areas. A piece  of familiar bedding that contains the mother's scent can be placed in the box to help the kitten feel at home.
• A scratching post nearby
• A couple of safe toys
• High resting places: Cats are natural climbers and it is important for your cat to be able to rest and observe its surroundings from high places eg: Cupboard top that is safe and easy to climb up and down.

The First Few Nights in Your Home

Cats are nocturnal by nature and are usually active at night. Placing the kitten with you in the night will mean a sleepless night for you as well!

It is advisable to place the kitten in its bed place in the secure room.

Eventually the kitten will understand your routine and adapt its sleeping pattern to fit in with your lifestyle of sleeping through the night.

Feeding Your Kitten

In the initial few days, try and feed the same diet that the kitten has been used to. A new diet along with adjusting to a new home can add to the kitten's stress causing stomach upsets.

Kittens need to be fed small meals and more often, like with babies. Your veterinarian will guide you on the appropriate feeding schedule for your kitten.

Building A Bond With Your Kitten

Cats are territorial animals and do not appreciate a change in their environment. So do not be surprised if your kitten tends to hide or shy away from you. For the first few days, their eating and toileting too may be irregular.

While every pet needs attention and pampering, cats and kittens need a lot of time on their own, so it is important to be sensitive to their needs, which will help them in settling in sooner.

Kittens will alternate between sleeping at length to times when it will venture out of its bed to exposure its new home.

During these moments when it seems responsive, you can gently talk to it, affectionately stroke it or initiate playing with it.

Socialization

Socialization is a key component to having a pet who is happy and not fearful in social settings, be it with humans or other pets.

The critical socialization period is between 4-12 weeks of age. During this period it is important to introduce your pet to new people, pets, sounds, places, etc. However, since the vaccination schedule is not complete by this time, limit the interactions to safe environments such as within your home, your garden, your vet's clinic, etc.

When socializing with other pets, ensure the other pets are fully vaccinated.

A well-socialized kitten grow up to be a cat who is confident and easy-to-interact with!

Interaction Between Kitten & Family Members

If there are small children, they need to be advised not to overwhelm the kitten by screaming or shouting, forcefully holding the kitten, inviting their friends over to see the kitten, etc.

Do not over-crowd the room and introduce family members one at a time.

Introducing Your Kitten To Other Pets

Ensure the pets the kitten will be interacting with are fully vaccinated.

Introducing your kitten to the resident cat

This should be a very gradual process and it will take a few weeks for the cat to begin to accept your kitten. Your cat feels threatened with the entrance of the new kitten in the home and hence initially a lot hissing is to be expected.

For the first few days, place them in separate rooms. Thereafter gradually introduce them to each other under supervision and possible get them to have a treat in the same room. in this way, gradually increase interaction time, until they are both relaxed in each other's company.

Introducing your kitten to the resident dog

When introducing your kitten to the dog, the dog needs to be on the leash and under supervision.

Litter Tray

The ideal length of the litter tray needs to be one and half times the length of the kitten so it gets sufficient space to move around.

The litter tray must be kept clean and emptied regularly. Cats are clean animals by nature and will refrain from using trays that are kept unclean.

Ensure to use a cat-friendly disinfectant when cleaning out the tray.

Initially, it is advisable to use litter material that the kitten has been used to, to help in the adjustment phase.

Toilet Training

Cats are quite particular about their toilet habits.

All you would need to do is place your kitten in the litter tray on waking up from a sleep and after meals, or when the kitten is sniffing, scratching or beginning to crouch and looks as if it is about to go!

Disciplining

Kittens are very playful and often accidentally scratch and bite during play. However, it is important to correct them in order to discourage such behavior.

When scratched or bitten, say "NO" in a firm yet calm manner and walk away from your kitten for a few minutes. Do not let anyone pamper the kitten during this time. Repeat this every time your kitten scratches or bites. It will soon come to associate the bad behavior with being left alone.

If you notice your kitten scratching or clawing at the furniture, correct them in a firm tone, pick it up and take it to the scratching post. Repeat this and your kitten will soon realize the value of the scratching post. Once it goes to the scratching post on its own, reward the good behavior with a treat.

A Glimpse Into The World Outside!

Due to the potential threat of contracting infections, it is unsafe to let your kitten explore the outside world until the entire vaccination schedule has been completed.

After about 7-10 days post completion of the vaccination schedule you may introduce your kitten to the outdoors, however under your constant supervision.

Introducing Your Kitten To Travelling In The Car

Cats being territorial are not fond of travelling and hence it is important to keep the stress during journeys to the minimal.

Begin with short journeys and then gradually increase the travel duration.

Some Vital Tips:

• Never travel with the kitten loose in the car-always use a cat carrier..
• Place the carrier on the car seat where it is cool and the sensations of the engine vibrations or road bumps are reduced.
• Cover the carrier with a cloth or towel during the journey to keep the kitten calm.
• Drive carefully avoiding the bumps and potholes.
• Have a family member sit besides the kitten and talk to it in soft tones.
• Put some bedding in the carrier that the kitten normally sleeps on or curls up on at home.
• Place an article of clothing belonging to the kitten's favorite person in the carrier.

On reaching your destination, do not let the kitten loose immediately. keep it in the carrier and carrry it carefully-avoid swinging it or banging into nearby objects.

Vaccinations Means Protection From Fatal Diseases

Cats too, like humans, are susceptible to fatal, infectious diseases. Fortunately, we have the ability to prevent many of these by the use of very effective vaccines.

Vaccination Schedule

For Kitten, there is a series of vaccinations to be given in a specific schedule typically at 8-9, 10-12, 12-14 and 14-16 weeks. The purpose of a vaccination series to is help confer and build the kitten's immature immune system against these fatal diseases. Hence it is essential to follow the schedule as recommend by your veterinarian strictly. Thereafter, annually a single booster dose of these vaccinations is to be given to ensure ongoing protection.

