Helping your kitten to become a well rounded cat starts with the basics. Along with the information we provide in the other sections of the new kitten resources page, here are some things to know!
Yearly exams for overall good health
Yearly visits to the veterinarians are a must, even if your cat is strictly indoors. Cat owners unfortunately don’t always provide the same level of routine maintenance that their canine friends enjoy, but regular annual visits to the vet will prevent many life threatening illnesses from popping up later. Vaccinations and fecal checks, heartworm and flea prevention and maintaining a healthy weight for your kitten/cat are vital in maintaining good health.
Feeding you kitten
Feed your kitten quality food and the appropriate type for their age. Kittens receive a higher caloric food that if you continue to give to your adult cat can result in severe weight problems. Read the label on the food and make sure to understand the number of calories per volume. You can use a calculator such as the one provided by Pet Nutrition Alliance to determine how much you should be feeding. Pet Nutrition Alliance Calorie Calculator for Cats
The goal of maintaining a healthy weight for your cat is a high priority. Keeping your cat very active should also supplement the appropriate feeding plan. Use toys, laser pointers, cat nip and more to keep your cat engaged and active will keep them healthy through adulthood.
Importance of regular grooming
Inspect your cats skin and oat for any matting, tangling or flea dirt. Run your hands over the body and check for any abnormalities such as lumps. Your findings even if they seem insignificant should be reported to your vet for further investigation. In doing so, you can often spots potential issues while they are treatable and before they become more major.
Benefits of teeth cleaning
While they are a kitten, open your cat’s mouth and examine their teeth. If you can begin teeth cleaning early in life, you will be much more successful maintaining this as your cat ages. The overall health benefits to your cat of regular brushing are undeniable and can save your cat pain and you money in the future. It’s likely that as your cat ages , they will need a dental cleaning here at CHV. A dental cleaning includes full mouth x-rays, scaling and polishing. Tooth extractions may be necessary as well. In many cases your brushing can help prevent the need for those extractions, however there are some cats that simply seem to be predisposed to periodontal disease and tooth decay more than others. Your cat will often hide the pain that they may be in due to issues happening in their mouth. It’s quite common that owners will see dramatic changes in their cat’s behavior after a tooth cleaning with extractions becoming more social and active.
Importance of spaying/neutering your pet
Spaying and neutering provides many health benefits for your cat that are further described in that section. Spaying your female cat helps prevent uterine infections, breast cancer and unwanted pregnancy. A male cat neuter prevents testicular cancer, unwanted litters and can help with spraying and other behavioral issues. Further, a male neutered cat is less likely to roam which can commonly result in injury or death.
Socializing your kitten
Socialize your kitten by having many people handle him or her, take them for car rides in the carrier, introduce them to other animals and other experiences making sure they enjoy the outing. Before taking them out of the house, they should be fully vaccinated. Be sure to check with your veterinarian on when it is safe to do so.