| Cats can make extremely rewarding companions | | | | moderately-sized meals 3-5 times a day. After |
| and are usually much more self-sufficient than | | | | this, you can move to larger meals twice a day. |
| dogs, but in the early stages of their life, a little | | | | The Litter Tray |
| care and nurturing is required to get them off to | | | | Hopefully, your kitten will have been trained to |
| a good start. | | | | use a litter tray by its mother in the early weeks |
| The First Two Months | | | | of its life, so it will be relatively easy for you to |
| For the first 6-8 weeks of a kitten's life, kittens | | | | confirm the habit. However, the separation of the |
| should be with their mother, if possible. Looking | | | | kitten from its mother and the unfamiliar |
| after kittens who have been abandoned this early | | | | surroundings of your home might mean some |
| on in their lives requires a lot of extra care and | | | | reinforcement is necessary. |
| effort and you should seek specialist advice from | | | | A good idea is to place your kitten on its litter |
| a vet or cat rescue center if you aren't already | | | | tray first thing in the morning and after each |
| familiar with what's required. | | | | meal. That way, it should soon develop the |
| During this time, a kitten's mother should teach it | | | | correct associations and should start to seek out |
| to use a litter tray and introduce it to solid food, | | | | the litter tray whenever it needs to. |
| leaving the kitten ready to fend for itself, with a | | | | Grooming Your Kitten |
| little help from you. | | | | Cats spend several hours a day grooming |
| Moving In | | | | themselves, and often do not require much extra |
| Before your new kitten moves into your home, | | | | help from their human families. However, it can be |
| there are a few basic things you need to buy and | | | | a good idea to spend a little time grooming your |
| get ready:o Litter tray & littero Food and | | | | kitten and getting it used to being handled in this |
| water bowlso Cat foodo Scratching posto Bedo A | | | | way - it can make visits to the vet's easier too! |
| few cat toyso A cat carrier (for trips in the car) | | | | For long-haired cats, an occasional combing will |
| Try to buy food that is as close as possible to | | | | help keep your cat's coat tidy, and give you an |
| that which your kitten has been fed with, and | | | | opportunity to check for fleas or any other |
| make sure you choose a quiet, private place for | | | | problems. |
| the litter tray. | | | | Final Thoughts |
| Once you have these things ready, you are ready | | | | Caring for kittens is relatively easy and very |
| for your new family member. | | | | rewarding. A well cared-for kitten will grow into a |
| Feeding Your Kitten | | | | loyal and well-behaved cat whose company you |
| Kittens have big eyes but small stomachs, and for | | | | will enjoy for many years to come. |
| the first six months it is best to feed them | | | | |