Planning to adopt a kitten is always exciting. Imagine all the fun you may have with the kitten! Trying to raise a kitten, however, isn't all fun and games.
The task is to raise your kitten into a well-trained pet. You need to improve their social skills, and provide them with the right amount of care, attention, and nutrition.
Whether you have a fresh litter of kittens at home or have rescued or adopted one, here are some tips to keep in mind. Read on to learn more about these tips.
Adopt a Kitten with Their Mother (If Possible)
Some rescue houses let you adopt the kitten and their mother. When you have a mother cat by your side, things are simpler. In this situation, keeping your kitten healthy and helping the mother feed them the right nutritious foods is the only thing you need to do.
Do Not Adopt Too Early
As mentioned, kittens should stay with their mother at under eight weeks of age. Since these young kittens are unable to control their temperatures, they rely on the body heat of one another to survive.
Moreover, vision and leg coordination are still being established. Extra precautions must be taken if you adopt or foster an abandoned kitten in this age group, including bottle-feeding the kitten every two hours up to four weeks of age and potentially helping your kitten pee and poop.
Caring and Feeding Your Kitten Appropriately
At 8 to 11 weeks of age, kittens are usually weaned for eight weeks and should eat a kitten diet that needs to be energy-dense, highly digestible, and highly protein-rich. Make sure it is formulated for kittens, whether you choose dry kibble or wet food.
At 2 to 4 months of age, this is a period of rapid growth in which they will have about three times more the energy of an adult cat. During this time, they'll need three or four individual meals a day. Those meals should be at least 30 percent high-quality protein.
At 4 to 6 months of age, kittens are approaching puberty. Before your kitten reaches this level, speak to a veterinarian about getting your kitten spayed or neutered to prevent undesirable behaviors, such as territorial spraying.
Potty Train Your Kitten
Introducing the litter box to your kitten can be easy. You may find your kitten sniffing around the ground. When this happens, lead your kitten to the litter box. You can also bring your kitty in there after meals, and praise them when they use the litter box.
Make changes if your kitten is not getting used to the litter box. To make it easier for them to reach, transfer it to somewhere more private, or lower the box's sides.
In maintaining your kitten's litter box, make sure to buy a clumping litter sand, clean and empty the tray regularly, and when cleaning the litter box, don't use disinfectants or bleach. Only use ample hot water and detergent.
Interact with Your Kitten While They Are Still Young
Studies have shown that when they become adults, kittens who encounter humans at an early age feel relaxed engaging with them.
During their first months, introduce them to your household by settling them to where you usually hang out every day, this will encourage them to open up to humans.
Let Your Kitten Have Her Own Time and Space to Explore
Kittens, at first, appear to be nervous about the human touch. However, if you want them to be comfortable with you, you need to give them enough time and space to figure it out for themselves.
You can try stroking them occasionally, but don't overdo the snuggling and petting. Let them come to you.
Set Vet Visits Frequently
It is not only for cases where your kitten gets ill or has an injury to go to the vet. In reality, vet visits will help you ensure that your kitten is given the right diet and treatment and that early signs of medical problems are prevented.
Kitten-Proof Your Home
Keep anything that could injure your kitten away from them. Electrical cords, yarn, dangerous plants, and chemicals such as soap and bleach are examples of this.
Conclusion
Just be yourself and take extra effort to do your research if you're unsure if you're doing the right thing. Ask friends, relatives, and other pet owners, they certainly have a wealth of knowledge to share with you!