Signs of a Healthy Kitten

When you have decided that the time is right to adopt or purchase a family kitten there are a few signs that you need to be aware of before bringing one home. One simple overlooked bodily symptom could cost your family hundreds of dollars in veterinary care. It is best to be informed before making a final decision on such an important matter.

The number of homeless animals in America are staggering. Most animals in shelters are there because the owners adopted in haste. Doing your homework before adopting could save you time, money, and heartache.

First, you want to gently examine the kitten, or cat, visibly. Signs of an ill cat can be warnings to you. Check the eyes of the kitten. You want to look for bright, clear, healthy eyes. Tearing of the eyes, a dirty nose, sneezing can be signs of an upper respiratory infection. This can be a costly issue.

Check the kitten ears. Especially young kittens should have clean, healthy ears. Sometimes the Mother can infect the kittens so be alert of any unusual looking symptoms. If there is a thick substance or discharge coming from the ears the kitten may be infested with mites. A discharge that involves puss can indicate a bacterial or yeast infection. When a kitten is younger then three months there is a limit to the care that a veterinary clinic can give. This can result in illness that may lead to more severe issues for the kitten. So please consider all of these issues before selecting a kitten to bring home to your children.

You will need to gently check the kittens mouth. Look at the gums and ensure that they are a soft pink color with no obvious protrusions, sores, or ulcers. A pink hint to the gums ensures a proper body temperature so if a kitten has white gums this can indicate a low body temperature, bad circulation, or blocked airways.

The most obvious sign is the kittens fur coat. It needs to glossy and healthy. Any bald spots, dandruff, dry skin patches, or obvious signs of parasitic infestation needs to be noted. Checking the kittens body size is a must. Kittens are easily susceptible to intestinal worms so any signs of a bulging belly may indicate the need for a de-worming agent. Any lethargic behavior will need to be addressed as an abnormality as well. These few key issues can save you a lot of time, money, and upset.