Your Kitten

A BSAVA booklet in aid of Petsavers

Owning a kitten brings its own special rewards and responsibilities. Your local veterinary practice is your best ally in keeping your kitten or cat healthy. The team of vets and nurses have plenty of knowledge and experience and will be happy to offer you advice.

Settling in
For the rst few days keep your kitten in one room with her carrier (to retreat into), her bed, food bowls, litter tray and toys. Cats thrive on routine so feed her at the same time and in the same place each day. Gradually introduce her to other rooms, after kitten proong them. Always supervise her when she is exploring, and if she is in danger of getting into mischief distract her by calling her or offering a toy.

A sturdy carrie r Kitten food Food and wat er bowls A litter tray an d litter A few simple toys (they can be home-made) A cat comb an d soft brush A scratching post

Your kitten need s:

Bedtime

ace, to quiet resting pl Kittens need a buy sleep. You can retreat to and to d box small cardboar cat beds, but a anket, el, or piece of bl and an old tow t be atives. But don are cosy altern her your kitten has disappointed if p. t where to slee own ideas abou active and need Kittens are very to ont wake her up plenty of rest. D n she is you know whe play shell let ready for action.

Socialisation
A young kitten is a fast and eager learner, particularly in the rst weeks and months of life. This is the time when you should try to expose her to a wide variety of new experiences new sights, sounds, smells and people. This will help ensure that she grows up feeling condent and secure. Before you introduce your kitten to everyday sights and sounds around the house, like the radio, television, washing machine and vacuum cleaner, make sure that she has a bolt hole to escape to if she gets frightened. Introduce your kitten to all kinds of different people for example, children, men, women, people with glasses and with beards. Let the kitten approach the new person in her own time as her condence grows. Also let her meet other pets, but again make the introductions slowly, and never force the issue. Dont leave your kitten alone with another pet unless you are certain that the fur wont y the moment your back is turned.

Basic training
Your kitten needs to learn the house rules for example that climbing the curtains, sharpening claws on the sofa, stealing food, and frightening the budgie, are not allowed. If she gets into mischief, a sharp No or a clap of the hands should be enough to distract her. Never smack a kitten - she wont understand. Once you have made a rule, be consistent. Ensure that all of the family follow the same rules, to avoid confusing your kitten.

Feeding your kitten

Growing kittens have specic nutritional requirements, and the simplest way to full them is to buy a good quality complete diet from a reputable manufacturer. For the rst few days after your kitten comes home, continue to feed the food shes used to, to help prevent tummy upsets. Then you can gradually introduce a new food. Moist or dry? Its up to you. However dried foods are more convenient to feed and help to keep your cats teeth free from a build up of tartar which can quickly lead to dental decay.

Never feed your kit ten or cat on dog food or a vege tarian diet. Cats need more pr otein than dogs, and also taur ine, which is found only in meat. Cats that do not get enough taur ine run the risk of developing serious eye and heart problem s. Remember that a good quality complete dry diet does contain pl enty of meat, as well as everythi ng else that your kitten needs to stay healthy.

Meat is a must

Treat time
Only give your kitten hea lthy cat treats, and keep edible treats to a mi nimum instead reward your kitten with pra ise and cuddles.

Water

ater bowl of fresh w Always have a wl. This is ns food bo ing next to your kitte t if you are feed icularly importan part a dry diet. or kitten cows milk Dont give your ose (a kind contain lact cream, as they st cats cannot dige of sugar) which arrhoea. If n cause di properly, and ca er of eat her to a sauc you want to tr cat milk. y special milk, you can bu

Scratching for fun

Cats scratch to mark their territory and to shed loose claw coverings. If you give you r kitten a scratching post it should help to dive rt her away from the furniture.

Litter training
By the time you bring your kitten rhome she will almost certainly be litte t you will probably trained. The mos need to do is stand her in the litter tray , and gently stroke the litter with her paw the rest. and she will do Remember to keep her litter tray in the same location, in a quiet place well away from her water and food bowls. Start with the kind of litter your kitten is used to. You can swap to a different e kind later by gradually mixing in mor r at each change. Cats of the new litte are very fastidious, so keep the litter , tray clean and if accidents do happen kitten, as she wont dont scold the understand what shes done wrong.

Exercise and play

Play is the key to kitten learning and also provides exercise. When kittens are with their mother and siblings, boisterous play develops their physical and mental abilities, strengthens their muscles and increases their social skills. Now that the kitten lives with you, make time to play so that she can continue to develop her cat skills like stalking and pouncing. Toys should be small and light enough to bat and carry around in her mouth but not small enough to be swallowed. Pieces of rolled up paper or a table tennis ball are ideal and a large cardboard box, with several holes cut in the sides, makes a great place for kitten hide and seek. Check toys regularly and discard any that become damaged.

