Contents
- 1 How to raise kittens
- 1.1 Preparing a house for the cats
- 1.2 Feeding the cats
- 1.3 Providing water for cats
- 1.4 Allocate time to play with cats
- 1.5 Covering the basics that cats need
- 1.6 Prevent the cat from feeling lonely
- 1.7 Keep dangerous objects out of the cat's reach
- 1.8 Introduce family members slowly
- 1.9 Equipping other pets
- 1.10 Securing the cat during absence
- 1.11 Provide the first medical examination for the cat
How to raise kittens
Preparing a home for cats
To raise kittens at home, a safe place must be provided for them to feel comfortable, and this place should not be separated from the house. It could be an empty closet, a corner of the bedroom, or a rarely used room in the house.
Cats may choose at the beginning of their upbringing at home to socialize with their owner and his family members, and in any case, the decision must be left to them at first to socialize or to stay alone, and it may take time for them to socialize with humans, but in the end they will be friends with them.
Feed the cats
Newborn cats feed only in the first four weeks of their life on their mother’s milk, and if the young are brought to raise them at home without their mother, then it is necessary to consult a veterinarian or a shelter specialized and experienced in cat matters to work on bringing a large cat that can breastfeed and care for the young instead of their mother .
If this is not possible, the veterinarian should be asked about the correct way to prepare milk for the young and how to breastfeed them. You should also avoid bringing cow's milk to cats of any age. It is not easily digestible and may cause diarrhea in cats.
When the kittens are 3-4 weeks old, they can begin to be fed a milk replacer in shallow bowls, and then move on to providing moist, easy-to-chew kittens. Such as porridge made with warm milk substitute, or high-quality dry or canned foods.
Kittens are usually fed several times a day for the first five weeks of life until they get used to the new diet, and the young are usually weaned before they are 8 weeks old.
Provide water for cats
It is necessary to provide clean water for cats at all times, and to allow them to drink at any time they want, because dehydration may cause severe diseases for cats, and it is desirable that the water be placed in a small bowl that is replaced daily; It even attracts cats to drink from it.
The place of water must also be kept away from the cat's food and the place of its need.
Make time to play with the cats
Adoption of cats usually begins at an age ranging between 10-12 weeks, and cats at this young age feel shy, and to help them overcome this feeling, you must allocate time to play with them and treat them in a gentle way until they begin to accept their new reality.
Since the activity of kittens is concentrated in the morning, this period is considered the most suitable for sharing their time, and it is preferable to divide play into several short sessions with the cat, each ranging from 10-15 minutes per day.
Covering the basics that cats need
The basic needs are to provide a comfortable bed for the cat to sleep in, or a cardboard box lined with a blanket. A scratching post must also be provided to protect the furniture from damage. The scratching post is a wooden pole covered with cloth or carpet and used by the cat to scratch it with its claws.
Scratching posts come in many shapes and sizes, and the cat usually needs them to maintain the sharpness of its claws, stretch its muscles and define its area of control.
A litter box should also be provided and trained to use it after eating and after waking up by stimulating the cat to dig with its claws gently. If the cat succeeds in using the litter box, it must be praised, but if the cat urinates in the wrong place, it must not be punished.
Prevent your cat from feeling lonely
After adoption, a kitten often feels lonely because it is separated from its mother. He can be helped to overcome this feeling in several ways, including wrapping a watch in a towel and placing it in his bed, and the sound of the constant ticking of the clock will remind him of the sound of his mother's heartbeat; This will give him a sense of comfort, and he can also be held gently and talk to him calmly to reduce his feeling of stress.
It should be noted that the kittens must stay with their mother until they reach 12-14 weeks of age, and at this stage a person can adopt them and interact with them as they are able to play on their own.
Keep dangerous objects out of the cat's reach
The house must be prepared to be suitable for the kitten to live in, as electrical wires must be collected and kept away from them as much as possible, insect traps and poisonous plants must be removed, and kitchen cabinets, washing machine and clothes dryer must be closed to protect the cat.
You should also choose toys designed specifically for cats. it should not contain any small parts that you might accidentally swallow, and it is usually preferable to choose stuffed toys for it.
Introduce family members slowly
The cat can be introduced to family members one by one, and young children can be taught how to deal with cats gently, as well as the importance of washing hands after touching the cat.
The owner of the cat should avoid carrying it and handling it from one person to another, as this makes it feel anxious and uncomfortable, but must wait until the cat begins to approach family members (this is a sign of its feeling of comfort), and the tone of the voice must be kept low and calm so as not to feel panic and fear.
It should be noted that the cat must be introduced to the rooms of the house room by room in several stages, while trying to prevent it from hiding under the furniture, and in the event that it tries to climb the bed, it must be carried and placed on the floor.
Treating other pets
Other pets in the house must be prepared to accept dealing with the new cat. For example, if there is a dog inside the house, the kitten should not be left alone with it unattended, and the kitten should be prevented from running so that the dog does not try to chase it.
But if there are large cats in the house, they must be given attention. Then try to introduce the little cat to it and leave it to sniff it for a short time, and in the event that any aggressive behavior appears from the big cat, the cats must be separated from each other and given for a short period, then another attempt should be made within several days.
It should be noted the importance of offering a reward to all pets during this period to encourage them to accept the new cat.
Securing the cat while you are away
The cat's basic requirements must be provided in case its owner is forced to leave the house, so it must be placed in one room and provide the aforementioned basic requirements, which are a bed, a food dish, a water dish, a scratching post, a litter box and some toys.
You can also turn on the radio or television to provide sound inside the house, which makes the cat feel comfortable, and a small light should be turned on in case the owner will leave it at night.
It should be noted that a kitten under 4 months old can be left for 4 hours, while a 6-month-old cat can be left for up to 8 hours.
Securing the cat's first medical examination
The kitten must be shown to the veterinarian immediately upon its arrival at home or within several days, in order to examine it and make sure that it does not suffer from any health problems, and to ask him about any matter related to it.
It is also possible to inquire from the doctor about the importance of sterilizing cats and its usefulness in preventing health problems resulting from pregnancy and childbirth, and cats are usually sterilized at the age of 8 weeks.
In the event that there are other cats in the house, the adopted cat must be taken to the vet before arriving home. As it may be infected with an apparent disease, but in the event that it is not possible to show it directly to the doctor, it must be placed in a separate room from other animals, and to provide for its own basic needs, until it is presented to him.