Last Updated: 2 months ago
Are you ready for some kitten-care tips? First-time cat owners often have tons of questions about how to prepare for a new kitten.
We’re here to help you make sure that your kitten is safe, healthy, and happy throughout its life!
Let’s get started by learning how to take care of a kitten with these easy-to-follow tips.
10 Tips On How To Take Care of a Kitten
A kitten brings a lot of joy and happiness into the house, but caring for one requires patience and quick reflexes.
A kitten might get into trouble when you’re least expecting it by climbing somewhere high or disappearing inside a cupboard or a washing machine when it’s sleepy.
However, if you keep these tips in mind, you won’t find the task so daunting.
1. Find a Good Vet
The first thing you should do when you’re about to get a kitten is find a good vet.
You might ask fellow cat owners for recommendations or search Google for the best vet in your area.
When you find the right person, take your kitten for its first examination.
You need to make sure that your kitten is in good health. Missy should be checked for parasites, fleas, and diseases.
That’s essential if you have small children at home or other pets, because some cat diseases and worms are dangerous to humans and pets alike.
2. Get High-Quality Kitten Food
Do not feed your kitten adult cat food. Chewy has a great selection of cat food.
The little one needs more calories and nutrients than a grown-up cat, so adult food is a poor choice.
In addition to this, look for high-quality food. The first ingredient should always be meat, not a meat substitute.
In addition to this, it should contain little or no grain or corn. Cats are carnivores, so they don’t need a lot of carbohydrates.
As for the dry food vs. wet food debate, most kittens are not fans of dry food because they don’t find it as appealing as wet food.
I’ll tell you what I do in such situations. I mix some dry kibble with some wet food, and they lick their bowls clean.
3. Provide Frequent Meals
How often should you feed your kitten? Well, it depends on its age.
For example, a 4- to 8-week-old kitten should be fed as much as she wants. As Missy grows older, you can feed her three to four times a day.
It’s a good idea to leave several shallow plates full of food around the house so that Missy knows that food is available.
She is less likely to overeat in this way.
4. Don’t Forget About Water and The Litter Box
When they’re young, we often put them in their water bowls and get the water dirty.
So, you must check if the water is clean throughout the day and clean the bowl every day.
Furthermore, observe if the kitten is drinking from the water bowl.
A cat might not drink from its bowls when they are dirty or when they are too close to their food. So, you might have to change the location of the bowl.
As for the litter box, kittens learn to use it very quickly. Just put the kitten inside the litter box after meals and an intensive play session.
And remember to clean it frequently, or consider automatic cat litter boxes.
5. Socialize Your Kitten
Yes, just like puppies, kittens also need socialization.
You have to expose them to different sounds, noises, and people if you want Missy to grow up as a loving cat.
It’s also important to handle and pet the kitten as much as possible to establish a strong bond between the two of you.
Furthermore, the younger a kitten is, the easier it is to get Missy used to different routines like having her coat brushed or clipping her nails.
6. Double-Check That You’ve Kitten-Proofed Your Home
I know that you’ve taken the necessary measures to ensure that your kitten doesn’t have access to medicine, cleaning detergents, plants, wires, cables, and so on.
However, people forget that kittens are tiny and can get into places you don’t think possible, for example, under the couch or behind the fridge.
The little one might find interesting things to play with, like dropped pills, strings, needles, and so on.
You’ll have to make sure that Missy can’t get into places where she is not supposed to be or where she can get stuck.
Also, get rid of everything dangerous lying around or put it in locked cabinets.
7. Be Observant
When you care for a new kitten, you have to have eyes on your back. Despite being small, kittens are too curious for their own good.
They tend to follow you everywhere, which can result in an accident if you don’t mind your steps.
In addition to this, young kittens tend to dash through doors. That’s why you must be careful when entering or leaving a room.
Furthermore, always check your washing machine, dryer, and laundry basket for sleeping kittens.
8. Neuter And Spay
The other essential thing you must do when taking care of a new kitten is to get it spayed or neutered when it’s old enough. Why is that?
Intact female cats have a high risk of developing mammary cancer due to the excess production of hormones.
Not to mention that the constant meowing can drive a person crazy.
Intact male cats usually spray everything in the house to attract females and often run at the first opportunity.
If that happens, they can get into fights with other toms, contract diseases, or even get killed.
9. Go For a Routine Vet Check
Neither humans nor animals love to go to the doctor. However, young kittens should be routinely examined.
Kittens are vulnerable to diseases, the most common being upper respiratory infections and diarrhea.
It’s not recommended to deal with these at home because kittens turn for the worse quickly.
What’s more, you must vaccinate the kitten when it’s old enough.
The vaccines keep your kitten from contracting dangerous and possibly fatal conditions such as panleukopenia, calicivirus, and leukemia.
10. Learn to Recognize Sickness Signs
My last new kitten care tip is to observe the kitten for signs of being sick.
Lethargy, apathy, and a lack of appetite—all these symptoms show you that something is wrong with the little one.
Speaking from experience, an illness can start with limping.
You think that the kitten must have hurt her paw when, in fact, the little one has a fever and swollen joints.
FAQs
Can A Kitten Be Left Alone During The Day?
No, kittens should not be left alone during the day. Kittens are still developing and need supervision to ensure their safety. They can easily get into trouble if left unsupervised, such as getting stuck in small spaces or ingesting something they shouldn’t.
Is A Kitten Easy To Take Care Of?
Yes, kittens are relatively easy to take care of. They require minimal effort and attention compared to adult cats. Kittens need regular meals, access to fresh water, litter box training, and lots of playtime. It’s important to provide them with a safe environment.
Where Should Kids Sleep At Night?
Wrap-Up
Before you take a new kitten home, think about whether you’re ready for such a responsibility.
Kittens are adorable beyond belief, but they’re so full of energy that they can easily get into trouble when you’re not watching.
With the right preparation, knowledge, and patience, you can give your new furry friend the best start in life.
What do you think about these tips on how to take care of a kitten? Would you like to add anything to the list? Then leave us a comment.
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Olfa knows how to get things done and has a keen business sense that others admire. She’s always on the go, coming up with new ideas! Her ability to anticipate the needs of her readers and deliver information that they want is what makes CatVills such a success. She loves cuddling her cat Picaciu. He is her inspiration.
