Today, almost every family has a favorite pet, which gives good emotions to its owners. The most important thing is to provide him with the necessary living conditions, draw up the right diet and give his love.
For many cat owners, it is difficult to care for newborn kittens. So, for example, even the appearance of the kids can cause bewilderment. Siamese cats are born white, and black cats can be brown. Blind kids are completely defenseless and cause real emotion. In the first days of kittens' life, determining sex is extremely difficult. However, if the mother does not mind, then the next day you can find out how many male and female kittens are in the litter. As a rule, sexual characteristics at this time are already well expressed, and practically no hair hindering inspection. How to care for a kitten? We will consider this question in this article.
Feeding
How is this process going? Cats in most cases do an excellent job of feeding offspring on their own. But there are situations when the mother’s milk is not enough. The owner will have to feed the kittens themselves or look for a nurse. This task is actually not as simple as it seems at first glance.
First of all, you will need to rearrange your daily routine so that during the first few weeks you feed kittens every two hours, including at night. Mixtures intended for infants are suitable for nutrition. Prepare them according to the attached instructions. Food is given to a small pet right in the mouth with a pipette.
What to do if the cat simply lost interest in its cubs? In this case, the care of the newborn kittens will have to take on the owner. In addition to feeding the babies, one still needs to clean them from head to hind legs with massaging movements. You can take for this purpose a piece of crude damp matter. This will be a kind of replacement for the mother’s language.
Feeding and Hygiene
10-12 days after birth, the eyelids of the kitten remain glued. Eyes should be washed with boric acid solution. To prepare it, you need to take half a glass of warm water and a quarter spoon of powder. A separate piece of fleece is used for each eye. After washing, it is necessary to lubricate the eyelids with an ointment containing antibiotics. Starting at the age of three weeks, you can start feeding kittens. Many of them no longer mind extra food. But there are also pets that are hard to get used to changes in the diet. To accustom a kitten to complementary foods, you can try to use the following method: a kitten is dripped onto the lips with new food. Licking it, the baby will gradually get used to new tastes. Kittens are first taught to drink. In the first week give one spoon. In the second week, beef, ground in a meat grinder, can be gradually introduced into the diet. Some time later, it is worth starting to introduce porridge. Upon reaching the age of 1 month, the kitten can already do without milk. The menu gradually includes boiled fish, eggs, ground beef, oatmeal.
Serving size is given special attention. The fact is that the digestive system of a kitten is not yet capable of digesting new food. Overfeeding a cub can negatively affect its weight and overall health.
What else does kitten care include? 2 months is such an age when the kitten's complementary foods are completed and the animal is transferred to 4 meals a day. Responsibility for taste preferences lies entirely with the owner of the animal. It is important from the first months to instill a kitten with a love of products that are useful for development and growth. By the age of eight weeks, kittens are old enough to move to a new home.
What to do in the first month of life
How to provide care for a small kitten? From a young age, a pet needs to be accustomed to daily examination of eyes, teeth, ears. In addition, if necessary, it is worth getting used to bathing. The pet must understand that these procedures are mandatory.
If you recently brought a new tenant into the house, then try to surround him with affection and care. The kitten will be afraid of unfamiliar surroundings, food and smells. The first hours of stay are extremely important, since it is the first impression that will affect the further life of the pet in the house. It is necessary to prepare a place for the baby in advance. Think about where the kitten will eat. It is also necessary to provide a place for a tray and a recreation area. A kitten does not need to be forced to take any action. You just have to be patient. Give your baby some time. Perhaps he will choose his own place to rest. So that the kitten is not afraid, you can try to interest him in the game.
A monthly kitten should not be left alone in the room while he is getting used to the new house. At first, the pet may be worried. So get ready for a sleepless night. The kid was left without a family, he will miss his mother, so a plaintive cry is quite expected. The main thing is not to scold him, sit next to him and caress. Try to talk with the baby. In this case, do not raise your voice, speak with the kitten in a calm tone. You can take your pet in your arms.
Visual inspection
How to care for a kitten? Every baby every two weeks should undergo an examination. Watch your pet’s ears, they must be clean. The unpleasant smell should not come from them. Use cotton swabs for cleaning. Hair growing at the tips must be removed. With one hand you need to hold the ear, and with the other pluck the hairs with tweezers.
Lop-eared kittens do not require special care. It is enough to collect as they appear cloudy discharge from the eyes. If pus is found, immediately contact a clinic. Once every three weeks, the kitten needs to be cut off its nails. In order not to damage the blood vessels, first examine them well in the light. Pet shops sell special nail clippers for cats.
We accustom to the tray
The kitten's tray should be always accessible and invisible at the same time. The most suitable place for him is the bathroom. The toilet for kittens must not be placed next to a bowl for food and a place to relax.
