So What Kind Of Protein And Fat Is Best For Kittens
Here are some key points to keep in mind:
Protein provides the building blocks for healthy muscles and animal proteins are the best for kittens because they are complete proteins.
A complete protein is simply a protein that contains all of the essential amino acids your kitten needs.
Good examples of protein options for kittens include poultry like chicken or turkey, meats like beef or lamb, and fish like salmon. You may also see game meats and other unique proteins like duck, venison, rabbit, and more.
Fat provides your kitten with a concentrated source of energy each gram of fat contains 9 calories versus 4 calories per gram for protein and carbohydrates.
Animal-based fats like chicken fat and salmon oil are best, though your kitten can also get fat from protein sources like meat and fish.
Plant oils can provide omega-6 fatty acids to balance your kittens omega-3 intake, but remember that animal-based fats are more biologically valuable.
Most commercial kitten and cat foods contain carbohydrates. While there are some benefits to that, protein and fat should always be the focus.
Carbohydrates can provide energy and fiber, as well as essential vitamins and minerals, just make sure there arent too many plant-based carbohydrates in your kittens diet. The most digestible carbohydrates for kittens are starchy vegetables and cooked grains.
The best place to start in picking a high-quality diet for your kitten is to choose a recipe formulated specifically for kittens.
Introducing The Litter Box To Your Kitten
A top concern of many new kitten parents involves the litter box. Luckily, this behavior is instinctual, and most cats pick it up on their own, but some might need a little help.
Although most kittens are litter box savvy when they are adopted, some may need a little encouragement or a refresher course, says certified cat behavior consultant Marilyn Krieger. These little ones should be gently placed in litter boxes after eating, and always praised and reinforced when they are successful.
Ensure successful litter box behavior by:
Thumbnail: Photography ©Andrew_Deer | Getty Images.
Vaccinations For Your Kitten
Your vet may recommend that she receive several vaccinations. Typical vaccines administered at this age include and one known as FVRCP, which is for a trio of upper respiratory diseases: feline rhinotracheitis, feline calicivirus and feline panleukopenia. Your veterinarian also may suggest additional vaccines depending on your kittens history and the number of pets in your household.
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Your Kittens Daytime Routine
Your kittens first few days and weeks with you will influence how they integrate with your family and whether they grow into a happy, sociable cat. Here are some ways to establish routines that will give your kitten the best possible start.
Using the Litter Box
Feeding
- Put your kitten’s dairy ration of dry food out and let them nibble on it as they choose.
- Feed them several small meals a day.
- Put out a smaller ration of dry good for grazing on and feed them wet food at set times.
Whichever option you choose, you should stick to it so your kitten learns what to expect.
Playing
Behavior & Training
Bringing Home A Kitten To A Dog
If youve already got a dog or other pet living in your home, you might be mindful of how theyll get on with your new arrival. While cats and dogs are often thought of as enemies, it is often easier to introduce a cat to a dog than it is to introduce another cat especially an inquisitive kitten!
As with all introductions, making sure the process is gradual is the key.
As kittens are smaller and generally more energetic than an adult cat, youll need to take extra care when introducing them to your dog especially if your dog is easily excited.
To introduce them safely, you could use a stair gate to separate them from each other before making a proper physical introduction. You could also think about introducing your dog to your kitten when they have already been out for a walk, when they are likely to be calmer.
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Kittens First Few Hours At Home
Your kitten might hide when you first open the carrier door. This is perfectly normal behavior. Give them time to get their bearings, and let them explore a little bit at a time. Maybe theyll be running circles around the room right away, or it might take them a few hours to even venture outside of the carrier.
Plan to keep your kitten in their special room for at least the first 24 hours, and up to two weeks. This can be a great way to let them gradually get used to the smells and sounds of their new house. Its especially important if you already have pets in the house. Do not introduce your kitten to other pets in the family for at least the first 24 hours. You can let your pets smell each others bedding after a few hours so they get used to each others scents, and eventually plan on a gradual introduction.
