Kitty Basics It sexcitingbringinganewki1enintoyourlife.youprobably can twaittoshowyourfriendsthecutieyoupickedout. And,ofcourse,youwanttoplaywithhimrightaway.But remember,yourki1ensuddenlyisinanenvironmenthe doesn tknow.givehimsometimetoadjusttohisnew home.herearesomehintstomakehimfeelascomfortableas possible: Teachchildrennottoberoughwiththeki1en;nopullingears,whiskersortail Actcalmly,notrowdy,aroundki1en Provideawarm,softbed(orboxorcrate)inacozy,outofthewayplace Giveki1enasoft,indestructibletoyortwo Playwithki1enatleast30minutesperday Neverletyourki1enputhisteethonahuman,evenatplay Therearevaccinesthatyourki1enshouldreceivebetweensixandsixteentotwenty weeksofagetomakehimsafeandhealthyinhisnewworld,whetherindoorsor outdoors.somevirusesmaybebroughtintoyourhouseonpeople sclothingorshoes. Thereisalsoariskthatacatmaybeincontactwithadisease carryingcatinyouryard orhouse.somevaccinationsrequireboostershotstomaintaineffectivelevelsof protection.besuretoaskyourvetaboutthese.yourveterinarianmayadminister theseatseparatetimesafewweeksapart,eachtimeinoneinjection. Mount Tabor Animal Hospital - Kitty Basics 1 of 9
Kitten Checkup & Vaccination Schedule 6 weeks: Doctor visit TestforFelineLeukemiaVirusandFelineImmunodeficiencyVirus(FELV/FIV) FelineDistempervaccine(rhinotracheitis,calicivirusandpheumonitis) 1 st of3 boosters Foroutsidecatsonly,FelineLeukemiavaccinegivenincombinationwiththe distempervaccine 1 st of3boosters Fecalsample checkstoolforwormsandintestinalparasites Physicalexam skin,coat,ears,mouth,chest,abdomen,teeth,andeyes Discussdiet,li1erboxtraining,grooming,spayingorneutering,vaccinereaction symptoms,emergencyclinic,vaccineschedule,flea&tickcontrol 9 weeks: Technician visit FelineDistemperbooster#2 Learnhowtotrimnailsandbrushteeth 12 weeks: Technician visit FelineDistemperbooster#3 Rabiesvaccination(requiredbylaw) Fecalcheck(ifneeded) 16 weeks: Rabiesvaccination(ifnotgivenatlastvisit) Important Feline Diseases FelineDistemper alsocalledpanleukopenia,isahighlycontagious,potentially fataldiseaseamongcats.itaffectstheintestinaltractandbonemarrow. UpperRespiratoryDisease highlycontagiousviralinfectionsincluding rhinotracheitis,calicivirus,andpneumonitis Mount Tabor Animal Hospital - Kitty Basics 2 of 9
FelineLeukemia (FELV)theleadingcauseofdeathfrominfectiousagentsin cats;aviruswhichinhibitstheimmunesystemandresultsinvarioustypesof cancerandotherchronicdiseases.itispresentinsaliva,urineandotherbody fluids FelineImmunodeficiencyVirus (FIV)weakensacat simmunesystem.similar tothehumanhivvirusbutisnottransmi1edtohumans. Rabies aviruscontractedbyexposuretoarabidanimal,ita1acksthenervous systemandisalwaysfatal Disease Testing ki*ens should be tested for FIV and FELV at least twice during their first year of life Protecting Against Worms & Fleas Yourki1enwasatriskforge1ingwormsfromhismotherbeforehewasevenborn. Wormsareintestinalparasitesandposeariskthat shouldnotbeignored.protectingyourki1enrequiresconstant,lifelonga1ention. Treatingyourpetiseasy,fastandpainless. Heartworms areoneofthemostdeadlyofallanimalparasites.heartworm diseasespreadswhenmosquitoesbiteaninfecteddogandthenpassthelarvae intothebloodstreamofacat.thesemicrofilariaethenmatureintoadultsand liveinthecat sbody. Roundworms maydeveloppriortobirthorfromnursingorlaterinlifeby ingestingroundwormeggsorlarvae. Theya1achtotheintestinalliningandleavebleedinginternalwounds. Symptomsincludeweakness,weightloss,haggardappearance,anddull unkemptfur. Hookworms thoughrareincats,cancomefromaki1en smotherwhile nursing.symptomsincludedvomiting,diarrhea,andstuntedgrowth. Fleas fleaeggsthathavefallenoffapetdevelopintolarvaewhichhidein carpet,furniture,leavesorotherdarkplaces.adultfleascantheneasilya1ach themselvestothepetwhenthepetcomesincontactwiththoselocations. Symptomsincludeitching,skinirritation,extremediscomfort,andtell taleflea dirt inthepet sfur.effectivefleacontrolproductsnotonlykilladultfleasbut willpreventflealarvaefromreproducingorhatching. Mount Tabor Animal Hospital - Kitty Basics 3 of 9
