Kittens

People love cats. They are associated with power and mystery. They are more intelligent than dogs and demand less grooming assistance. Therefore, people, especially women and children, love owning a cute kitten. They treat it like their own child. So, when you decide to bring home a kitten or when your cat gives birth to kittens in the house, you must be ready with the best kitten care.

Before the birth of the kittens or before you introduce a kitten in the house, you must cat-proof your home. There are certain things that your kitten will just love - electrical cords, tasty (read toxic) plants, edges of your curtain, your precious furniture, and others. Cats are curious creatures. Any new kitten in the house would explore the place and most probably end up doing things that you don't want her to do.

In the beginning, your prime objective is to make your house safe for the new member. If there are other dogs and cats in the house, don't introduce the kitten directly to them. Keep her in a separate room for the first few days. This is called settling in. You can rub her with a towel and place this towel near your other pets so that they can smell her scent. Then, keep your other pets' towels near your new kitten so that she gets familiar with every pet in the house. Don't leave a new kitten along with your dog, unless you're confident that they'd get along together. And always have an escape route for them.

While feeding your kitten, you must remember that you need to feed her small amounts of food 4-5 times everyday. There are kitten formula foods available in the market. They may either come in wet form in sachets or dry form in tins. As you start feeding your kitten, you'll come to know about her preferred tastes. Certain foods have feeding guidelines mentioned over their packets. Don't forget to read them. And please don't give cow milk to kittens. Cats are lactose-intolerant and would get diarrhea. You can give them specially prepared cat milk, if you really wish to feed them milk.

Toileting is something you need to teach your kitten right from the start. Mostly, kittens learn how to use the litter from their mothers. You should place the litter box at a preferred corner of the house. Don't shift the box often. Your kitty might get confused. Usually, kittens need to pee or shit right after a nap or a meal. So, it's best to carry your kitten and place her in the box after these two activities. One sign that suggests your kitten needs to use the litter box is crouching.

You have to be patient and gentle in teaching your kitten. Don't scold or punish her. She would grow up into a timid or insecure cat. Getting to know your kitten comes gradually. As you feed her, groom her, and toilet train her, you'd develop a strong bond with your little friend. Let her snuggle right beside you. She feels safe and loved like this. If you want your kitten to grow into a healthy, alert, and confident cat, you need to be meticulous in the after care of kittens.

Before you get a kitten in the house, think hard. Are you ready to accept the responsibility? Do you have the time and patience to rear the animal lovingly? A large number of cats are left by their owners in shelter homes just because their owner has no time to look after them. This is cruel. Remember; a cat is your life-long companion. Adopt her only if you're committed.