Even though our cats may not always thank us for all the fussing we do and the trips to the vet, it is our responsibility as a pet owner, to tend to their needs. We want our cats to live a long healthy life so we need to provide the basics of life for them such as shelter, food and love, to name a few. Here is a list of what we at Shaded Tails consider to be some of those needs.
An alternative to declawing - Soft Paws
1 Never buy from a pet shop. You have no idea of the history of the animal you are buying. You do not get to see the parents or what environment the kitten was raised in.
2 Essential equipment to have before you bring a kitten home should include feeding dishes, stainless steel is preferred as it does not hang on to germs like plastic ones can. A litter box and scoop should be in place before the kitten comes home or you will be finding unwanted little spots where you do not want them. We suggest this is the first thing you do when you take your kitten home, put it in the litter box so it knows where to go. Let it explore on its own from there. Do not put it where there is a lot of traffic. A cat carrier is a must for both traveling and going for visits to the vet. It only takes once for you to get rear ended and possibly have a dead kitten. As much as you want to sit with it on your lap, PLEASE do not take the chance. A brush or comb will be needed, especially for long haired breeds. You would be surprised at how short of a time it takes for a coat to completely become full of knots. Many times, the coat will have to be shaved to get rid of them. If you do this with a Himalayan, the coat will come in the same color as the ears and tail so be forewarned.
3 Things to check for when choosing a kitten would include clean ears. Scratching could be a sign of ear mites which pass on to all animals in your house. Eyes should be bright, clear and free of discharge. The nose should be cool without any crust on it from nasal discharge. Mouth and gums should be pale pink with no bad breath. The kittens coat should be glossy with no signs of fleas. Just separate the hair right down to the skin and look for black flea dirt. The rear end should be clean without signs of diarrhea.
4 If you are bringing a kitten into a home with other cats, a good trick is to take a towel and rub it all over your cat and then rub it all over the new kitten. The older cat will not be as tempted to attack something that smells like itself. It will take time for them to get adjusted but not that long.
5 We use a non scented clumping cat litter which is NOT flushable. Using a scented litter can cause breathing difficulties so it is best to avoid it.
6 Play time is essential for both emotional and physical development. You cannot get a new kitten and expect never to have to play with it. Try to avoid using your fingers as toys as the kitten will not tell the difference when it grows up and you do not want to encourage bad behavior.
7 Regular grooming is a must !!! I cannot stress this enough. I had a person buy an older kitten from me only to return it for grooming a week later. The cat was a mess, mats so close to the skin that I could not get them out. The only choice was to shave the cat. If you start brushing your new kitten from the time you bring it home, most of them will learn that this is a very nice time to spend with its owner. It only takes 5 minutes a day while you are watching tv.
8 Here at Shaded Tails, we free feed all our cats and kittens. This way we do not have animals gorging themselves at meal time. We feed both Iam's and Techni-Cal dry food as well as canned kitten food to our mothers and to start kittens off with.
9 One of the most important things you will ever need is a scratching post. We have over 30 animals and not one ruins furniture. We have a special chair that some of the older cats like. It is theirs to do with as they please. So many times I have heard of people declawing their cats because they have leather furniture that they do not want ruined. My opinion is this: If you want leather furniture, do NOT get a cat. Declawing is cruel. Most people do not realize that when an animal is declawed, the vet removes the first knuckle as well as the nail. Can you imagine someone ripping your finger nails out? I sell all my kittens with the strict order that the kitten must not be declawed. Of course there are exceptions to any rule and if you end up with a very mean cat, you may have no choice. We have climbers in our nursery so kittens learn from day 1 to use them. It is very easy to take a piece of wood say 6" x 24", cover it with carpet and screw it onto the wall somewhere in the house. At least this gives the cat a chance to learn. If you catch your cat scratching furniture, do not punish it but take it to the scratching post instead. It will get the idea. Putting cat nip on it helps to draw their attention to it also.
