Congratulations on the new addition to your family! This sheet is a guide to how best to look after your new kitten.

Settling in
Experiencing a new home can be daunting for a little kitten, especially as they may be leaving their mother and siblings for the first time. Some kittens are confident while others can be shy. With this in mind, consider choosing a room where she can be kept initially to allow her to adjust gradually to her new surroundings. This confinement also aids toilet training and reduces the risk of accidents elsewhere. Make sure the windows are closed.

Position the litter tray in a discreet corner of the room with the food bowl at the opposite end and water bowl away from both the litter tray and food. We would recommend this for all cats as their ancestors would not eat or toilet near a water source and they still show this preference.

Cats like warm fleecy things to sleep on; consider placing these in a cardboard box turned on its side or an igloo type bed so your pet has somewhere to hide if they feel a little shy.

Toys: consider a scratching post although bear in mind that this will need to be quite tall when the cat is fully grown. Have a few toys available for playtime but don’t leave out toys with string attached – although these can be great fun under supervision.

Allow your new pet to come out of her pet carrier of her own accord and give her time to investigate her new surroundings quietly. Kittens will play vigorously but also need their sleep – interactions (handling and playing) should take place when the kitten initiates it but spending time with her will help her get used to you.

Feeding
Kittens have tiny stomachs so will need small meals several times of day. Try to introduce new foods very gradually. We recommend feeding a properly formulated cat food as cats have very specific nutritional needs; food marked as ‘complete’ contains everything a kitten needs to stay healthy. Dry food can be provided on an ‘ad lib’ basis – we stock Hills Vet Essentials and have a voucher scheme offering significant discounts. Fresh drinking water should be available at all times. Milk is not necessary and may cause diarrhoea.

Toilet training
Cats are very fussy about their toileting habits and kittens will usually have learnt to use a litter tray by copying their mother. Place the litter tray away from water and food bowls in a quiet corner and make sure the litter is of sufficient depth to dig in. You may need to show your kitten where the litter tray is and place her on the tray on waking up from sleep and after meals or when the kitten is sniffing, scratching or beginning to crouch.

Vaccinations
Kittens can start their vaccinations at 8 weeks of age but our nurses offer a free check-up if you would like to bring in your pet for weighing, worming and feeding advice. The second vaccination is 3-4 weeks later (and your kitten must be 12 weeks of age or older for this second one) We would advise that your kitten stays indoors until they are neutering which we offer from 4 months of age. This protects them against Leukaemia, two types of cat flu and panleukopenia.

Neutering and microchipping
Spaying (females) and castration (males) can be performed from 4 months of age. This is so there is no risk of unwanted pregnancies in females (females can get pregnant from as early as 4 months old if born early in the season) and reduces the occurrence of male cats wandering or urine spraying. They will need to stay indoors for 10 days after the procedure but then can start to explore the world outdoors if you choose. We offer microchipping at any time but frequently implant these when the cats are anaesthetised for neutering and prior to going outdoors. It is now a legal requirement that all cats (except for ferals and farm cats) are microchipped before the age of 20 weeks. This fits nicely with neutering at 4-5 months old. Microchips are very small devices implanted under the skin and provide a permanent means of identification and means of contacting you should your pet get lost or be found injured. Cat flaps are available which can detect your cat’s microchip stopping unwanted visitors.

Insurance
We recommend getting your pet insured. Insurance for cats is generally very reasonable and can be a saviour if your cat is involved in an accident or fight and for diseases which are common in more elderly cats. Do look for a policy that provides cover for life rather than placing exclusions after 12 months treatment. We are partnered with Agria to offer 5 weeks free insurance after a vet check so please do ask us about this.

Worming and parasites
Intestinal worms can cause weight loss and diarrhoea which can sometimes be severe. They can also be involved in transmission of fleas and can be hazardous to human health. We recommend worming monthly with a spot-on product. For cats that go outdoors they will also need a regular tapeworm treatment.

Hidden Dangers
Cats are fussier eaters than dogs but are fastidious at cleaning themselves so can also ingest toxic substances through this route. There is an excellent section on poisons and advice on icatcare.org for more information. Lillies, paracetamol and anti-freeze are especially harmful, so be especially careful where you store these.

Handling and Entertainment
It is a good idea to accustom your kitten to being groomed from a young age, particularly if she has a long coat. Try to do some gentle grooming daily. Kittens are very playful so give them an assortment of toys to chase or sink their teeth into.  These need not be expensive – every kitten likes a cardboard box. Provide your kitten with a scratching post.

