Caring for kittens and cats
Raising a kitten and owning a cat is an extremely rewarding experience, but it also carries with it responsibility. Outlined below are common questions asked by kitten and cat parents.
How should I play with my new kitten?
Kittens love to play so get ready for some fun. Their curiosity just about turns everything into a toy. Kittens particularly enjoy stalking and pouncing and this activity is in fact necessary for proper muscular development from day one. Cats are very sight sensitive and moving objects usually prove irresistible. Objects that swing in the air or move around are a big hit. Even a ball of paper can offer hours of fun! And for something different cats love plants known as catnip and catgrass. They enjoy the aroma not to mention wiggling the branches. Vetfriends suggest you get a few special toys for your kitten to play with.
When should my kitten be vaccinated?
There are many diseases that are harmful to cats. Fortunately, we have the ability to prevent many of these by the use of very effective vaccines. In order to be effective, these vaccines must be given as a series of injections. Vaccinations should be given at the following stages
- 6 weeks of age – 12 weeks of age
- 16 weeks of age
Then annually for the rest of the cats life.
Why so many vaccinations?
Nature makes it very necessary. When the kitten is suckling from its mother, it receives a temporary form of immunity through antibodies in the mother’s milk. This immunity is of benefit during the fi rst few weeks of the kitten’s life, but, at some point, this immunity falls and the kitten must organise its own long-lasting protection. That’s where Vetfriends and you, the new parent, step in through vaccinations. Since we do not know when an individual kitten will lose the short-term immunity, we give a series of vaccinations. (Sorry, but it’s for the best.) We hope that at least two of these will fall in the window of time when the kitten has lost immunity from its mother but has not yet been exposed to disease.
Does my kitten need a vaccination every year?
Vetfriends recommends that your kitten gets an annual vaccination. That way you’ll have a healthy, happy cat. Annual vaccinations boost the cat’s protection against diseases and infections. The vaccination we recommend is an F4 as it protects against the 4 key nasty feline viruses.
Is there anything else I should vaccinate for?
Well actually there is. Cats can get AIDS but unlike us humans, cats can be protected from this fatal disease. They can contract it by simply being bitten or scratched by an infected cat. Be assured they can’t pass it on to humans. Once a blood test is taken to ensure your cat is free of AIDS, we can administer 3 vaccines which should be followed up by annual boosters. We’ll be happy to discuss this with you at Vetfriends.
What are worms and how do I control them?
These are tiny little squiggley things that can infect your kitten. These nasty little gastrointestinal fellows include Roundworms, Hookworms and Tapeworms. Signs that your kitten may be infected by any of these worms are diarrhoea, vomiting and failure to grow at the normal rate expected. Roundworms also pose a small but defi nite risk to immunologically susceptible children therefore it is good practice to regularly administer deworming preparations. The good news is that despite there being lots of species of gastrointestinal worms, control merely requires dosing with one medication i.e. an ‘all wormer’ at regular intervals. Due to the life cycles of these worms and the ability of young kittens to be infected, they need to be dosed or ‘wormed’ at
- 2 weeks of age – 4 weeks of age
- 6 weeks of age – 8 weeks of age
- 10 weeks of age – 3 months of age
- 4 months of age – 5 months of age
- 6 months of age
and then every three months for the rest of the
cat’s life!
The amount of worming medication is based on your kitten’s weight. Weigh your cat before each worming. You’ll find a scale in Vetfriends reception. You’re always welcome to pop in and use it. We suggest you keep a record of when you ‘worm’ to ensure you maintain protection.
What about Heartworm? How do I protect against that?
General ‘worming’ medications don’t protect against Heartworm. However the good news is that Heartworm is not all that common in cats. However in areas where there is high incidence of Heartworm in the local dog population then cats may be more at risk. A preventative medication can be given. We suggest you discuss the need for this with Vetfriends.
What can be done about fleas?
Fleas are not only an irritation to your kitten or cat but can become a nuisance to the whole family. Despite some parents best attempts, they can never get their cat free of a flea problem. This problem usually stems from not understanding the life cycle of the fl ea. So here’s the story…
Treating only the cat for fleas, using shampoos, flea collars and powders, is only ‘scratching’ the surface of the problem. Adult fleas only spend a relatively short time on your cat, the other time is spent breeding in the cat’s environment i.e. garden, basket and your house! To effectively control the fl ea population and thus reduce your cat’s fl ea problem, the life cycle of the flea must be broken. There are many products available to control fleas, some aimed at the fl eas on the cat and others aimed at the fleas in the environment. It is a combination of these that should be used to provide the best results. Vetfriends is more than happy to discuss fl ea control with you and devise an effective plan for your specific situation.
How do I look after my cat’s teeth?