Kitten Basics Ki1ensrequireveryli1lecomparedtotheloveand companionshipwegetfromthem.belowarethebasicitemsyou shouldalwaysprovide. Food & Water Bowls Stainlesssteeliseasiesttokeepcleananddoesn tbreak.and ki1enscanhaveallergicreactionstoplasticbowls. Litter Box Restassured,li1erboxtrainingshouldbeeasyforyourandyourki1en.Mostki1ens naturallyfeeltheurgetodiginsubstratematerialtoeliminateasearlyasfourweeks. Werecommendanunhoodedli1erboxwithscoopableunscentedli1er.Placehimin theboxeverytimeheshowssignsofbeingreadytouseit.praisehimlavishlywhenhe isgood.ifyouinterferewithyourki1enwhilehe sinhisli1erboxhemaydevelopan aversiontousingthebox.solethimhavehisprivacy.placetheboxinaquietlocation thatyourcatcanaccessatalltimes.alwayskeeptheboxclean,removesoiledli1er andchangetheli1eroften,atleastonceaweekormoreoftenifnecessary. Grooming Brush or Mitt Brushingyourki1enregularlykeepshiscoatlookingniceandfeelsgoodtoyourpet. Andjustasimportant,thisistimeforyouandyourki1entobond.Begincombingand brushingearlyinlifesohewillbeaccustomedtoit.forlong hairedcats,usealongtoothedmetalcombandastiffbrush.shorthairedcatscanbegroomedwithasoft rubberbrushorhandmi1. Ki1ensandcatsdoanexcellentjobofcleaningthemselvesbuteventheneatestcatcan gethairballs.youmayonedayseehimvomitalong,darkmass commonlycalleda hairball madeupofhairhehasingested.ifregularcombingandbrushingdonot eliminatethehairballsaskyourveterinarianaboutremediesspecificallyforhairballs. Mount Tabor Animal Hospital - Kitty Basics 4 of 9
Toys Ki1enswillplaywithanythingthatmoves,rolls,rustles,orsways.Choosetoysmade especiallyforcatsortrythese homemade toys:ping pongball,unshelledwalnut, emptywoodenthreadspool,cardboardtoiletpapertube,balledupwaxedpaper. Avoid:rubberbands,thread,ballsofstringoryarn,aluminumfoilballs,corks,wire twistties. Safety You llsoonseethatacuriouski1enwillexploreanythingandeverythinghecanreach. Andhedoesn tknowwhichthingsareki1en safe. Ki1en proof yourhousebydoing theseimportantthings: Keepelectricalcordsoutofchewingreach Keephouseholdandgardenchemicalslockedaway Keepcans/bagssecurefromki1en Checkaroundvehiclesbeforemovingthem Familiarizeyourselfwiththehouseplantsthataretoxictocats.Consultalistof suchplantsath1p://www.cfainc.org/catcare/householdhazards/toxicplants.aspx Feeding Your Kitten Atfirst,it simportanttofeedyourki1enthesamethinghewaseatingbeforeyou broughthimhome.ashegetsusedtohisnewenvironmentyoucangradually introducethefoodyouchose.manycommercialfoodsareacceptablebutbesureto chooseawell balancedone.consultyourveterinarianforhowmuchandhowoftento feedyourki1en.itwilldependonhisenergylevel.fatcatshaveahighriskofdiabetes melitis. Chooseaconvenientplacetofeedyourki1enandusethisspotconsistently.Itisbestto avoidʺbuffetʺfeeding;instead,feedtwicedaily.besuretocleanyourki1en sdishes beforeeveryuseandalwaysgivehimfreshwaterateachfeeding. Store boughtki1entreatsarefinetogivehim,buttheyareactuallyfulloffat.beaware ofhowmanytreatsyourki1eneatsandtrytoadjusttheamountoffoodinhisregular mealsaccordingly. Mount Tabor Animal Hospital - Kitty Basics 5 of 9
Caring for Teeth Ahealthydietkeepsteethcleanandgumshealthy.However,tartarwillinevitably buildupsohaveyourcat steethcheckedregularlybyaveterinarian.betweenvisits youcanbrushhisteethyourselfwithspecialpettoothpasteandasoftbrush.dental wipesalsohelpifyoucannotbrushthemyourself. Clipping Nails Clipki1en snailsabouteverysixweeksusingspecialcatclippers.someownersprefer tohaveaveterinariandotheclippingbecauseit sadelicatetasktokeepfromclipping intothequick.however,justusinganailfilewilloftenhelpkeepnailsincheck withoutthedangerofcu1ingintothe quick ofthenail. Socializing Kitten Exposingyourki1entomanypeopleisanimportantpartofsocializationandseemsto lessenhisfearofstrangers.iftherearesmallchildreninyourhouse,introducethemto ki1ygradually.frequenthandlingandgentleplayingareimportant,butchildrenmust understandthatyourki1enisasensitive,livingcreature.hemayresorttoscratching orbitingtoprotecthimselfifhe sfrightened.teachthechildrenhowtopickhimup andholdhim.sliponehandunderhischest,holdingthefrontlegsgentlybutfirmly withyourfingers.atthesametime,cuptheotherhandunderki1y shindquarters. Neverpickhimupbythescruffoftheneckorlegs! Mount Tabor Animal Hospital - Kitty Basics 6 of 9
