• A cat is naturally inclined to investigate its new surroundings. It is suggested that the cat’s area of exploration be initially limited.
• After confining the cat to one room for the first few days, you should slowly allow access to other areas of the home.

• Most kittens receive a hostile reception from other household pest, especially from another cat.
• The existing cat must not feel that it is necessary to compete for food or attention
• The new kitten should have its own food and food bowl
• Although it is natural to spend time holding and cuddling the kitten, the existing cat will quickly sense that it is being neglected, the new kitten needs lots of love and attention, but the existing cat should not be slighted.
• The transition may be smoother if the existing cat is given more attention then normal.

Stimulating play is important during the first week. Stalking and pouncing are important play behaviors in kittens and have an important role in proper muscular development. If given a sufficient outlet for these behaviors with toys, your kitten will be less likely to use family members for these activities.

Disciplining a young kitten may be necessary, but harsh punishment should be avoided. Hand clapping, and using shaker cans or horns can be intimidating enough to inhibit undesirable behavior. Spray bottles are often effective as well.

Vaccines must be given as a series of injections. Ideally, they are given at about 6-9, 12, and 16 weeks of age, but this schedule may vary somewhat.

The routine vaccination schedule will protect your kitten from five diseases: feline distemper, three respiratory organisms, and rabies.

Intestinal parasites are common in kittens. Kittens can become infected with parasites almost as soon as they are born.

Tapeworms are the most common intestinal parasites of cats. Kittens become infected with them when they swallow fleas; the eggs of the tapeworm live inside the flea.

Cats infected with tapeworms will pass small segments of the worms in their stool. The segments are white in color and look like grains of rice. Tapeworm segments do not pass every day, or in every stool sample; therefore inspection of several bowel movements may be needed to find them.

Diet is extremely important in the growing months of a cat’s life.

• Name brand food, made by a national cat food company (not generic, or a local brand.)
• Feed food that is made for kittens until about 12 months of age.
• Buy food that has AAFCO certification.
• Feeding dry, canned or semi-most food is acceptable, each has advantages and disadvantages.
• Dry food is least expensive, and can easily be left in the food bowl at all times.
• Semi-most foods can be more appealing to the cat’s taste, however they might not be more nutritious.
• Table foods are not recommended. Because they are generally very tasty, cats can often begin to hold out for these and not eat their well-balanced cat food.

What can be done about fleas on my kitten?

You will want to kill fleas on your new kitten before they can become established in your house. Be sure that any flea product you choose is labeled safe for kittens. If you use a flea spray, the kitten should be sprayed lightly. Monthly products such as Revolution, Advantage, and Frontline, can be used on kittens as young as six weeks of age. These are liquids applied to the base of the neck. These products are very effective and highly recommended.

Why should I have my female cat spayed?

The female’s heat periods result in about 2-3 weeks of obnoxious behavior. Male cats are attracted from blocks away. It has been proven that as the female cat gets older, there is significant incidence of breast cancer and uterine infections. Spaying before she has any heat cycles will virtually eliminate the chances of developing breast cancer.

Why should I have my male cat neutered?

• Male cats go through a personality change when they mature they can become very possessive of their territory and mark it with urine to ward off other cats.
• Tomcat urine develops a very strong odor that will be almost impossible to remove from your house.
• Male cats will try constantly to enlarge their territory, which can mean one fight after the other.

We strongly urge you to have your cat neutered at about six to nine months of age. The longer he sprays or fights, the less likely neutering is to stop it.

There are three options you should consider.

• Nail trimming. Nails can be clipped however they will become sharp again in 4-7 days. Therefore you will have to have them clipped one to two times per week.
• Nail caps. Commercially available products generally made of smooth plastic and attach to the end of the nail with special glue. The nails are still present, but the caps prevent them from causing destruction. After 2-4 weeks the caps will have to be replaced.
• Surgical de-clawing. The removing of the nail at its base surgically. Very little post surgical discomfort, especially when done as a kitten. Once de-clawed your cat should always live indoors, as the ability to defend itself is compromised.