The New Kitten

Some Pointers about Your New Friend

Discipline - Toys - Feeding - Scratching - Fleas
Grooming - Medications - Problem felines - Vaccinations

Cats have been domesticated since 1600 B.C. (or have they?) If cats are not cared for, they can quickly revert to a "wild" state of self sufficiency, so are they really domesticated? We need to understand instinctive behavior to understand why they do what they do. For instance, scratching upright surfaces is instinctive behavior even shown in declawed cats. Social play between kittens is most prevalent from four weeks to four months.

Discipline- a simple but effective technique to express your displeasure is to place fifteen pennies in an aluminum can and tape up the top. Kittens (and cats) hate the sound made by shaking this can, but your voice is not associated with the negativity. Another valuable disciplinary tool is a child's simple water gun. You can let a cat know that going outdoors is taboo from across a room or help define acceptable scratching surfaces. Incidentally, this tool is great for introducing new cats to a household. First of all, introduce a new cat gradually. Allow the new animal time to roam around the home alone to establish it's scent and become comfortable in this foreign land before introducing to the present cat(s). Have the squirt gun ready for fights, but be cautious not to spray any animal in the eyes.

Scratching
Scratching is a biological necessity for your cat. So you can't really punish her for clawing the furniture, unless you have provided her with an alternative like a scratching post. If your cat has already scratched something, cover it with plastic and she will likely turn to the post instead. When you catch your cat scratching furniture, try squirting her with a water pistol or squirt bottle and use a firm "no." When she scratches her scratching post, reward her with praise. For additional information see Claw Care.

Toys- kittens are a joy to watch as they play naturally. You can encourage this fun by using simple items such as string (be careful that a kitten does not swallow string though) or paper bags. Also kittens and cats need a carpeted scratching post that is OK to use if they are not declawed. There are many other beneficial toys to be found at pet stores that encourage good exercise.

Feeding- Research shows that a kitten grows from infancy to young adulthood in approximately one year, and during its first 20 weeks a kitten can have a 2,000 percent increase over its birth weight. At 26 weeks of age, the growth rate starts to level off. However, kittens continue to develop inside with normal growth ending at about 12 months of age. Kittens also require about twice the energy per pound of body weight as a mature cat.

Kittens should be completely weaned by six to eight weeks and be accustomed to a regular diet of a complete and balanced growth-type food for kittens. Kittens require higher levels of protein than puppies, and also have a unique requirement for the amino acid taurine. Lack of sufficient taurine in a kitten's diet could result in impaired vision. For these and other reasons, it is recommended that kittens be fed only foods developed for kittens and not puppy food. When a nutritionally complete and balanced food is offered to a normal, healthy kitten, supplementing the diet with vitamins and minerals is not necessary. Supplementation may upset the nutrient balance of the food and too much may be harmful.

It is recommended that kittens be fed two to three times a day during this period of rapid growth, and many owners make food available at all times along with a source of fresh, clean water. Dry food can be moistened with warm water to help soften the food and make it easier to eat. Moistened dry food or canned food left at room temperature can become unpalatable and may even spoil if left out for several hours, so uneaten portions should be removed and discarded after one hour. As with other animals, any diet changes should be made gradually over a 7 to 10 day period to avoid causing digestive upset.

Kittens tend to be "occasional" eaters as they take a large number of small meals throughout the day. Normally the kitten approaches the food, sniffs it quickly and then starts to eat. After consuming a small portion of the food, the kitten leaves and returns at intervals to eat. This behavior should not be confused with a reluctance or refusal to eat. Too much noise, new surroundings, the cleanliness of food/water dishes may all be factors to consider if a kitten refuses to eat. If food refusal is prolonged and/or the kitten shows signs of illness such as listlessness, diarrhea, repeated vomiting, discharge from the eyes or nose, straining to urinate or constipation, or unusual hiding in dark places, a veterinarian should be consulted.

From six months to one year, kittens should be fed twice a day if they are fed a canned, soft-moist, or moistened dry food. Dry food can be fed free choice, filling the bowl with a sufficient quantity of food once each day. However, overfeeding should be avoided. Kittens should be fed as individuals, and amounts to feed will depend upon activity and body condition. It's a good idea to start with amounts recommended on the package label, and to use this information as a guide. Adjust the amount fed to obtain a healthy body condition. It is also appropriate to consult with your veterinarian when having the kitten examined on a routine health check.

Package feeding instructions should be used as a guide to any cat's daily feeding. Active cats, or cats exposed to the outdoors, may require more food in order to maintain a good body condition. If a cat becomes overweight, its food intake should be lowered. A veterinarian can help the owner assess the cat's body condition and, if necessary, help plan an appropriate weight reduction program.

Cats, like people, have individual food preferences. Kittens from the same litter may acquire different tastes and eating habits. However, the cat's reputation for being a finicky eater is usually the result of feeding practices established by the owner. The more variety a cat is offered, the more variety it will expect. With the wide choice of commercial cat foods, it is easy to provide a nutritionally complete and balanced diet that a cat will eat.

Saying "no" when your pet looks at you with pleading eyes and coaxes for food from the table can be difficult. However, succumbing to your pet's wiles has the potential to create several problems.

Consistently adding human food to a nutritionally balanced commercial pet food may upset the nutrient balance of the diet. You may also be creating behavior problems. Your pet will come to expect food from the table when it coaxes. If a handout is not forthcoming, the pet may steal food from the table or the food preparation area.

To avoid this problem, try feeding your pet at regularly scheduled times, such as when the family is having breakfast or dinner. Feed only enough to maintain your pet in good body condition. Ignore its coaxing for additional food, or give hugs instead.

