Kittens 101

Posted on April 1, 2024

The best advice I can give to a new kitten owner is to focus on preventing behavior issues. It is much easier to prevent a problem behavior from occurring than to correct it once it happens.

Here is a list of things I recommend to new kitten owners.

Spay and neuter your cat!

By spaying and neutering your cat early on, many issues are avoided such as urine spraying, aggression, and excessive meowing.

Socialization

Start exposing your kitten to other people, locations, and pets between the age of 2 and 10 weeks. If a cat has not been socialized, he/she may be timid or aggressive around humans and other animals. They may also develop behavioral issues such as inappropriate scratching.

Litterboxes

The number of litterboxes you have should be equal to the number of cats you have plus one. If you have one cat, you need two litter boxes, two cats, three litter boxes, etc,

Litterboxes should be large enough for your cat to turn around in.

You can make litterboxes from storage containers.

Litterboxes should be placed in quiet, low traffic areas that are easily accessible. They should be in a different room as well as on each floor of your house. They shouldn’t be placed next to food or water.

Cats prefer unscented litter. You might need to experiment with litters to find the one your cat prefers. You may also need to experiment with different types of litterboxes as not all cats will go in a covered litterbox.

Scoop your litterbox often, otherwise your cat may choose to urinate somewhere else. Thoroughly dispose of the litter and scrub them once a month with unscented dish soap and let air dry.

Thermometers

Invest in a good, ear digital thermometer. Sometimes you can tell if your cat has a temperature if their head and ears are hot, but not always.

First Aid/Emergency Care

Download a Pet First Aid app on your phone. In a pinch the app can give you advice on anything from allergic reactions to wounds.

Know what emergency vets are near you.

Since COVID, many emergency vet clinics may not be open 24 hours per day due to limited staff. Compile a list and update it often in the event you have an emergency with your cat after regular business hours.

Basic cat care

Take your cat to the veterinarian for annual checkups, as well as vaccinations.

Get your cat adjusted to going in a cat carrier early on to avoid fear of carriers.

Do trim your cats’ nails on a regular basis.

Brush your cat. This is a great bonding experience and can alleviate hairballs.

Buy a flea comb and do regular flea checks.

Brush your cats’ teeth. Be sure to use a soft toothbrush, or gauze and toothpaste designed for cats. Never use human toothpaste on a cat.

Home safety

Kittens are very curious creatures. They like to bite wires, eat string, and knock things over. Make sure all electrical outlets are cat proofed. I do not advise leaving table lamps on when you are not home in the event your kitty knocks it over and causes a potential fire. Be careful with decorations as kittens tend to eat string and shiny things.

Playtime

Do play with your cat at least 15 minutes daily. I have never met a cat that did not like either laser pointers or a wand toy. Do not use your fingers as toys. This encourages biting.

Pet insurance

I recommend getting this while your kitty is young. Oftentimes if you wait until a cat is older, your rate will be more expensive. Pet insurance does not cover pre-existing conditions.

Food types and schedule

Don’t place food next to water.

Stainless steel or ceramic bowls are recommended as they are easier to clean. Plastic bowls can cause feline acne and collect bacteria.

Cats like consistency, so do feed your cat meals at the same time each day, even on the weekends.

Free feeding is not advisable as this leads to obesity. If you have multiple cats by free feeding you won’t know if one cat is eating more than the other.

Foods come in a variety of forms, such as pate, broths, chunky style and grilled just to name a few. Slowly experiment with different forms of food so your cat does not rely on one type of food consistency. Cats can be picky eaters so if they get adjusted to one type of food, they may be less likely to try a new form if you need to change their food in the future.