Post-Vaccination Care

Your pet might be a little uncomfortable after vaccination and you may notice slight swelling at the vaccination site. More serious reactions should be immediately reported to your veterinarian.

Vaccination Can Protect Against These Fatal Diseases

Feline Calcivirus Infection

Also known as Feline Respiratory Disease, it is highly common and contagious. It is easily spread through infected cats coughing or sneezing, contact with saliva or through discharge from the eyes and nose. Symptoms include coughing, sneezing, runny nose and eyes, tongue ulcers, etc. In kittens, severe respiratory disease associated with pneumonia may develop and be fatal.

Feline Rhinotracheitis Infection

It is very contagious and can cause severe disease, including death from pneumonia in young kittens.

Symptoms include coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, conjunctivitis.

Feline Panleucopenia Infection

Thi disease is highly contagious and can be very severe in kittens and young cats. It is spread through direct contact with body secretions such as saliva, faeces, etc of infected cats.

Symptoms include loss of appetite, vomiting, abdominal pain, frequent bloody diarrhoea, marked dehydration.

Rabies

A highly fatal viral disease of canine, feline and other warm blooded animals. It is transmitted from one infected animal to another animal through bite or through direct contact with saliva of rabid animals. Rabid animals can transmit this infection to humans either through bite or through direct contact with saliva.

Protection From Parasitic Infestations

Parasite are organisms that live in or on the body of another animal and takes its nourishment from that animal. In the process, it can cause severe harm to the animal, in this case, your kitten.

Intestinal Worms

These parasites live within the intestine of the kitten and if left untreated, can cause severe malnourishment to the kitten that will impact the pet's health significantly.

Since worm trouble is not easy to detect, unless the pet's faeces are examined, prevention is ideal!

Some of the common symptoms of worm trouble include:

• A pot-belied look
• weight loss
• White segments in the faeces
• Vomiting & Diarrhoea
• Pet frequently rubs its bottom on the ground.

Impact Of Worms On Family Members

Not only do pets get affected by worm trouble, but through them the worm eggs can also be transferred to humans, especially children who constantly play with the pet.

To prevent human infection, good hygiene is extremely important. Teach children especially, to wash their hands after playing with the pet.

Keeping Worms At Bay!

Through the mother's milk, kittens can be infected and hence starting young, periodical per deworming with a good quality broad spectrum dewormer, as recommended by your veterinarian.

Typical Deworming Schedule:

Until 6 months: Once a Month

From 7th Month: Once every three months for life.

• Keep the are where your pet sleeps and its bedding clean
• Adopt a comprehensive flea control program, as fleas are a carrier of certain worm eggs.
• Always wash hands after playing with your pet.

Keeping Fleas Away!

These are external parasites that are present on the cat's coat and in the environment where the pet lives.

Fleas adhere to the skin and feed on the pet's blood. A heavy flea infestation can lead to anaemia especially in kittens. In addition, fleas are also carriers for a certain worm larvae and other parasites and thus cats can get infected on ingesting the fleas while grooming.

In consultation with your veterinarian, you may use an anti-parasitic topical spray that is safe for kittens and cats. It is advisable to re-use such products every 3 months as a means of prevention.

Never be tempted to use a dog product on a cat

Some of these can be highly toxic to cats.

It is important to keep the environment around the pet (eg. bedding) free from fleas.

Grooming Your Kitten!

Cats by nature will spend several hours a day grooming themselves!

However, if your cat has particularly a long coat, it will require your daily attention to gently remove the fur tangles.

Long-coat or short-coat, it is best to get kittens accustomed to being groomed from an early age. Grooming is important to remove the loose hairs that can cause a potential health hazard by forming fur balls to accumulate in the stomach. Grooming helps increase blood circulation to the skin and enhances the release of natural skin oils. It is an activity which also helps to form a bond with your pet.

Skin Care

Besides brushing, you may wish to bathe your kitten once every 20-25 days, particularly if they are fond of the outdoors. While cats are not fond of water, introducing them to bathing early on will help getting them accustomed to the idea.

• Only use shampoos that have been specifically formulated for cats and not humans shampoos.
• Use a shampoo that cleans, moisturizes and soothe the skin.
• Excessively fragrant and foaming shampoos can at times prove to be a skin irritant, so pick a product that is mild yet effective.

Ear Care

Unlike humans, the cats ear canals have a unique L-shaped bend, making it is difficult for caught debris or water to be released; this makes pets especially susceptible to ear infections.

Ear mites are tiny insect-like parasites that live in the ear canal of cats. The most common sign of ear mite infection is frequent scratching of the ears.

If you notice your pet repeatedly scratching its ear, observe redness around the ear are, etc. You can suspect it to be a ear infection! In such eventuality, please visit your veterinarian for treatment.

To prevent ear infections, periodical ear cleaning (once in 2-4 weeks) with an antiseptic ear cleaner is suggested, in consultation with your veterinarian.

Avoid using earbuds.

Oro-Dental Hygiene

As in humans, regular dental care is important to prevent periodontal diseases. Bad breath is one of the most symptoms of the beginning of dental disease. Dental disease if not checked and controlled can lead to bleeding gums, immense pain, loss of teeth and spread of infection from the mouth to other internal organs as well.

Consult your veterinarian on the ideal way to care for your growing kittens's teeth!

Nutritional Requirements Of Your Pet

The nutritional requirement varies depending upon the age, breed and sex.

Nutritional supplements help to compensate for any dietary deficiencies that may arise.

Nutritional supplements like omega-3 & omega-6 fatty acids, vitamins & minerals are recommended to prevent possible deficiency of these nutrients and to support recovery post any illness.