choosing a kitten

Written by Mike    Friday, 27 February 2009

CHOOSING A KITTEN Most people deliberately buying a feline companion prefer a kitten so that they can enjoy its youth as well as its adulthood. Sometimes, however, a grown cat adopts a family and brings wisdom right with it. Either circumstance is a promise of potential happiness, except in those cases where an owner, disappointed that the cute kitten has grown into an adult, expels or abandons the grown cat care for himself. If you can’t see a permanent relationship with your kitten, don’t buy him. Choose a kitten that is eight to ten weeks old and entirely weaned. Be sure he has made a healthy start toward adulthood before you take him home. As soon as he is four months old, he should have permanent “shots” against distemper (contagious enteritis). If you are adopting an adult cat, take it immediately to a veterinarian for protective vaccination against distemper. Beware of kittens with runny eyes or noses, rough, dull or dirty coats—especially around the hind legs and tail. Weight-for-age is a good measure of a cat’s well-being. Starting from a birth weight of a few ounces, a cat should gain about a pound a month for the first six months, thereafter a half to three-quarters of a pound each month up to maturity. Adult females usually weigh from six to ten pounds, males from eight to as much as fifteen or sixteen pounds. Castrates of either sex will gain one to five pounds or more over their “whole” siblings. The first night or two, placing a hot-water bottle or an electric heating pad, set as low as possible, in a kitten’s bed nay keep him from crying. For a day or two, keep him in one room, letting him explore every inch; then introduce him to other rooms, one at a time. This is especially important if there are already other pets in the family. Introduce these to the newcomer gradually, and only after he is quite familiar with you and the house. Cats are very much creatures of habit ; you must start with them as you intend to continue. Keep a new cat indoors for at least a week. If in that time you have fed it well, kept it from pain or fright and have gained its confidence in your affection, it will not run away. Some people believe that a cat that has groomed itself all over will accept the new home. To induce washing, place a dab of butter or Vaseline on each front paw. As the cat licks it off, he will start the washing routine and make himself at home. The grease will prevent hairballs. FEEDING In the feeding of your cat or kitten, remember that he is a carnivorous animal and needs meat, must always have fresh food, and more frequent feedings than a dog. A cat digests food very slowly, so he should be fed at long intervals and should never be allowed to nibble.

Last Updated ( Friday, 27 February 2009 )