Kitten Care - Understanding Kitten Care

Name: Veterinary Services
Brand: Loch Haven Veterinary Hospital

What is the most important thing to know about raising a healthy kitten?

The most important thing to know is that kittens require proper nutrition, playtime, and veterinary care.

Dr. Kalah St. Pierre
Loch Haven Veterinary Hospital

What are the right and wrong ways to pick up my kitten?

The right way would be to use both hands and pick them up around their chest without grabbing too hard. You should avoid scruffing them or grabbing them in a way that can be scary.

How can I tell if my kitten is happy and healthy?

Happy and healthy kittens are playful and have a good appetite. You should not see any signs of illness like eye discharge, skin issues, sneezing, or lethargy.

How should I feed my kitten?

Make sure your kitten is eating a proper kitten diet, whether it's kibble or canned food.

What are some products I might need for my kitten?

You may need some flea control, heartworm prevention, proper nutrition, and vaccinations from your vet. Also, make sure you have a lot of toys and bedding.

How soon should I bring my new kitten to see a veterinarian?

You should schedule an appointment as soon as you get your new kitten to ensure they're healthy.

How can I get the most out of my first vet visit with my new kitten?

Talk all about your kitten's lifestyle, where they came from, their diet, and if they're eating the proper food. Discuss which vaccinations are appropriate and when you should spay or neuter your kitten.

What will a veterinarian look for during an initial kitten care visit?

Your veterinarian will ensure that your kitten is healthy and look for any abnormalities like upper respiratory infections. They will also check if their belly feels normal, if their heart sounds okay, and ensure that they don't have any parasites on their fur or in their stool.

What are some early signs and symptoms of health issues in a kitten?

Some kittens may come with eye discharge, sneezing, lethargy, or a poor appetite, which likely means they're sick.

Why is it important to avoid self-diagnosing possible kitten health problems?

Kitten health problems can be very serious and cats hide illness very well. Your veterinarian will likely be able to pick up on things that you may not be noticing.

When should my kitten get vaccinations?

It depends on when you get your kitten and how young they are. We usually start vaccines between 8 to 12 weeks of age.

What do you need to know about kitten behavior?

Kittens are typically very active. They often bite and scratch, which may seem aggressive, but that's just a playful kitten. You'll need some training to teach them right from wrong and how to properly play with you and your family.

If you still have other questions and you'd like to reach out to us, you can call us directly at (407) 896-0941, or you can email us at [email protected]. But please do reach out, and we'll get back to you as fast as we can. Don't forget to follow us on social media Facebook, Instagram

Kitten Care - FAQs 1

Dr. Kalah St. Pierre
Loch Haven Veterinary Hospital

Do all kittens need to be bottle fed?

If the mom is present, then we don't need to bottle feed them. However, if the mom is not present and the kittens are less than six to eight weeks of age, then they likely will need to be bottle fed.

How do I go about bottle feeding my kitten?

You have to ensure you get a bottle with a small enough nipple that they can latch onto it. Moreover, you should be using an official kitten formula. It's important not to use other types of milk or formulas that are not meant for kittens.

At what point should kittens start eating solid food?

Kittens start to develop their baby teeth around six to eight weeks of age, and that's when their gums start to erupt. This is the ideal time to introduce kibble or canned food.

Is it safe to give my kitten regular milk?

I would advise against giving them anything other than formula or milk that's specifically designed for kittens.

What kind of food should I feed my kitten?

If they are over six to eight weeks of age, you can start introducing a diet of kitten kibble or canned food. But if they're under that age, you'll need to continue bottle feeding them.

Do kittens need to drink water?

Once they start eating regular food, yes, they do. However, if they're still on formula or milk, the water content is already included in that.

How often do kittens need to eat?

If a kitten is on regular food, I would recommend offering three to four meals throughout the day with little treats in between.

How can I be sure that my kitten is getting enough to eat?

Kittens should be gaining weight every single day, so obtaining a small scale and weighing them every morning to monitor their weight gain will be very useful.

Kitten Care - FAQs 2

Dr. Kalah St. Pierre
Loch Haven Veterinary Hospital

What should I ask my veterinarian at my kitten's first appointment?

It would be helpful to ask what type of vaccinations your kitten may need, what type of flea control they might need, and discuss a proper diet.

How often does my kitten need to go to the veterinarian?

It depends on their age. Typically, most young kittens will need two or three visits for their initial vaccinations, then after that just annual visits.

What vaccinations does my kitten need?

There are a few we offer here at our clinic. We offer the FVRCP, Leukemia virus, and the Rabies vaccination.

What kind of preventative care does my kitten need?

Good preventative care would include a proper diet, grooming, and flea control.

Does my kitten need vaccinations even if I keep them inside?

Yes, we still recommend vaccinations even for indoor kitties.

When should I get my kitten spayed or neutered?

Typically around six months of age, but that may vary depending on their lifestyle or what's best for your kitten.

Kitten Care - FAQs 3

Dr. Kalah St. Pierre
Loch Haven Veterinary Hospital

How do I know if a kitten is orphaned?

Oftentimes, the mom will be nearby, or if she's run off to find something to eat, she often comes back relatively soon.