Dental care is just as important for your kitten and cat as it is for you. We recommend your cat gets an annual dental check up each year. The teeth actually tell us a lot about a cats general state of health. The most common cause of dental disease in cats is due to tartar accumulation. As in humans, cats accumulate plaque on the surface of their teeth, which if not removed quickly form tartar. It is easily identifi ed by its light or dark brown colour. The accumulation of tartar on the teeth will, sooner or later, lead to infection and gingivitis (infl ammation of the gums). Once dental disease starts, the degenerative changes cannot be reversed. If left untreated it can lead to more serious problems. When soft foods form the basis of your cat’s diet, it is advisable to do the following:
a) Supplement the diet with raw bones together with attached meaty bits like chicken necks and wings.
b) Replace part of the diet by large biscuits of appropriate size, shape and texture to encourage chewing.
c) Do some additional home dental care such as daily rubbing
or brushing of teeth and gums. There are now a large range of dental pastes and sprays designed specifi cally for cats. For those willing patients, fi nger brushes can be used for the pastes. It is recommended to clean your cat’s teeth twice weekly.
d) If cleaning is impossible, then a dry food called feline T/d (teeth diet) is an excellent alternative. These pieces of dry food are larger and more fibrous than regular cat foods, and, like chicken necks and wings, encourage your cat to chew extensively. Furthermore, T/d is a completely balanced cat food. Cooked bones should never be given to your cat. When cooked, the bone becomes brittle, sharp and ‘splintery’ and is capable of causing injury to the cat’s mouth and stomach. Cats are basically creatures of habit who tend to be fussy eaters. It is important that kittens are trained to eat a variety of foods so stubborn habits do not develop later in life. There are a number of signs which should alert you to the possibility of dental disease being present. Your cat may show less interest in food and be reluctant to eat. They may chew with obvious caution. In some cases the cat may be seen pawing at their mouth or head shaking. The other worrying sign is a bad odour from your cats mouth. If you can see that your cat has evidence of dental disease or mouth discomfort then you should take it to Vetfriends for a check-up. You will be advised of the most appropriate course of treatment.
Can I trim my cat’s sharp claws?
Cats have very sharp claws. Through climbing and scratching (hopefully not your furniture) they keep those claws at a good length but even sharper. You may want to get your cat a scratching post to help things along. If they are missing out on this action then the claws will grow too long. Claws can be trimmed with clippers made for cats. Vetfriends would be happy to show you how to use them. just pop in and we’ll show you.
Does my cat need to get microchipped?
A microchip provides your kitten with a unique identification number. That way if your cat goes ‘walkabout’ we can scan the number and have your cat safely reunited with the family. It’s about the size of a grain of rice and is inserted in between your kitten’s shoulders in a very quick procedure. All kittens must be microchipped by 12 weeks of age. It’s the law.
What should I feed my kitten?
A growing kitten has different requirements for nutrients than a fully grown cat. Not to mention you. Remember that before you assume your cat will appreciate your leftovers. There are two important criteria that should be met in selecting food for your kitten-
1. The diet should be nutritionally adequate for kittens.
2. The diet should have physical qualities (texture and abrasiveness) that will help control tartar and maintain healthy teeth and gums. Commercial ‘kitten’ foods are ideal as they are nutritionally correct for your growing kitten’s specific needs. However, these diets should be supplemented by raw bones given 3 to 4 times weekly e.g. chicken wings. Your local butcheris usually happy to help. Commercial petfood can be dry, canned, or semi-moist. Each has advantages and disadvantages. Dry food is defi nitely the most inexpensive as unlike canned foods they contain far less water. The good brands of dry food are just as nutritious as other foods. However the absence of water in dry food will cause your kitten to drink more. Diets consisting largely of soft foods may be physically inadequate and lead to the development of dental disease even if nutritionally complete. If you choose to give your kitten table food, be sure that at least 90% of its diet is good quality commercial kitten food.
Should I get my cat ‘desexed’?
Unless you want to breed sensibly, and you are prepared to find good homes for all the kittens, desexing your kitten is responsible pet ownership. We are all aware of the problem of unwanted kittens being dumped and mistreated. Desexing your kitten will not only reduce this problem, but also other behavioural problems such as fi ghting and straying. Not to mention managing cats that are eager to get acquainted! Research has shown that desexing your cat can significantly reduce the likelihood of several diseases that may otherwise occur later in your cat’s life. Male cats that are desexed i.e. ‘castrated’, cannot get testicular cancer. ‘Speying’ female cats reduces the chance of mammary gland cancer and they can no longer suffer from pyometra i.e. infected uterus. It is recommended that desexing is done at six months of age, when the cat is grown but not yet sexually mature.
How to I get my kitten to go to the 'bathroom’ in the right place?
For the first few days at their new home your kitten should be confined to a small room. This quiet space will be very much appreciated by your new member of the family. Include a kitty litter tray as part of the room. Cats like their privacy when it comes to bathroom matters. Think of it as an ensuite for your cat. Make sure the tray is always full of kitty litter and that you clean it as soon as it has been used. And before you know it kitty will reliably do his or her ‘business’ in their usual place. Once things are going smoothly your kitten will be ready to explore the rest of the house and what else their new world has on offer.
Should I always keep my kitten indoors?
There are some real advantages to keeping your cat indoors. This includes decreasing the chances of accidents and getting sick. And with that your kitten can be assured a longer and healthier life. Outdoor cats also tend to attack wildlife that inhabits their surrounds. While instinctive, it’s not ideal for the environment. Cats are usually very content with a view of the outside world without having to
venture into it. The window ledge can be a very popular spot while some cats enjoy enclosed outdoor areas withn garden views. If you have more than one pet and there’s some tension between these family members you may want to allocate a room specifi cally for the cat. It will become their oasis and source of sanctuary. A small ‘cubby’ in the form of a cardboard box with an old sweater inside can make your little kitten feel very at home. A lofty position with a view is a favourite.
