Choosing a Kitten

First an foremost, and you will see me saying this over and over again, please try to choose your animals from animal shelters or pet stores who offer pet adoptions! Besides a number of “no-kill” shelters many shelters do see the need due to overcrowding to put animals to sleep. Save a life - be rewarded with a companion for life!

If you are looking for a family pet, then the most important consideration will be temperament and health. If you are looking for a cat to show or breed let the breeder know this when you first enquire to be sure they have suitable kittens for you to view. A breeding or show cat should meet the breed standard showing no obvious faults. I am not a breeder, but our site provides you with useful links to experts on that field.

A healthy kitten will have bright and shiny eyes, glossy coat, clean bottom and an alert demeanour. Ears should also be clean, nose cool and damp without any nasal discharge with pale pink mouth and gums.

Make sure your kitten is dewormed, or gets dewormed. See our product review on our sistersite PetStuffReviews.com for Dewormers .

Feeding Guidelines

Kittens like adult cats require wholesome, high-protein food and a constant supply of water. Food is served more frequently with kittens than with adult cats. Food and water bowls should be kept clean at all times.

Below I’ve listed some general feeding guidelines for your new kitten sorted by age.

Kittens should be feed tinned or fresh food as part of a balanced diet with quality kitten dry cat food from a reputable manufacturer left down at all times to graze on.

Your reward for feeding your kitten a well-balanced diet is a healthy beautiful adult cat.

Toilet Training

I have experienced that cats are very easy to toilet train. Most of the time it was only necessary to show the kitten where the toilet is and/or gently put it in the toilet. If your kitten is very young - though I recommend NOT to adopt a kitten younger than 6 - 8 weeks - it is important that the kitten is restricted to one area for the first few weeks and only allowed into other areas of your home under supervision. Make sure that this restricted area contains a place for the food and water, and a toilet, which should be kept away from the feeding place. Some cats/kitten simply do not like the feeding and toilet area to be too close together.

Once your kitten has been allowed to roam freely, always keep a watchful eye and keep taking your new kitten back to it’s litter tray at regular intervals.

When your new kitten first arrives home, it is also advisable to use the same cat litter as your breeder while your kitten settles in. Later you can gradually change this to a brand of your choice. The litter tray should also be kept clean at all times. Changing all or some of the litter tray contents daily is recommended to avoid accidents. Cats will quickly find an alternative site to use as a toilet if the tray is not cleaned daily.