Whether you’ve been scrolling through social media cooing over the most famous cats of the internet or simply wish to have a furry little friend to keep you company, getting a kitten can be such a fun and exciting experience. However, it’s a decision that comes with a considerable amount of responsibility that you must take seriously in order to ensure your kitten can have the best quality of life possible. Luckily it needn’t be as difficult as you might expect to meet your new kittens needs, as there are just a few main areas in which you can focus your efforts to turn your home into their sanctuary. So, if you would like to find out more, then read on to uncover some of the greatest tips and tricks that you can utilise today to take great care of your new kitten!
Feeding Your Kitten
The most important aspect of kitten care is providing them with access to fresh, nutritional food. As soon as you bring your kitten into your home, you must make an effort to keep them on the same food that they’ve been previously eating. Making a drastic change to their diet can cause them to experience tummy trouble, so it’s a good idea to introduce their new food slowly by combining it with their old food in increasing proportions. Choosing the most suitable kitten food for your kittens’ unique needs is essential, as you must find one that fulfills their nutritional requirements, encourages healthy growth and doesn’t encourage discomfort. You’ll need to make a decision between feeding them wet or dry food (or potentially both) as each boasts its own unique selling points to better match each kitten’s needs. You can leave dry food out for an unlimited amount of time, and this means that your kitten can decide when to eat on their own. Wet food is usually more expensive than dry food, and you must set specific feeding times to ensure they do not leave the food to go stale. Kittens have very small tummies, so they must consume small amounts often. Providing them with access to fresh drinking water is also essential, as they can get thirsty at any time for a variety of different reasons.
Grooming Your Kitten
Cats have the ability to keep themselves clean, as they can lick almost every part of their body and do so regularly to rid their skin and fur of dirt and grime. However, there are several grooming activities that you should pursue to keep them looking and feeling fresh, and it provides you with the opportunity to check them for signs of illness, too. During a grooming session, you can check your kittens eyes, ears and nose, as well as their skin, feet and legs which are the most accident prone body parts. Regular grooming your kitten can also get them accustomed to being picked up and handled. Grooming should be based mainly around brushing, and a good quality cat brush should allow you to get rid of any excess hair whilst removing dirt at the same time. You should empty the brush as soon as the fur starts to build up, as a matted brush won’t perform to its full potential. If you have a long-haired kitten, then you should aim to groom them daily to reduce the risk of uncomfortable matts and tangled fur. You may wish to cut your kitten’s nails when they get too long or too sharp, but you must ensure you only cut the very tip whilst avoiding all interior skin. Taking the time to remove the sharp tips of your kittens claws can help to keep your furniture in good condition, and ensure that playtime doesn’t result in a whole host of painful scratches. If you do wish to clip your kittens claws, it’s best to begin the practice as early as possible to make sure they get used to the feeling. Attempting to cut an adult cat’s claws for the very first time can be a real nightmarish experience!
Safe and Suitable Environment
Making sure that your home is a suitable environment for your new kitten is so essential, as you must establish a safe and secure setting that poses little to no risks whatsoever. Welcoming them to a brand new place may be a little frightening too, as there will be lots of unfamiliar smells and unknown people that can become overwhelming pretty fast. Kittens are sensitive animals, but their confidence will begin to grow as time passes and they’ll settle right into their new home if it’s suitable and can keep them comfortable! Before you actually bring them home, you must make a few changes and adaptations to create more free space for them to play, and designate specific areas for rest and relaxation that they can run to whenever they need some time alone. It’s a good idea to bring something with them from their old home to place on their bed to provide comfort and encourage them to feel more at home. Take time to remove risks, as kittens can be extremely inquisitive and will no doubt roam around every nook and cranny inside your home. Keep any electrical wires out of reach, put small objects (that can be easily swallowed) away, shut your toilet and trash can lids so they cannot be explored and put household chemicals inside cupboards.
Make Play Possible
Kittens are playful creatures that love nothing more than waking from a nap to chase, run, jump and more. Invest in a variety of cat toys that will keep them occupied, and make sure that you take time out of your day to get involved in their play, too. Playing with cat toys regularly can provide your kitten with a host of different mental and physical benefits, as they will be using their brain to make up games whilst using their natural hunting instincts, as well as using lots of energy. Cat toys which can hide treats or offer some kind of puzzle are a brilliant option that can keep them entertained for hours.
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