Safe toys

Dont buy toys with: sharp or rough edges small parts that could break off and be swallowed. Toys on strings should be kept for supervised playtime.

Grooming
Start grooming your kitten when she is young and shell love the attention. Grooming removes dead hairs and stimulates the circulation. It also gives you an opportunity to check for eas and to see that your kittens eyes and ears are clean and her claws are not overgrown. Short-haired kittens only need grooming once or twice a week, but long-haired breeds need at least 15 minutes every day. Until your kitten is used to being groomed, keep sessions short, and stand her on a folded towel, to help her feel secure while you brush her. Youll need: A soft bristle brush A ne-toothed cat comb (for shorthairs) A wide-toothed cat comb (for longhairs) A rubber brush (optional)

Hairballs
When cats groom thems elves they swallow loose hairs which can form hairballs in their sto mach or intestines. These are uncom fortable and have to be coughed up or passed in the litter tray. Regular grooming removes loose hair and hel ps prevent hairballs forming.

Claws

r nerally keep thei Outdoor cats ge ergrown by ming ov nails from beco nce posts, on trees and fe scratching come claws may be but indoor cats Your need clipping. overgrown and u, or will do it for yo vet or vet nurse show you how.

Fleas and other external parasites

Any kitten or cat can pick up eas, but your vet can advise you on safe and effective products to treat your pet and your home (to kill eggs and larvae in her bedding, the carpets and soft furnishings). Fleas make your kitten uncomfortable, can spread disease and cause allergies. Severe infestations can cause anaemia, particularly in very young kittens. If untreated, parasites can lead to skin infections, so if you spot them, or if your pet is itching or has a rash, ask your vet.

Other external parasites

Lice pale brown and resemble eas but are much smaller. They cause itching and irritation. Mites can cause intense irritation and itching but are often invisible to the naked eye. Examination of a sample with a microscope may be needed for diagnosis. Mange mites burrow into the skin. Cheyletiella mites (walking dandruf f) dont burrow into the skin. Ear mites cause irritation deep inside the ear. Dark brown wax can produce an unpleasant smell if the ear becomes infected. Harvest mites small orange mite s which tend to attach themselves in the folds of the ear or between the toes. Seen in late Summer. Cause some irritation. Ticks round, and can swell to the size of a pea. Usually picked up by outdoor cats. Never try to remove a tick without being shown how to do this rst ask your vet for advice.

Finding eas
Comb your kitten over a piece of white paper. Dab any dar k specks falling onto the paper dab with a piece of dampened kitchen pap er towel. If they turn reddish brown, they are ea droppings, which contain dried blood.

ly Many people choose to app atment to their regular anti-ea tre to prevent cats (e.g. once a month), iting until there eas rather than wa blem to x is an unpleasant ea pro in their home.

Internal parasites (worms)

Kittens and cats can pick up worms, particularly if they catch and eat prey. Your kitten may have worms when you get her but your vet can provide treatment. Even if you dont see any evidence of worms you should discuss a preventive worming programme with your vet as soon as you get your kitten. Some worms can be passed to humans, especially young children. The main types of worms are: Roundworms look like tiny strands of ne spaghetti. They can be passed to the kitten in her mothers milk, so kittens should be wormed from three weeks old. Tapeworms made up of rice grainlike segments forming chains up to 50cm long. One kind of tapeworm can be picked up if eas are swallowed and another if cats eat prey. Lungworms can be picked up from small prey such as slugs, snails, mice or frogs. Some cats are symptomless; others may have a dry cough.

What to look out for:

Vomiting or di arrhoea (which may co ntain worms) Tapeworm se gments around the cats bottom Swollen tum my Weight loss Coughing (in the case of lungworms)

them ms even if you cannot see any sign of Remember that your cat can have wor ntial. Your local veterinary tment is esse in her faeces. Regular preventive trea programme to follow to advise you on the safest worming practice will be able

Dental care
A kittens baby teeth come through when shes about three to four weeks old and her adult teeth start to erupt at around four months. Being a carnivore without a good set of teeth isnt much fun, so you need to pay attention to your cats teeth throughout her life. Cats are particularly prone to dental decay, often occurring where the tooth meets the gum, so start inspecting her teeth regularly so that you will see when its time for a trip to the vet. Look for teeth that are dark, loose or chipped and check that the gums are not bleeding, puffy or discoloured. If your cat has difculty eating she may have a tooth or gum problem, so make an appointment with the vet, who can check whether she needs a scale and polish, or any other treatment.