 

<— Back to Kitten Pack

Congratulations on the new addition to your family! This sheet is a guide to how best to look after your new kitten.

Settling in
Experiencing a new home can be daunting for a little kitten, especially as they may be leaving their mother and siblings for the first time. Some kittens are confident while others can be shy. With this in mind, consider choosing a room where she can be kept initially to allow her to adjust gradually to her new surroundings. This confinement also aids toilet training and reduces the risk of accidents elsewhere. Make sure the windows are closed.

Position the litter tray in a discreet corner of the room with the food bowl at the opposite end and water bowl away from both the litter tray and food. We would recommend this for all cats as their ancestors would not eat or toilet near a water source and they still show this preference.

Cats like warm fleecy things to sleep on; consider placing these in a cardboard box turned on its side or an igloo type bed so your pet has somewhere to hide if they feel a little shy.

Toys: consider a scratching post although bear in mind that this will need to be quite tall when the cat is fully grown. Have a few toys available for playtime but don’t leave out toys with string attached – although these can be great fun under supervision.

Allow your new pet to come out of her pet carrier of her own accord and give her time to investigate her new surroundings quietly. Kittens will play vigorously but also need their sleep – interactions (handling and playing) should take place when the kitten initiates it but spending time with her will help her get used to you.

Feeding
Kittens have tiny stomachs so will need small meals several times of day. Try to introduce new foods very gradually. We recommend feeding a properly formulated cat food as cats have very specific nutritional needs; food marked as ‘complete’ contains everything a kitten needs to stay healthy. Dry food can be provided on an ‘ad lib’ basis – we stock Hills Vet Essentials and have a voucher scheme offering significant discounts. Fresh drinking water should be available at all times. Milk is not necessary and may cause diarrhoea.

Toilet training
Cats are very fussy about their toileting habits and kittens will usually have learnt to use a litter tray by copying their mother. Place the litter tray away from water and food bowls in a quiet corner and make sure the litter is of sufficient depth to dig in. You may need to show your kitten where the litter tray is and place her on the tray on waking up from sleep and after meals or when the kitten is sniffing, scratching or beginning to crouch.

Vaccinations
Kittens can start their vaccinations at 8 weeks of age but our nurses offer a free check-up if you would like to bring in your pet for weighing, worming and feeding advice. The second vaccination is 3-4 weeks later (and your kitten must be 12 weeks of age or older for this second one) We would advise that your kitten stays indoors until they are neutering which we offer from 4 months of age. This protects them against Leukaemia, two types of cat flu and panleukopenia.

Neutering and microchipping
Spaying (females) and castration (males) can be performed from 4 months of age. This is so there is no risk of unwanted pregnancies in females (females can get pregnant from as early as 4 months old if born early in the season) and reduces the occurrence of male cats wandering or urine spraying. They will need to stay indoors for 10 days after the procedure but then can start to explore the world outdoors if you choose. We offer microchipping at any time but frequently implant these when the cats are anaesthetised for neutering and prior to going outdoors. It is now a legal requirement that all cats (except for ferals and farm cats) are microchipped before the age of 20 weeks. This fits nicely with neutering at 4-5 months old. Microchips are very small devices implanted under the skin and provide a permanent means of identification and means of contacting you should your pet get lost or be found injured. Cat flaps are available which can detect your cat’s microchip stopping unwanted visitors.

Insurance
We recommend getting your pet insured. Insurance for cats is generally very reasonable and can be a saviour if your cat is involved in an accident or fight and for diseases which are common in more elderly cats. Do look for a policy that provides cover for life rather than placing exclusions after 12 months treatment. We are partnered with Agria to offer 5 weeks free insurance after a vet check so please do ask us about this.

Worming and parasites
Intestinal worms can cause weight loss and diarrhoea which can sometimes be severe. They can also be involved in transmission of fleas and can be hazardous to human health. We recommend worming monthly with a spot-on product. For cats that go outdoors they will also need a regular tapeworm treatment.

Hidden Dangers
Cats are fussier eaters than dogs but are fastidious at cleaning themselves so can also ingest toxic substances through this route. There is an excellent section on poisons and advice on icatcare.org for more information. Lillies, paracetamol and anti-freeze are especially harmful, so be especially careful where you store these.

Handling and Entertainment
It is a good idea to accustom your kitten to being groomed from a young age, particularly if she has a long coat. Try to do some gentle grooming daily. Kittens are very playful so give them an assortment of toys to chase or sink their teeth into.  These need not be expensive – every kitten likes a cardboard box. Provide your kitten with a scratching post.

 

<— Back to Kitten Pack