Care for kittens from the 1st month
Kitten Care: Everything You Need
As a rule, caring for a kitten begins even before this little miracle appears in your house. In this sense, the care and maintenance of kittens involve the preparation of several important things: bowls for food, bedding for sleeping, toilet and, of course, toys. In addition, you will need a scraper, brushes for combing your pet, shampoos for washing. Regardless of what breed your pet belongs to – long-haired and short-haired, from early childhood it is necessary to accustom him to combing, as well as bathing and brushing his teeth and ears.
Finally, you may need a cat house in which your pet will live. You shouldn’t buy it in advance, because taking care of kittens is a very delicate matter, and it is better to first watch the pet and find out at least some of its habits so as not to buy a house that doesn’t fit it at all.
Care for a monthly kitten
As a rule, they start selling already 4-week-old kittens, and care for a kitten of the 1st month should be very thorough. How to feed such a baby is likely to be prompted by the seller himself, but in any case, remember that care and feeding of kittens of such an “infant” age are like taking care of a small child: it is desirable to feed the animal with soft and liquid food, you can give a little milk or broth, decoctions with oatmeal, soft cereal and boiled meat.
In this case, be sure to let the kitten get comfortable in the house: let him study it gradually, and if you want to constantly take him in your arms, which is quite natural, try to do it without sudden movements and very carefully.
Kitten claws care
Such a procedure as grooming a kitten’s claws should start from the very first days of the kitten’s stay with you. First, the animal must immediately learn to sharpen its claws in a strictly defined place, so it needs a claw-point. These devices come from hemp, sesal or carpet, and it will be better if the breeder tells you which one your pet is accustomed to.
Also, the claws of the kittens should be trimmed. Of course, taking care of a monthly kitten does not yet require this, but older kittens must be taught to this procedure from childhood. There is nothing difficult in it: just gently grip the foot and remove the regrown claw with a special claw cutter. This should be done about once every two weeks.
Kitten ears care
Ears require special attention: they must be cleaned once a month, for which you can use baby oil or hydrogen peroxide solution. The tool for cleaning can be the usual cotton swab, which should be gently held on the ear, collecting dirt and sulfur, and in any case not to go deep into the ear. With this procedure, and begins caring for a little kitten, and it will be better if he gets used to it immediately.
Kitten eye care
The eyes of little kittens require special attention if only because they have only recently opened their eyes! In the veterinary pharmacy you can buy eye wash products that are used as drops and are used infrequently, and in addition, standard eye care for kittens should be carried out every day – they should be cleaned with a cotton swab dipped in ordinary boiled water.
Kitten teeth care
Finally, another important hygiene procedure that cares for kittens is to take care of their teeth. For the first time, you don’t even need a toothbrush – use the same cotton swab to gently brush your teeth, removing food debris and plaque.
In this case, care for a small kitten does not require too frequent such a procedure: do it at least once a week. And remember that caring for a kitten involves not only the implementation of all the rules, but also a careful attitude to the pet, which can save you from many problems.