How To Teach Your Kitten To Go To The Bathroom
Young kittens can’t go to the bathroom by themselves. Usually, a mother cat will clean her kittens to stimulate urination and a bowel movement. If the mother isn’t present, the kitten will rely on you.
Once your kitten is 3 to 4 weeks old, you can introduce them to their litter box. Add a cotton ball to the process in a similar way that you used one on them when they were younger. This will help them to understand what to do.
Gently place your kitten in their litter box and let them get used to it. Keep practicing with them. Ensure that their bathroom is in a safe area away from other people and pets so that they feel comfortable.
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What Is The Best Way To Introduce My New Kitten To My Home
A new home with new sights, new sounds, and new smells can be a scary place for a young kitten, but there are things you can do to make the transition easier. Your new kitten likely left behind a loving mother, playful siblings, and a familiar environment, so he needs a little special care when being introduced to his new surroundings and new family.
Getting started
Your kitty needs to feel comfortable with you as soon as possible, so start your relationship by interacting with him on his own turf where he feels safe and secure. Spend time playing and cuddling him before taking him away from his familiar environment. Bring home the comforting scent of his current home by petting his mother and siblings if they are present. Better yet, bring along a towel and rub his family members or even the inside of his kennel to carry these scents to your kittys home. Familiar smells warm the heart and steady the nerves.
Going home
The ride home should be as pleasant as possible. Place the scented towel in a cat carrier and gently place your kitten inside. If he resists, remove the top of the carrier rather than nudging him through the door. Cats prefer cozy spots so they usually like being in a carrier. By encouraging your kitten to ride within the confines of a carrier, you are providing safety and security, as well as starting a good routine that you can maintain for future car rides.
Arriving home
Staying home alone
Preventing problems before they start
Taking Care Of Your Cat
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Bond With Your Kitten
If you want to raise kittens to become loving, happy members of your family, human contact is important from an early stage. Nap with your kitty, hold it while watching TV, or find other times to snuggle. Handling and playing with your kitten a few times a day will help your furry little friend form a strong emotional bond with you. And, lets face it, kitten love and snuggles will be good for you too!
Make sure that all human interactions with your cat are gentle. Kittens are especially fragile before 12 weeks of age. If you have children, monitor their introduction to the new pet to make sure its a positive experience for both the cat and child. Your kids might not know how to care for a kitten, but they need to know they have to be careful. When your furry bundle of joy is comfortable, it should start purring. Thats when you know youve got a winner.
Preparing A Kitten Room
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The secret to a smooth first day is to do some prep work ahead of time. First, set up a starter room to serve as your kittens home base for the first few days. Bathrooms and laundry rooms make great kitten rooms because theyre relatively small and have easy-to-clean floors.
Heres a quick list of how to set up a kitten room:
- Remove or tape down electric cords
- Move house plants out of reach
- Remove or secure breakable items
- Ensure windows and doors close and latch completely
- Cover up any potential holes
- Set up the litterbox
- Place food and water bowls in another part of the room
Then, stock the room with kitten stuff. A soft bed and safe scratching post or pad will help. Scratching posts come in lots of shapes and colors, and cost on average between $10-90. Pick out a couple of interactive toys to teach them to play. And add some play-alone toys like fluffy balls, crinkle/crackle balls, and catnip mice to provide fun and distraction when youre not in the room. There are thousands of cat toys geared toward kittens, and most are affordable, the most expensive being $40.
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Schedule A Kitten Care Appointment With Cat Care Center Of Baton Rouge Today
Caring for a kitten can certainly be one of the most fun and rewarding experiences you can have as a cat owner, however, if you are under-informed about the needs of your kitten during this time, you can leave them at a developmental disadvantage.
At Cat Care Center of Baton Rouge, kitten care is one of our greatest joys. Our veterinary staff would be delighted to spend some time with you and your kitten, ensuring that your relationship will be a healthy, happy, and rewarding one for many years to come. Schedule your first kitten care appointment today!
Kitten Training Tips For Beginners
Kittens are little balls of energy and curiosity. As cute as they are, they have a way of getting into trouble and sometimes they do things you dont want them to do.
