Kitten Care for the New Cat Owner

If you recently brought home a new kitten, you may be wondering how to care for this little creature. Several kitten care tips will help you through your first vet visit, feeding, and playtime.

First Vet Visit

For your first pet visit, you will need the cat's medical history such as vaccinations and dewormings. Any medical conditions present in the kitten's siblings or relatives are also important to mention along with the type of food you are feeding. Make a list of any questions that you have. If you purchased pet insurance, be sure to bring the insurance policy information along with any forms that the vet needs to complete. If possible, collect a fresh stool specimen to bring with you. Arrive fifteen minutes prior to your scheduled appointment to allow time to fill out paperwork.

The temperature and weight of your kitten will be recorded. Since kittens of eight weeks of age or younger often weigh less than a pound, monitoring weight changes is very important as this can be a key indicator of your cat's overall health.

The vet will perform a physical examination of the kitten including the mouth, throat, eyes, nose and coat. The teeth will be examined along with the genitals. Sometimes owners get a little surprise when the vet tells them that the kitten is not the same sex as what they thought. The vet wil also listen to the lungs and heart. General neurologic and musculoskeletal checks will be done along with an assessment of the overall physical health of the cat. A stool specimen will be checked for parasites.

The vet should answer any questions that you have along with providing information on nutrition. You can also ask the vet to demonstrate how to groom your kitten. Vaccines will be given and any medication needed for administration at home will be dispensed.

Feeding

By the time you bring a six to eight-week-old kitten home, he or she should be eating solid food. Ask the former owner what food was fed and try to feed the same diet at least at first so that your kitten doesn't experience too much change at once. Keep fresh water available at all times.

Playtime

Kittens love to play and many household objects will make wonderful toys including flashlights, balls, empty thread spools, and feather lures. String, yarn, or rope can also be fun for kittens, but be sure to not leave your pet alone with these items as they can get wrapped up and trapped very easily. Feathers can also be swallowed and cause choking. Playtime is a great bonding opportunity with your new kitten.

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