Caring for your Kitten

Kitten Shopping List

• Bed
• Litter Tray
• Cat Litter
• Food and water dishes
• Cat food
• Scratching post
• Comb and brush
• Toys

First Steps

When you collect your kitten for the first time, there are a number of items you will need to purchase in order to care for the kitten properly. Below is a list of items you should buy before you bring your kitten home.

Cat Bed

Your kitten's bed can either be a box or basket with a blanket for him to snuggle into. Keep his bed away from draughts and in a warm area, preferably in a quiet place in the house, for example, a quiet corner in the kitchen. Do not be surprised, however, if he does not like your chosen area and picks one for himself!

Your kitten will need a bed so he/she has their own space to sleep and a comforting area just for them (however, be prepared that your kitten will probably find his/her ow n spot or want to sleep on your bed!). It is a good idea to place the bed in a room with a door away from draughts so the kitten gets used to a small space before being let loose in the whole house. The bed should be big enough to allow your kitten room to grow and cosy so they feel comfortable in your home.

Food and water dishes/Cat food

The dishes for food an d wate r should be fairly heavy to keep them from tipping over. Remember to change the water daily. Kittens do not need milk and, in fact, some kittens can be very ill if given any. This is because milk from a cow is made up differently to that of his mother's milk.

The kitten will need these immediately in case he/she is thirst y or hungry on arrival. The dishes should be quite heavy so the kitten doesn't end up pushing them around and so they don't tip over! The water will need changing eve ry day and the kitten will need to be fed small amounts about 4 times per day. Once the kitten reaches 6 months this can be changed to larger portions twice a day. The breeder should have given you information about th e kittens diet requirements and the types of foods they are used to.

Litter Tray & Cat Litter

The litter tray is made of plastic with a raised rim and should be placed where the kitten will have access to it at all times. The cat litter will reduce the smell and clumps together with the piddles and poos which makes it easier to clean out.

By the time you get your kitten, there is every chance that he will be litter trained by his mother and so the most you will have to do is clean it out every day, replace the litter and wash the tray out thoroughly at least once a week. If the tray is not kept clean, your kitten, being a clea

n animal, will stop using it and you will have no-one to blame but yourself! However, if your kitten has not learned to use a litter tray, it is not too difficult to teach him as long as you have the time and patience to do so. Put him in his tray regularly especially after eating, when he wakens up and after playing and he will soon catch on to the idea.

Hopefully your kitten will have already been litter trained by the breeder, if so, it will be a case of emptying the litter into the tray, leaving it in a certain area of your house (usually the

kitchen) and guiding the kitten to the tray until they get the idea! If your kitten has not beenlitter trained this may be a little more difficult and you will have to be patient and persistent

while your kitty learns. The tray will need emptying regularly, some people place a litter tray bag inside the tray before tipping in the litter to make this easier.

Scratching post

Introduce the scratching post in the early days so that your kitten gets used to it and hopefully it will stop him from attacking the furniture and carpets. Make sure it is at the right height: he should be able to use it standing on his hind legs, at full stretch.

Kitten claws grow quickly and need to be worn down. Scratching posts are ideal for this and are available at most larger pet s tores. If you do not get your kitten something to scratch their claws on they could catch the m on curtains or furniture and hurt themselves. Also the scratches on you will be much worse!

Comb and brush

Combing your kittens' fur is particularly important if he/she is a long hair breed such as Persian. Regular grooming is important to prevent the fur from becom ing tangled and to make sure your kitty looks g reat! Some cats do not require constant grooming, it all depends on the type of fur they have. It is best to keep a comb or brush handy in case the kitten gets something stuck in its fur or rolls in something! Regular stroking will help remove dirt and dead hair.

Toys

Kittens love to play so it is important that you get him some toys.

Kittens need toys to stimulate their minds and help keep them active throughout the day. There are loads of different varieties available; balls, bells, mice or string, remember cats love to chase thing so anything that involves them running or looking for something is good. You can even make your own toys, one of the best I know of is to tie a piece of paper to the end of some string and run around letting the kitten chase after it - trust me they'll love it!

Vaccinations

If you have got a pedigree kitten they have to be vaccinated before you can get them home. If, however he is a non-pedigree, you should have him vaccinated, at least, against cat flu and feline enteritis. These are even more important if you are letting him outside. Boosters need to be given every year thereafter. And you have bought him/her from a trusted breeder, the kitten should have already been vaccinated. If you are unsure ask the breeder for the vaccination records. Kittens are vaccinated against flu, Enteritis and Leukaemia virus, vaccinations should be repeated at 9 and 11 weeks then annually. If your kitten is non-pedigree you may have to arrange the initial vaccinations with a vet yourself, your kitten should not be let outside until he/she had had the vaccinations. Aks your vet about worming as well, they will be able to recommend the best products for your kitten.

Exercise

It is important that your kitten gets lots of exercise in order to stay fit and healthy and to stimulate their curious minds. If you have decided your cat can go outside they will love hunting and exploring in a garden and this will give them plenty of exercise. If your kitten will be a house cat you need to play lots of games with them so they get as much exercise as possible. You may also want to consider tagging or microchipping (an injection with a unique identifier therefore no need for a collar) in case your kitty goes astray.