Caring for Your Kitten
Caring for your kitten can be one of the best feelings in the world. Having them purr on your lap while you stroke them gently, or watching them eat their whole bowl of delicious fresh food. It can be quite therapeutic. But how do you know you are providing what's best for them? With so many things to consider before you get a kitten, you may feel overwhelmed. On this page we bring you the low down on everything you need to consider when caring for your kitten.
Before you bring your kitten home
Before bringing your kitten home, it's important to prepare everything you may need for their arrival. This can include:
Providing your kitten with lots of space - this can be for them to play, hide and rest in.
Buying the essentials - you can never have enough treats, toys and litter in the house.
Cat-proof your home - you want to ensure there are no hazards which may harm your new feline. These can include medicines which they can reach, flowers such as lilies on display or any decorating materials like paint left lying around.
Placing the litter tray in a quiet spot in the house - privacy is key people!
Finding your local vet - your kittens first trip to the vet may be for vaccinations but it's always good to start a friendship with your new vet early in their life.
Once your kitten is home
Once your kitten is finally home, you can begin forming bonds to last a lifetime. One way you can care for your kitten is to get them used to being handled. You can do this by:
Regularly playing with them
Picking them up
Establishing a consistent routine
Checking their ears & body parts as if they were at the vets
Using the cat carrier in everyday scenarios
Not only will this help with developing your kitten's behaviour, they may be calmer around new people and new experiences.
Health care for kittens
Kitten health care can be a top priority for many cat parents, and we’re not here to disagree. The importance of finding a vet you trust is crucial, as it will be them working their magic if the worst should happen. A good place to start is by asking friends, family or neighbours for their recommendations, otherwise phoning your local branches will help make your decision easier. One thing you will want to check is that they are registered with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS). All working vets in the UK have to be registered to this organisation.
Once you have found your vet, you will want to be thinking about:
Health check ups
Microchipping
Flea and worm prevention
Desexing to help prevent any unexpected cat pregnancies.
Nutritional needs for your kitten
All kittens and cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they receive their nutrients from high quality meat products. This is an important aspect when considering what to feed your kitten. Lucky for you KatKin provides tasty fresh kitten food to help your new feline develop into a strong and healthy cat.
When you sign up for our fresh cat food we tailor each pouch to every cat we meet. Taking age, size, weight and health conditions into account. We are able to provide a tailored plan thanks to our recipes being formulated by our Board-Certified Vet Nutritionist®. So you can be confident in knowing your cat or kitten is receiving all the necessary nutrients they need to thrive.
Switch fearlessly to fresh food today
Playtime and behavioural needs
Caring for your cat doesn’t have to all be formal, play time is an important aspect too. Encouraging your kitten to play may not be the most difficult thing in the world, but the benefits they can receive can help towards their behavioural development. Including:
Helping to express their hunting instincts
Provide mental and physical stimulation
Acting as a form of cat exercise
If you have any questions on kitten behaviour, kitten foods to choose or looking after a kitten in general, look to our trusty guides for support.