Can I hold a newborn kitten?

If mom is around, I would try to avoid touching the kitten, because she may abandon the kitten if she's messed with or has a different scent.

How do I keep a newborn kitten warm?

I would try and keep it close to your body temperature, or you can use something like a heating pad, but put plenty of blankets on top of it so the kitten doesn't actually touch the heating pad.

How do I care for a kitten without their mother?

Bottle feeding will be very important, and then consult with your veterinarian to see if they need any other treatments like deworming or flea control.

How do I care for a newborn kitten that's been found with the mother?

I would allow the mother to do most of the caring. I would try to avoid intervening with feeding and handling, let the mom do what she's meant to do.

How do I know if a kitten I've found is healthy?

Oftentimes, they'll be of good weight, they won't be too skinny and bony. A healthy kitten is usually an active and happy cat.

What is fading kitten syndrome and how can I prevent it?

Fading kitten syndrome is a generalized term where the kitten fails to thrive. It could be due to a congenital abnormality or an infectious cause. Oftentimes we can't intervene or save the kitten.

Kitten Care - FAQs 4

Dr. Kalah St. Pierre
Loch Haven Veterinary Hospital

How much biting and scratching is normal kitten behavior?

Kittens bite and scratch all the time. It's their way of exploring the environment and learning how to socialize with other cats.

Why is my kitten going to the bathroom outside the litter box?

Sometimes kittens don't really understand that they're supposed to use the litter box. I recommend continuing to place them in the litter box, teaching them that's the spot for their bathroom needs.

My kitten cries at night. What should I do?

Your kitten is likely feeling lonely and looking for you or the rest of their family. Offering a toy or a snack might help. Try to comfort them and put them back to bed.

Why is my kitten so aggressive?

Your kitten might just be very playful and still learning what's too aggressive. Try to be gentle with them and offer a lot of toys, which they can play with instead.

How can I get my kitten to calm down?

Engaging your kitten in a lot of playtime, grooming, and interaction can tire them out, allowing them to rest better.

How can I get my kitten to play appropriately?

To teach your kitten to play appropriately, demonstrate that toys are much more fun than your hands. Offer positive reinforcement with the toys you want them to play with, as opposed to your hands.

Is it okay to punish my kitten?

I recommend using positive reinforcement to teach your kitten right from wrong, rather than punishment.

Does my kitten need a scratching post?

Yes, kittens do enjoy scratching on things that help them keep their nails in good shape. They especially like scratching posts that they can either stand up on or use while on the ground.

How can I bond with my kitten?

Bonding with your kitten usually occurs through feeding, grooming, and playing.

Kitten Care - FAQs 5

Dr. Kalah St. Pierre
Loch Haven Veterinary Hospital

What are the core vaccine requirements for kittens?

Core vaccine requirements would include a rabies vaccination and the FVRCP vaccine.

What are the non-core vaccines for kittens and why does my kitten need them?

We also offer the feline leukemia virus vaccine and it depends on the lifestyle of your kitten whether your vet will recommend that vaccine or not.

How soon should my kitten be vaccinated?

We'll often vaccinate kittens as early as 8 weeks of age but sometimes a little bit later in life.

What is the recommended vaccine schedule for kittens?

We'll usually start vaccines around 8 weeks of age, boost to them again at 12 weeks and then again at 15 weeks.

Does my kitten need vaccines if they're only going to stay indoors?

We still recommend fully vaccinating your kittens even if you expect them to be only indoor cats just so they build up their immunity while they're young.

Are there any risks or side effects associated with kitten vaccines?

Most kittens do very well with vaccines but some can be a little hypersensitive, cause some lethargy, discomfort or other illnesses if their bodies react too strongly to the vaccines.

What if my kitten misses a vaccination?

Your veterinarian will likely restart the series and may recommend an extra vaccine booster.

Can my kitten go outside if not all vaccinations have been given yet?

We don't recommend it. We recommend keeping your kitten inside until they're fully vaccinated, around 4 months of age.

Why is it important to get my kitten vaccinated by a veterinarian?

To ensure that the vaccines are handled properly and that they're receiving the appropriate vaccines that are required for your cat.

Kitten Care - FAQs 6

Dr. Kalah St. Pierre
Loch Haven Veterinary Hospital

What is the most important thing to know about raising a kitten?

Kittens require a lot of attention, playtime, and socialization. If you adopt them young, it's important to provide appropriate training and socialization so they're manageable when they get older.

What should I consider before adopting or buying a new kitten?

I would ensure that you have a lifestyle that allows you to dedicate time towards your cat, train them properly, and provide appropriate medical care.

What should I look for in a kitten?

If you're looking to adopt a kitten and you're choosing between one or another, check that they are healthy and have the right energy and temperament for what you're looking for, whether it's a highly energetic cat or one that's more calm and prefers to sleep most of the time.

Kitten Care - Understanding Kitten Care

Kitten Care - FAQs 1

Kitten Care - FAQs 2

Kitten Care - FAQs 3

Kitten Care - FAQs 4

Kitten Care - FAQs 5

Kitten Care - FAQs 6

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