If you are considering adopting or buying a kitten, you should know that bringing one home can be exciting and stressful at the same time. Kittens are delicate and require much love, care, and attention to aid their growth and development. This guide will explore six proven tips to help with your kitten care.

• Keep them warm

Kittens require a lot of warmth, especially in the winter season, because exposure to cold could make them sick or even kill them. To give your kitten the best heat, make a soft bed of layered fabric available and place it at a warm point in your home. The best is a quiet, dry corner where the kitten won’t be disturbed by children or other pets.

• Wellness check

Experts recommended that newborns should be taken to see a veterinarian two days after birth for a general check. The Drake Centre for Veterinary Care advises pet owners to observe the kitten for any motor coordination difficulties, vomiting, lethargy, or diarrhea. Also, little kittens are usually susceptible to illnesses like respiratory infections and intestinal parasites, so don’t hesitate to inform the vet if you notice any of these.

• Feeding

If you adopt the kitten from an animal shelter or even buying it, you will most likely be bringing it home without its mother. Cats, like other animals, thrive better under the watchful eyes of their parents, but if this is not the case with you, ensure you get the necessary food items for feeding it with certain foods.

While feeding, ensure to place it in the correct posture to avoid choking it. You can lay it on its side or hold it upright. As it grows, feed it with healthy meals to aid its development.

• Grooming

Nail clipping will help reduce its chances of a claw snag while combing its hair regularly will help reduce hairballs and give it a clean, shiny coat. The sooner you start this routine on your kitten, the easier it will be as time goes on.

• Litter box usage

Your kitten can’t naturally relieve itself and needs your help. Canada’s Pet information center says a good way is to use a warm cloth and wipe the kitten’s urogenital area until it poops or urinates. So, do this often so it learns to do it independently. Also, it is easier to potty train a kitten than a grown cat and to achieve this, and you only need to repeat a routine of commands directing the cat where to poo or take a piss.

• Spaying or neutering

Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine says most kittens are spayed or neutered when they are six months old. There are exceptions when the vet may recommend it at an early age. This is good for your cat’s health and keeps overpopulation in check.

Conclusion

There are many phases in a kitten’s life, and you need to know how to help through each stage. Potty train your kitten, feed it, groom it and watch it grow into a healthy and strong cat.