Supplementing with human food adds calories to a pet's diet and may lead to an obese pet. When you do give your pet treats, use those formulated for dogs or cats. Remember that the treats contain calories. Reduce the amount of your pet's regular diet proportionally to the treats being offered.

Perhaps you are among the pet owners who worry about whether or not your pet is getting all the nutrients it needs from a commercial food. Having a variety of foods in our diets is necessary to get the balanced nutrition we, as humans, require. However, all the needed variety is built into complete and balanced pet foods.

When it comes to proving optimum nutrition for our pets, reputable pet food manufacturers have done the work for us. Research scientists have formulated commercial diets containing all the nutrients normal, healthy dogs or cats need for a particular life stage. Not only are high quality pet foods nutritionally balanced, they are also formulated to be highly palatable to the pet.

Some foods fed in excess may cause health problems. For example, repeatedly adding raw eggs to a pet's diet may cause a deficiency of the vitamin biotin. Egg whites contain an enzyme which destroys the vitamin biotin. Symptoms of biotin deficiency include dermatitis, loss of hair and poor growth.

Milk, if it is offered, should be in small amounts and never used as a substitute for water. Some adult dogs and cats are not capable of digesting large amounts of milk. It contains the sugar lactose, which requires the enzyme lactase for breakdown in the intestinal tract. If the intestinal tracts does not contain sufficient lactase, consumption of a high level of milk may cause diarrhea.

Although we may associate meat or meat by-products with a dog or cat's nutritional needs, meat in itself is not a balanced diet. While meat is a good source of certain nutrients, it must be combined with other ingredients to provide complete nutrition. High quality pet foods provide the nutritional balance a pet needs.

When it comes to minerals, some pet owners believe that additional calcium, and possibly other minerals, should be added to the diets of pregnant and nursing females and growing puppies and kittens. It is true that more minerals are needed at these times, but they are normally obtained through increased consumption of a high quality nutritionally balanced diet. Adding them out of proportion to other nutrients can create skeletal deformities and other problems.

High quality pet foods contain levels of vitamins adequate to meet a pet's needs. Excessive supplementation of certain vitamins can create toxicity symptoms. This is especially true with vitamin A. When a pet owner consistently adds liver to a nutritionally complete diet or supplements with a vitamin A source, poor growth, abnormal eye conditions and impaired reproductive performance could result.

Wheat germ and cod liver oil are sources of vitamin D. Excessive supplementation of vitamin D from these or other sources over a long period can result in soft tissue calcification and skeletal disorders.

Some cat owners feed baby food to induce a cat to eat or as an ongoing treat. Recent studies suggest that certain baby foods contain levels of onion powder which are toxic to cats. If your cat is not eating, it may be a sign of illness and your veterinarian should be consulted. Commercial cat treats are your best bet to reward your cat for being your good friend.

Always keep chocolate out of your pet's reach. It contains Theo bromine, which is toxic to pets.

Sometimes it's difficult to take a firm stand with a pet who is a consummate "con artist" and knows how to get its own way. Remember the problems excessive supplementation may cause. This should help you take a firm stand and feed a nutritionally balanced diet that tastes good to your pet and is good for their health.

Fleas- these ectoparasites are very difficult to control after they are established, so it is much better to treat aggressively at first signs. The best recommendation anyone could ever make in this regard is to treat all animals and the total environment every two weeks until the cycle of flea and resistant egg-pupal-larvae stages is broken. If you treat only partially or only occasionally, fleas will probably remain a problem in your home. Fleas and the health related problems they cause are frequently the reason for a client visit to our hospital during the warm months in Memphis. The more aggressive you are, using the proper insecticides from the start, the least you will have to spend and endure in the long run.

Grooming- first of all, never use human shampoo on a kitten. Their skin is another area of difference between animals and people. Animal shampoos are properly pH adjusted. Generally, you should bathe your kitten as seldom as possible; bathing too frequently washes away protective oils and may even create dermatitis problems. Once every few months may be sufficient. Additionally, if a specific shampoo for a skin problem is prescribed, that same shampoo may be incorrect for the skin condition several months later. Ask your veterinarian to look at an animal for the best shampoo recommendation.

Medications- most medicines may be more easily administered by placing the animal on a high slick surface (like a washing machine or a table). Be careful to only use recommended medicines. Aspirin and Tylenol for example, may be fatal to a cat. Never give cough medicines without prior instruction.
One important exception to all this is Kaopectate. This product is basically a clay that absorbs toxins and adds to the bowel movement to effectively treat simple diarrhea. It can be used safely in kittens at approximately one-eighth to one-fourth teaspoonful twice daily for an average ten week old kitten.
For vomiting, the best initial management is to give nothing by mouth. Take up all food and water and give small amounts of liquids or ice only after 1-2 hours of normal behavior. If the vomiting continues or is uncontrollable, seek veterinary attention.
General dewormers for kittens will treat the most dangerous types of worms, but if you notice small white worms in the feces, please contact your veterinarian. These are probably tapeworms (transmitted by fleas) and require special medications to treat. There is nothing available over the counter to treat these worms. For reference, a kittens normal rectal temperature is 101-102"F.

Problem felines - there are many specifics your veterinarian can help you with as they occur. One of the most common is inappropriate eliminations or non-use of the litter box. Ask your veterianarian about individual problems as they arise.

Vaccinations - an important fact to remember is that kittens get immunity from their mothers through nursing. While this maternal immunity is important to protect the young kitten, it causes vaccination problems so that at least two vaccinations are necessary. Cats that will be allowed access to the outdoors should also be protected against Feline Leukemia and Feline Infectious Peritonitis.

Summary- some of these topics are the subjects of entire books. The purpose of this information is to increase your awareness and enable you to understand that there are many complexities of animal care. Please consult your veterinarian to provide additional help as your questions arise.

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