Getting a new kitten can be a daunting experience, but we hope these little tips will help you decide what is best when you are looking after your kitten.

Feeding

Make sure you know what your kitten has been eating they started taking their first bites. The last thing you want to happen is a change in diet upsetting them, you might not think it but they can often be very stressed after moving into a brand new house, this combined with a brand new diet can upset their poor little stomachs. If you would like to change their food make sure you do it gradually by mixing their old food with the new one.
A lot of pet food companies sell specific foods for kittens as they do need different nutrients, this is really important and you should only swap to the adult food when you know they are fully grown. Do not give your kitten milk as this will also upset their stomach.

Making Freinds

Just like with human beings, making your kitten interact with people will hopefully ensure that they grow up to be happy, sociable and friendly. Exposing them to things in their first two months of life is thought to be the best time to do this just so they know what to expect in life when they grow up. If they don’t get exposed to things in this period they may be scared of it when they do finally encounter it.
Things, like stroking and cuddling your cat, should be done now as they aren’t things they naturally take to, but will definitely encounter a lot in their life.

Grooming

If your kitten has long hair then it is important to get them used to being groomed, but even short hair cats need to be groomed. Although you don’t need to bathe your kitten that often, brushing their fur will ensure they don’t get tangles in their beautiful fur.

Health

Kittens need vaccinations which will protect them from fatal diseases. They also need to be treated for roundworms at the age of about four to six weeks and then after that should be treated for both roundworms and tapeworms every two to six months. You will also need to keep an eye out for fleas on your kitten, routine treatments are available as prevention is better than cure. Go to your vet to sort all of this out.

Toilet Training

Cats are very hygienic animals and, with the right encouragement, can easily be housetrained. They will often emulate their mothers when they use the litter tray but you will also need to give them a little bit of help. Make sure the tray is in a place with no distractions and it smells familiar. Your kitten should get the hang of it all pretty soon but don’t move the litter tray until they are confidently using the garden.
We hope these little tips will make the amazing job of raising a kitten just a little bit easier. Remember to value and enjoy every second you have with the adorable felines.