To clean the tray, it is recommended to use a sponge and baby soap. Other detergents may be too toxic. It is better to pick up a tray for growth. Pay attention to models with concave edges. They prevent the spread of filler in the apartment, and it’s easier to clean them. At first, the baby will be very difficult to accustom to the toilet. Try not to scold him or punish him. As soon as you notice that the pet has started rushing about the room and picking up its paws, immediately take it to the tray and wait until it does everything. After that, caress and praise the kitten.
Rest and sleep
When choosing a place for a kitten to rest, watch the baby. Perhaps he likes to spend time in a certain part of the apartment. There you need to put a pillow or mattress. In pet stores today you can find various houses for kittens, but not all fluffy residents like to hide in them.
We accustom to a scratching post
For cats, claws are the main weapon. The kitten will try to sharpen them about something daily. As an object, he can use furniture and home decoration. Do not scold the baby for this. To equip a pet with its own place for grinding its claws, does not require serious financial costs. Simply buy a string covered with twine.
We select a diet
Care and feeding of kittens require special attention. First you need to decide what your pet will eat: natural products or specialized food. It is better to alternate ready meals with dairy products. Do not abuse the feed, because in this case, there are often problems with the kidneys. Remember that nutrition should include nutrients and vitamins. You can also purchase special grass for cats.
Nutrition recommendations
Not everyone knows how to care for a kitten. Therefore, a few simple recommendations for choosing a diet will be very useful:
- Food should be rich in minerals, carbohydrates, vitamins, fats.
- Food - room temperature. Cold food can negatively affect a baby’s digestion.
- Do not give the kitten boiled eggs. It is better to abandon them in favor of raw protein.
- In moderation, add dairy products to your diet. Also, kittens can be given cottage cheese, mashed with raw yolk. Adyghe cheese will also be a wonderful top dressing. Hard grades must first be wiped.
- In the cat's diet, cereals, vegetables and fruits must be present. You can even cook a cat salad with carrots, herbs, beets and butter. Fruits need to be given to the pet a little less than vegetables. Apples and pears are great for this purpose. It is better to refuse citrus fruits.
- Almost all cereals can be given to a kitten, but ground buckwheat is best.
Daily necessities
If you decide to have a kitten, then you have to think about many things at once. How to accustom to the tray? Do I need to immediately buy houses for kittens? There is a small list of items that you will definitely need at first. It includes a tray, a filler, bowls for food and water, a hairbrush, a scratching post, carrying, toys, brushes and food. Next, we will try to understand in more detail how to choose all these items correctly.
Choose a carrier
So what is it and why is it necessary? A carrier is a special basket or box in which you can transport a kitten. When choosing this accessory, be sure to pay attention to what material it is made of. There are winter, summer and combined models. It is better to choose products from durable materials.
When buying a collapsible carrier, wash it thoroughly before use. A mandatory element is the inspection hole. This will make the animal stay in the carrier more comfortable. A big advantage is the hard bottom. Carry must be equipped with strong clasps or locks. It is better to immediately choose large models for growth.
Toys for kitten
If you decide to have a cat at home, you will probably be tormented by many questions. How to ensure the animal proper care? What vaccinations do kittens need and when to do them? When solving all these important tasks, it is worth remembering about your pet's leisure. The cat must have toys. Today the store offers a huge assortment of products for every taste and budget.
They are of several types:
- Teasers: A simple toy on a string or shelf.
- Balls: A favorite pastime for cats. They can be made in various versions: with a bell or a toy inside, of various shapes and sizes.
- Interactive: on sale you can find special labyrinths for cats.
Combing out
Many breeds, including lop-eared kittens, require careful grooming. When combing, you stimulate blood flow. In addition, this procedure prevents the formation of tangles. On sale today there are special combs - furminators. They are designed to reduce molting of the animal. When using them, the amount of deposited wool is reduced and the undercoat is removed. Handheld combs are also very common. They can be used daily. For long-haired fluffy breeds it is better to use special massage brushes.
Finally
When the long-awaited kitten appears in the house, the owners begin to torment excitement and anxiety for the little tenant. Many questions immediately arise in my head: how to feed the baby, how to properly accustom it to the tray and scratching post? To find answers to them, just read the rules and recommendations for caring for kittens. But remember: the most important condition for building a strong and warm relationship with your pet is love.
It is also worth considering such an important factor as the individual characteristics of the animal. Each cat has its own unique character traits: one is sleepyhead, the other is a lazy person, the third is a bully. Only by understanding this can you figure out how to care for the kitten. Also, when choosing items for care, the anatomical features of the animal must be taken into account.