10 If you insist on using a collar, at least use one that is elasticized. This way if the animal gets its head stuck in something, it can get out instead of choking to death.
11 Do not pick up a cat by the back of the neck. Leave this up to mom to do when they are young. You have no idea how you can damage a kitten by doing this improperly.
12 ALWAYS let a cat down if they want down. You will only get scratched and therefore angry at the cat. A cat will come to you when it is ready for love and affection. I know it is hard to resist a cute fluffy kitten but let them make friends first.
13 Do not leave anything around that can hurt a kitten. Strings from kites are extremely dangerous and can strangle a kitten easily. No bed skirts, as any loose threads can strangle a kitten as we sadly found out.
14 Some cats can tolerate milk, others may get diarrhea from it. Cats do not need milk as long as they are getting sufficient water in their diet. Make sure you supply clean fresh water daily.
15 To clean stains off of the face, we use a mixture of Boric Acid with water, about 1 tsp of BA to 1 cup of warm water. Just make sure you do not get this in the eye as it will cause irritation. We also use a warm wet wash cloth on a daily basis.
16 People are under the impression that cats need to be bathed. Normally a cat will groom itself so you don't need to do this but occasionally you will find that your cat or kitten has a dirty rear end and needs a bath. Never use human shampoo and make sure your water is not too hot. Rinsing is more important than shampooing. If left over shampoo is left on the skin, it will dry it out the skin, cause irritation, thus causing the cat to scratch itself constantly. Excessive bathing also does nothing but dry out the cats coat so if they don't need it, don't do it. If you are showing cats, of course this rule does not apply.
17 Vaccinate, vaccinate, vaccinate !!! The best thing you can do for your kitten is to get it regular shots to prevent disease. All of our kittens are vaccinated at 4 weeks of age with an Intranasal vaccine, again at 8 weeks and a last vaccine at 12 weeks. We routinely test for Leukemia and are a Leukemia free cattery. Vets have discovered that we are over vaccinating our pets so many are suggesting that if you have a cat for just a pet, no breeding of the animal, that you give shots every 2-3 years instead of every year. You might want to check with your own vet first before doing this though. Never let a kitten mingle with others until it has been fully vaccinated. Even in our cattery, our kittens are not let out of the nursery until 14 days after they have had their second shot.
18 LOVE your kitten. If you treat your new kitten with the love and respect you would want, you will have a life long friend. No animal wants to be ignored or abused. If you teach your kitten right from wrong on day one, you will not have the need to be looking for a new home later on for that pet. Too many animals end up in the shelters due to irresponsible owners. The decision to own an animal should not be taken lightly or made quickly. Cats can live over 20 years, are you willing to put this much time into your pet ? This should be the first question you ask yourself before bringing home that adorable ball of fluff.
19 Last but NOT least, spay or neuter your pet! Again I cannot stress this enough. This is another reason so many animals end up in shelters and are ultimately put to sleep. If you are getting a pet, keep it a pet and do the responsible thing. We insist on kittens being spayed or neutered by the age of 6 months.
20 If your cat appears to be in pain or is not acting normally, consult your vet immediately. Keep the number close to the phone so you can find it easily if you have an emergency.
SIGNS OF A SICK CAT
Constant sneezing, coughing
Discharge from eyes or nose
High temperature, not eating or drinking
Broken tooth or bad breath
Constant biting, scratching, loss of hair
Vomiting, diarrhea or constant constipation
Convulsions, muscle spasms. paralysis
Gums having a bluish tinge, fainting or collapsing
Loss of weight, constant licking of rear end, worms passed in the stool
Straining to urinate, blood in the urine or abnormal urination
Lameness, limping or any swelling
This page is dedicated to Donna Garness, who owns KDT Cattery, a friend of mine who requested that I put the kitten care information back on my site. Thanks Donna ! It is always nice to know that your pages and hard work are appreciated.