What Do Kittens Need

Kittens have very specific developmental needs for the first 10 weeks of their lives in terms of nourishment warmth socialization and excretion.

What do kittens need. Many practices offer packages that include multiple procedures for kittens. For instance a new kitten might receive a physical examination a first vaccination a deworming a test for feline leukemia and a fecal examination all during the same visit. For this reason most breeders and shelters typically wait until their kittens are of age before they re put up for adoption. A kitten is naturally curious and needs toys that are safe and fun to play with.

This may include training exercising grooming and playing or may just be lap time on the couch. Vaccines need to be given at certain ages and in specific intervals to be effective. If you have a frightened kitten then the fishing pole design of the toy will help create trust because it puts you at enough of a distance so she can relax and enjoy the game. Most states require cats to receive at least a rabies vaccine which is not done until your kitten is a little older.

Choose toys made especially for cats ones that cannot be splintered torn apart or swallowed. Kittens should be eating a food that is labeled as either a kitten food or an all life stages food which essentially means it is formulated for the most nutritionally demanding life stages and less appropriate for other mature life stages. A celluloid ball that rattles a catnip mouse or a hard rubber mouse is perfect. A responsible pet parent should spend at least one hour per day giving direct attention to his or her cat.

You should also discuss other vaccines such as rhinotracheitis calicivirus and panleukopenia with your veterinarian. Cats need to be fed once to twice a day more often in the case of kittens and need a constant supply of fresh water. Even if you already have a cat make sure the new kitten will have its own bed food and water dishes and a couple of toys. Once a kitten is weaned don t offer milk as it can give her diarrhea.

Kittens get everything they need from a mother cat s milk for the first four weeks of life and are usually able to chew dry food by 6 to 7 weeks and completely weaned by 8 to 10 weeks of age. Kittens need large amounts. The same goes for adult cats for that matter. Set up a bathroom or other small room with these items for your kitten to stay in for the first few nights in its new home.

For instance your kitten may need to receive a rabies vaccine along with the fvrcp vaccine. By six to seven weeks old they should be able to chew dry food and you ll no longer need to moisten it.