Vaccinations
There are vaccinations that will protect your kitten from a number of serious and highly infectious diseases. Vaccinations prime the cats immune system so that if she comes into contact with the disease later, her body is better able to ght back.

roam where Dont allow your kitten to t have been other cats (who may no n until she vaccinated) may have bee rst vaccination has completed her programme.
All kittens and cats should be vaccinated against: Feline Inuenza (cat u) Feline Infectious Enteritis (FIE/panleucopenia) Feline Leukaemia Virus A vaccine against Chlamydia is also sometimes recommended. These vaccinations are generally given at approximately nine weeks with a follow-up dose three weeks later. Thereafter booster vaccinations are usually recommended every year, to keep protection up to date. Having your cat vaccinated each year also means that your vet can give your cat a thorough health check to spot any possible problems early.

Tooth cleaning

te, its worth If your kitten will co-opera regime at home starting a tooth cleaning and help to dislodge food particles on the teeth. prevent a build up of tartar decay and gum Tartar can lead to dental disease. mulated cat Always use a specially for es with toothpaste, which often com over your a small toothbrush you slip toothpastes as nger. Never use human m, and cats these are designed to foa to clean your cant rinse and spit. Try a week to kittens teeth several times nimum. help keep plaque to a mi

Dried cat foods help to kee p your cats teeth clean. There are spe cial dried foods available that are particu larly good at cleaning tartar off the tee th. Ask your vet which diet would most sui t your kitten.

Neutering
Unless you plan to breed from your cat, and can nd good homes for all the kittens, then neutering is the responsible thing to do. The male operation (castration) is very straightforward and usually doesnt require stitches. The female operation (spaying or hysterectomy) is a more complicated procedure, when the ovaries and womb are removed through a small incision in the cats side or belly. Shell need stitches and will take longer to recover. She may need to wear an Elizabethan collar if she starts picking or nibbling at her stitches. Both operations are carried out under a general anaesthetic. Kittens and cats are generally neutered at any time from around ve to six months onwards, although some veterinary practices may operate early neutering programmes.

Advantages of neutering
Prevents unwanted litt ers Reduces territorial beh aviour, such as urine marking Reduces the strong od our of urine in unneutered cats Reduces roaming in sea rch of mates Reduces ghting betwe en tom cats, and therefore the risk of FeLV and FIV, serious viruses which can be spread by scratching and biting Prevents womb infection in female cats Prevents testicular can cer in male cats Prevents the drain on the female cats body caused by rep eatedly coming into heat and pre gnancy

Microchips
If your kitten or cat goes outside and even indoor cats can escape she should have some form of identication. If your kitten can be identied she is much more likely to be returned to you if she gets lost. A microchip is a reliable and permanent form of ID. A tiny electronic device the size of a grain of rice it is injected under the loose skin at the back of the neck. The unique numbered chip is entered into a central computer database with your name, address and contact telephone number. If your pet is found, its chip can be read with a hand-held scanner, and checked against the database. Ask your veterinary practice for details of microchipping it is a very simple and inexpensive procedure. Remember if you move house you will need to inform the microchipping database. You can also use a collar and engraved metal identity disk, or barrel containing a piece of paper with your name and address, so your kitten can be identied. Be sure to buy a collar with a quick release catch so that your cat can escape if she becomes snagged or caught.

Pet insurance
Taking out pet insurance will give you peace of mind so that you wont need to worry about vets bills if your cat is ill or injured. Ask your vet for advice, and shop around, as policies vary greatly. Generally, if you pay higher premiums you get a higher level of cover. Watch out for exclusions. If your cat already suffers from a condition when you take out insurance you may nd that this condition (and related conditions) will not be covered. If your cat develops a long-term health condition, e.g. kidney problems, you will nd that some insurance companies will pay for the rst year, but in the future you may not be able to claim for that condition, while other companies will continue paying (up to a maximum amount each year).

Discounts
Some insuranc e companies of fer discounts if: You insure tw o or more pets for them You pay an an nual rather than monthly premiu ms You agree to pay a proportio n of each vets bill Your kitten is non pedigree You live in ce rtain postcode areas

cinations, Routine teeth cleaning, vac trol, and neutering, ea and worm con nce, so you are not covered by insura et for these. will need to budg

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Petsavers is dedicated to improving the health of the nations pets. We do this by funding clinical studies and clinical training programmes.

Petsavers clinical studies give us a better understanding of pets illnesses. This

leads to improved diagnosis and treatment so that pets can have longer and healthier lives.

Petsavers training programmes develop the skills of vets so that they can

apply the results of the clinical studies and their expertise to pets as soon as possible. These vets are referred to as Petsavers Scholars.

No experimental animals are used in Petsavers studies. In the last 30 years Petsavers has given over 1.7 million towards these goals. Over this time the need for this funding has become even greater as other sources have dried up. We rely on the support of vets, nurses and pet owners. By helping Petsavers, you can make sure that our knowledge of small animal medicine and surgery is improved. Find out how by going to our How you help page which you will find on our website: www.petsavers.org.uk