How to take care of kittens

Kittens have unique and wonderfully playful personalities. If you have decided to adopt a kitten, there are steps to take that will keep your kitten healthy and happy.

First of all, the kitten will require several vaccinations between eight and sixteen weeks of age. These vaccinations will guard against upper respiratory illnesses, feline leukemia, rabies, and feline panleukopenia. Without these vaccinations a kitten can become seriously ill and possibly die.

It's also recommended to talk with your veterinarian about medications for preventing and controlling internal parasites. Parasites that can infect a kitten are tapeworms, coccidia, giardia, roundworms, and hookworms. A kitten infected with these parasites will experience vomiting, diarrhea, and can become extremely ill.

It is also a good idea to use products against external parasites like ticks and fleas. This is obligatory if your kitten often have contacts with the outsite world.

Talk to your veterinarian and find out which one is right for your pet. If your kitten is scratching its ears excessively it may have ear mites. A prescription is available from your veterinarian to eliminate ear mites.

Cats and kittens generally do not overeat, so food should be made available at all times. Feed your kitten a good quality food. This will ensure the kitten is getting the right amount of vitamins and minerals necessary for growth. Avoid feeding your kitten table scraps. Table scraps will cause a kitten to become overweight, and the kitten may not get the proper nutrition it requires. Remember, a little more expencive food may save you a lot of money in the future.

Most of the kittens are already toilet trained by their mothers if they are 2 month old or older. But if it is not, don't worry - training a kitten to use a litter box is generally easy. Make sure the litter box contains enough litter for digging and burying. About two to three inches is sufficient. Place the kitten in the litter box and gently guide the kitten's paw through the litter. This will teach the kitten what it is suppose to be doing. The kitten will instinctively know what to do next.

Scoop out any solid waste each day, and distribute any wet litter evenly in the box to allow it to dry. The litter box should be completely changed each week. Scrub the box using hot, soapy water before adding fresh litter. Scoopable litter is very convenient because the box will not have to be completely changed as often.

If your kitten suddenly stops using the litter box this could be a sign of a bladder infection, and your kitten will need to been seen by a veterinarian for treatment.

Playing with the kitten is also a important part of the growing process. You need to play with it every day if you want to be healthy. This will also make a social connection between you and the kitten.