Other Family Pets Ifthereareotherpetsinthehouse,introducethemtoyourki1enwith careandcaution.anoldercatwillusuallyacceptanewki1en andwilleventuallyhelptakecareofhim.butdonotleavethem alonetogetheruntilyouaresuretheyarefriends. Mostdogsandcatsalsogetalong,butthismaytakeali1lelonger.Theremaybe hissingandbarkingbutthereiseverychancethatbeforelongtheywillbeplaying together.again,it ssmartnottoleavethemtogetheruna1endeduntilyouseea positiveinteraction. Keepthecatli1erboxawayfromdogs. A Healthy Cat Spaying/Neutering Unlessyouareplanningtobreedapurebredcat,neuteringorspayingis recommended.itistheresponsiblewaytopreventthebirthof unwantedki1ens. Spayingisthesurgicalremovalofthefemalecat suterusand ovaries.afterspaying,shewillnotexperienceheatcyclesor becomepregnant.theidealtimeforspayingisatfivetosix monthsofage,beforeherfirstheatcycle.oncespayed,her dispositionshouldonlychangeforthebe1er.she llbemore relaxed,playfulandaffectionate.spayingalsoreducestheriskof uterineinfections,tumors,andhormonalimbalances. Neuteringisthesurgicalremovalofthemalecat stesticlesthroughtwosmallincisions inthescrotum.ifnotneuteredyourmalecatmayexhibitanuncontrollableurgeto roambythetimeheturnsoneyearold.andashegrowsolder,hemaydevelopthe habitofsprayingwallsandfurniturewithstreamsoffoul smellingurineasawayof claimingterritory.ideally,amaleki1enshouldbeneuteredatfivetosixmonthsofage. Mount Tabor Animal Hospital - Kitty Basics 7 of 9
Preventing Illness Besidesgenerallybeing intouch withyourki1en,thereareregimentedmeasures youcantaketopreventillness. Nevergiveʺpeopleʺmedicinetoyourcatunlessdirectedbyyourveterinarian. Forexample,Tylenoloraspirincanbefatal.Alwaysadministertheveterinarianprescribedmedicinestoyourpetasdirected.Sincetherearesomediseasesthat arealmostalwaysfatal,thebestapproachisprevention. Alwaystakeyourpettoseehisveterinarianatleastonceayearforacheck up andmoreoftenthanthatifyourveterinarianrecommends.vaccinationsand boostersareroutinelyhandledatthesecheck upsandmissingevenoneinjection couldputyourpetatriskfordisease. Athome,getinthehabitofregularlycheckingyourki1enforfleas,ticksorskin conditions.preventingfleasandinternalparasitesiseasy.askyour veterinarian. Cat FACTS Herearesomefactsthatyoumightfindinteresting: Sightisoneofacat sstrongestsensesbecausehiseyesaresobig.infact,ifyour eyeswereproportionatelyasbigasacat stheywouldeachbeabouteightinches indiameter.eveninextremelydarksituationsyourcatseesanimageandis quicktodistinguisheventheslightestmovement. Yourki1en swhiskersareextremelysensitiveandhelpguidehimwhenthereis completeabsenceoflight.theyalertyourcattoanythinghemightbrushup against.hiswhiskersaresensitivetoairmovementandworkwiththeolfactory systemtoalerthimofchangesinhisenvironment. Yourki1en stailservesasanindicatorofmood! Carriedhigh,he sproudandcontented Extendedstraight,he sstalking Thrustingfromsidetoside,hemaybeangry Mount Tabor Animal Hospital - Kitty Basics 8 of 9
Purringisbelievedtocomefromvibrationsinthewallofoneofthemajorblood vesselsinthecat schest.thesevibrations,transmi1edtoyourcat supperair passages,resultsinapurringsound.catsstartpurringwhentheyareki1ens andmostofthempurrwhentheyaresecure,contentorsleeping.however, somecatspurrwhenillorfrightened. Kneading( makingbiscuits )isthemotionaki1enfirstmakesinstinctively whenheisnursingfromhismother.itconsistsofpressingfirstone,thenthe other,frontpawagainsthismother stummy.manycatscontinuetodothisas theygrowintoadulthood.ifisusuallyasignofcontentmentandaffectionandis oftenaccompaniedbypurring.inlieuofthemothercatyourcatwillknead anythingsoft,suchasyourfavoritesweater,apillow,yourlap,orevenyourhair. Claw sharpening orscratchingismerelysatisfyinghisinstincttostretchand cleanhisclaws.anotherreasoncats scratch istomarktheirterritory.theydo thisbyleavingavisiblesignandtheirscent,whichisreleasedfromglands betweentheirtoes.provideascratchingpostasasubstituteforyourfurniture. Mount Tabor Animal Hospital - Kitty Basics 9 of 9