The best way to keep your kitten from destroying your house is to make sure it gets plenty of exercise and that means active play time!
Playing with your kitten helps it work off some of its excess energy and its a great opportunity for the two of you to bond.
Try to work several short play sessions into your daily routine, and before you know it, you and your kitten will be the best of friends.
Here are some simple ideas for playing with your kitten:
- Buy a fishing-pole toy or make your own by tying a small toy to a piece of string and a stick move the toy around and get your kitten to chase it.
- Use a laser pointer to make your kitten run around the room you can also buy an automatic laser pointer toy for times when youre busy or not home.
- Offer an assortment of small, plush toys that your kitten can wrestle with and toss them around for your kitten to chase.
- Roll a small ball around for your kitten to chase it may find the ball more appealing if it makes noise, so look for one with a bell inside.
Playing with your kitten is fun until you catch a sharp kitten tooth or a pointy claw. Even if your kitten doesnt mean to hurt you, it can sometimes happen. So, what do you do?
In addition to playing with your kitten to work off energy, you should also take the time to teach it how to play nice.
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Preventive Care For Kittens
Preventive care is important in ensuring your kitten is given the best opportunity to live a healthy life. Preventive kitten care begins with finding the right veterinarian and working with them to implement a sound checkup, kitten vaccinations, and preventive maintenance schedule. At Cat Care Center, we are able to pick up on subtle signs that something may not be quite right with your kitten. Between a thorough discussion with you and a physical exam, our veterinarian will be able to identify health or behavioral issues that your kitten may be experiencing.
Bringing Your Kitten Home And Their First Week With You
What Youll Need to Know to Care for Your Kitten
Theres a lot to consider when it comes to welcoming a new kitten. Youll need to be fully prepared before bringing them home and know how to approach their first day and night with you, including what to feed them.
During the first week, its best to begin establishing routines as well as taking them to the vet and beginning to socialize them. And its important to know how to introduce your kitten to friends, family, children, and other pets. As well as how to handle their first adventures outdoors once theyre vaccinated.
Are you Ready to Bring Your Kitten Home?
Its important to be fully prepared before bringing your kitten home. Make sure youve kitten-proofed your home and set up a room with everything theyll need, including a bed, food and water bowls, a litter box, and toys.
Youll need a cat carrier to carry your kitten in too, and some of the food their previous caretaker been feeding them. Its also a good idea to find a vet you trust and make an appointment for a check-up a few days after bringing them home.
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Plants Harmful To Your Kitten
Several house or outdoor plants can be dangerous to your kitten, including chrysanthemum, azalea, tulip bulbs, and oleander. Lilies are particularly poisonous to cats, and even small amounts can make your kitten very sick. Not sure if a particular plant is kitty-safe? Talk to your vet. And if you think they have eaten something poisonous, call your vet right away, or call the Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435.
What Should I Feed My Kitten
If you know what your kitten has been eating in their previous home, it is advised to keep feeding them the same food at the same times. Familiar scents and tastes will help your cat to settle in gradually and theyll be more likely to eat what youre providing them with!
If youre unsure, you might feel overwhelmed at the numerous cat food brands at your local supermarket! Remember to choose food designed for cats, staying away from dog food or food intended for humans. Opt for a complete food formulated specially for kittens. This will provide all the nutrients and minerals that your kitten needs for growing.
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How Can I Help My Kitten Enjoy Physical Contact
Depending on his personality and early experiences as a kitten, your cat may either enjoy or dislike certain types of handling. In order for the cat to learn to accept and enjoy physical contact from people, it is critical that the human hand be associated with positive experiences and that physical punishment is not used.
Begin with those types of handling that the cat enjoys like scratching him behind the ears. Speak to him in a kind voice while petting him. For reluctant cats, you may consider giving a treat during the petting sessions. This technique can be applied to other types of handling and can help the cat become accustomed to, and perhaps eventually enjoy, petting, grooming, teeth brushing, nail trimming, and even bathing.