New Cat

A kitten is a great pet, and an easy first pet if you haven’t had cat in your family before. As self-sufficient as cats are, it is essential that you learn how to correctly care for them so that they and you have the best experience and a healthy environment for your pet. In this article you can learn exactly what you need to make your new family member feel at home.

It can be a stressful experience for a kitten to enter a new environment. Thus, it is essential that you introduce them correctly. The first step to doing this is creating a calm environment so that you do not stress or frighten them more. One of your priorities should be to give your kitten the best environment to grow in. The following are tips that you can use to minimise the stress of bringing them into a new environment:

• Make sure there is always fresh water and food easily available.
• Staying calm and reducing outbursts of excitement and enthusiasm. This is especially important if you have young children.
• Slow introduction to new people.
• Limiting your handling and doing it gently as not to overwhelm them.
• Giving the kitten a chance to approach people by themselves, not forcefully.
• Make the environment seem fun by allowing them to relax or play between each introduction.
• Avoid any sudden movements or loud noises as this can be frightening.

Cats prefer an environment that is not loud or agitating. The environment that they grow up in can influence their personality in the future. A more peaceful environment helps create a cat that is not timid or fearful. You need both a caring environment and good healthcare to ensure your new kitten will grow up happy.

Costs of taking care of a pet can get high, especially if there is an emergency. Surgery and medicines are expensive. It is always reassuring to know that if there is an accident or illness, your pet’s health expenses will be covered. Getting pet insurance is worth considering.

It is of utmost importance that your new kitten receives all the vaccinations on time. Like puppies, kittens initially receive antibodies from their mother which protects them while they are small.

The common vaccines given are for feline immunodeficiency virus, leukaemia, calicivirus, rhinotracheitis, feline panleukopenia and chlamydia. This should be done before they are 8 weeks old. Over time their immunity will weaken, therefore annual boosters are important.

Please note that vaccinations do not harm your kitten. As long as you follow the vaccination schedule, which you can receive from our clinic, your cat will be healthy.

Read more about vaccinations.

Worms are bad for your kitten’s health and can become lethal if not treated correctly. Your kitten should be dewormed every 2 weeks while they are small (between 6 weeks and 3 months of age). And our vets can provide you with an ongoing worming schedule and recommended medicines.

Desexing your kitten can have many benefits for health and behaviour. This procedure will leave your cat without the ability to reproduce. The surgery is performed often and is safe. The best time to desex your cat is when they are 4 to 6 months old. The following list is reasons how desexing can be beneficial:

• No unwanted kittens.
• Females are less at risk of uterine infections or breast cancer.
• Female cats will not have a “heat cycle”.
• Males will not contract reproductive organ diseases.
• There is more of a chance that your cat will live longer and healthier.

Read more about desexing your kitten.

Visits to the vet should hopefully be an annual occurrence once you have completed the essential procedures such as vaccinations, deworming and other checks. Annual check-ups ensure that they are healthy, help your vets spot issues before they become more serious and offers the best chance for your cat to have a long and healthy life. These checks are opportunities for you to ask questions and to become informed about issues that are having an effect on your cat’s health such as lack of nutrition or illnesses. These annual check-ups will often consist of an annual vaccine booster and checks for parasites, dental issues, heart issues and others.

Contact us for more information about caring for a new kitten to ensure you are completely ready for this new responsibility.