Grooming sessions also give you the chance to examine your kitten’s coat, paws, eyes, ears and mouth for anything that might require a trip to the vet in the future. When you first let your kitten outside it is best to choose a quiet time when you are available to supervise and preferably shortly before feeding time to make it easier to get them to come home.Įstablishing a grooming routine soon after you bring your kitten home reinforces the bond between you and provides an opportunity to check for any abnormalities. It may be better to wait until your kitten has been neutered as entire animals are at greater risk of injury and infection from road accidents and fights. They should have completed their initial vaccinations and be microchipped as a means of permanent identification. Letting your kitten outside for the first time is always an anxious time as you are not sure how they will react and you want to minimise any potential risks. Whilst others may prefer free flowing water from a tap or drinking fountain.Īvoid giving your kitten milk as a significant number of cats are unable to digest the lactose in the milk and this can cause diarrhoea. Ideally, the water bowl should be away from the food bowl as some cats prefer to drink in a separate place from where they eat. Remember that fresh, clean water must be available at all times! Especially if you are feeding a dry diet.

If you have more than one cat you should make sure that they are all getting an appropriate share. While you can leave some food out all the time, it is important to ensure any uneaten food is thrown away before it goes off and to monitor the overall amount of food being eaten. Most cats prefer to eat little and often throughout the day. Cats that do not get enough taurine are at risk of developing eye and heart problems. Cats require more protein than dogs alongside taurine which is found only in meat. Never feed your kitten dog food or a vegetarian diet. Complete kitten foods are formulated to provide for the nutritional needs of your kitten so you should follow the guidelines on the packaging or ask a member of staff for advice if unsure. Kittens should grow steadily and feeding too much encourages rapid growth which can increase the risk of skeletal abnormalities. The aim of feeding your kitten is to provide complete nutrition for healthy development and growth. After a few days you can introduce a new food by gradually mixing an increasing proportion of it over a week. Always ask the breeder what they have been feeding the kitten to avoid a sudden change in diet which may upset their stomach. Your kitten should be fully weaned when they arrive. If you see anything you are worried about, please let us know and we can have a look for you.

They often do not cause irritation but can transmit a number of diseases such as Lyme disease. Ticks have a small head and large round body which can swell significantly once attached. Mites burrow under the skin making them difficult to see and can cause intense irritation. They can also transmit tapeworms and severe infestations can cause anaemia. Regular treatment as advised during your visits to us should help to prevent an infestation which can be costly and take a while to get back under control.įleas are dark brown and able to jump! They can cause very intense itching, especially if your pet is allergic to their saliva. From this time they should either be wormed monthly or every three months but we can discuss this this with you to make the right choice for your cat We recommend that kittens are wormed monthly until they are 6 months of age. Some cats do not show any symptoms while others may have a cough.

Lungworms can be picked up if your cat eats slugs, snails or from the trails they leave behind. Tapeworms are made of segments which resemble grains of rice and may be found around their bottom. Roundworms are the most common and look like strands of fine spaghetti in the faeces. Therefore, hygiene measures, such as regular removal of faeces from the environment and hand washing, are important in reducing infection risk. Some worms can also be passed to humans, especially young children. A heavy infestation can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite and weight loss. Kittens can become infected with worms at any time so regular worming is essential.

Learning kitten sounds