Caring for Cats and Kittens

Caring for kittens

Owning a cat is a huge responsibility and taking proper care of your kitten is essential for its development into a healthy and happy adult.

When you purchase a kitten, they are usually 6-8 weeks of age and have only just been weaned from their mother. At this stage they are still hugely dependent on others to provide for them. A lot of time needs to be devoted to a new kitten to allow it to adequately socialise with its new family. Teaching a kitten how to behave will affect the way it interacts with people for the rest of its life.

Feeding a kitten properly is very important. Not all diets are ideal for kittens, and commercial diets made especially for kittens are usually best. Always try to make sure your kitten is getting enough food, and try not to restrict their feed intake when they are young.

Vaccinations are also very important, and are covered in another section of the Pet Centre. Worming and treating for fleas is also important. Kittens should be treated for worms every 2 weeks until they are fully vaccinated, at which point treatment every 1 month is all that is necessary. After they are 6 months of age, you can start treating your cat every 3 months for worms. Flea treatment may involve using a spray or skin application and should be repeated every month, especially when it is warm (including in Winter when its hot inside!).

Caring for your cat

Once your kitten has reached about 9 - 12 months of age it will have basically reached adult-hood. Many things will be changing with your cat, particularly its behaviour and eating habits.

Feeding your adult cat with a commercial diet formulated particularly for them is the best way to provide a good balance of nutrients. If you are feeding a commercial diet it isn't necessary to supplement your cat's diet with meat or any other treats.

Major behavioural changes often coincide with the onset of puberty at around 6 months of age. Your cat may be starting to roam more and show interest in other cats. Female cats may at the onset of heat may start to vocalise a lot and exhibit abnormal behaviours. Male cats may become increasingly territorial and may fight with other cats when they reach puberty.

Being carnivorous animals, cats instinctively like to hunt birds and other small animals. A well-fed cat will often bring prey home for its owner and is normal behaviour.

Problems most commonly encountered with adult cats usually involve injuries incurred from fights, parasitism (fleas or ear-mites) or inappropriate behaviour. If you suspect that your cat is not well it is always best to consult with your vet.

Elderly cats

With advancing age the bodily functions of your cat changes significantly. Older cats often have stiffer joints, reduced levels of exercise and reduced muscle tone. Many older cats with some exceptions also have lower metabolic rates and in conjunction with reduced activity require much lower energy intakes for maintenance. For this reason older cats often require much less food than other adult cats. There are a number of diets formulated with less energy specifically for older cats.

Like people, cats are also more prone to getting sick when they are older. On top of this there a lot of diseases which are more likely to be present in older cats. Some of these include hormonal diseases, kidney disease, periodontal disease and arthritis. For this reason you should pay particular care to your older cats as they are more prone to getting sick.