Kittens are super adorable, and it is wonderful to have one as a pet. While it’s fun to have a kitten at home, it’s important to understand your kitten’s various needs during the different stages of its life and take care of it in the right way. ‘How to take care of kittens’ is a question that most first-time kitten owners ask. But taking care of newborn kittens can be quite a hassle-free process if you follow a routine and understand a few do’s and don’ts about kitten care. We, at IAMS, are here to help you with this process in every way we can.
Why Kitten Care Is Important?
Kitty care is extremely important to make sure your kitten grows up to be a healthy cat. While in the kitten stage, it is still trying to get used to the new surroundings. Therefore, we recommend that you be by its side and help the little kitten acclimatize to its new house.
What Does It Mean To Raise A Kitten?
A kitten becomes a part of your family right from day one. But raising a kitten might sound like a strenuous job if you’re a new pet parent, but it isn’t. The whole process can be quite fun and will help you bond with your kitten.
What Are The Important Aspects Of A Kitten That One Has To Look After?
Some of the most important aspects of looking after a kitten are:
- Hygiene – Maintaining good hygiene is always important. You must clean your kitten’s den regularly.
- Feeding Nutrition-Rich Food – Your kitten needs a nutritious, balanced diet for healthy growth and development. It is advisable that you buy IAMS Perfect Portions Healthy Kitten food. Chicken is the basic ingredient of this recipe. This premium kitten food promotes brain development and helps build a healthy immune system.
- Regular Health Check-Ups – Take your kitten to the vet regularly to understand its progress in terms of behavior and health.
- Grooming – It is advisable to start grooming your cat at an early age, especially if it has a furry coat or long hair.
Understanding Kitten Development Stages
As a first-time kitten owner, you might not be aware of the growth stages your little feline friend will go through, but it’s very important to understand them. So, here’s a table that can help you with the same:
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Growth stage
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0-2 weeks
(Neonatal)
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2-7 weeks
(Socialization)
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7-14 weeks
(Most Active Period)
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3-6 months
(Ranking Period)
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6-18 months
(Adolescence)
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Character traits
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Learns to incline towards sounds
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Learns to socialize
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This is the most active play period of your kitten
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In this stage, the kitten gets most influenced by other kittens in their litter or even other animals.
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Asserts maximum dominance in this stage.
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Eyes start to open by this time
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Senses of smell and hearing are fully developed by the 4th week
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Starts expressing affection through hugging and licking
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Starts understanding and asserting ranks on people it lives with.
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Exhibits sexual behavior if not spayed.
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If the kitten is separated from its mother or siblings, it may tend to get aggressive towards people and other cats.
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Sight is fully developed by the 5th week, and they can run and pounce without colliding with obstacles
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Can paw, mouth, and hold objects as well
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Starts grooming itself
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Also starts chasing its tail and starts pouncing and leaping around
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Starts developing sleep patterns, motor abilities and interactions
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Preparing For A Kitten
How Kitten Care Differs With Growing Age?
The major difference that occurs in taking care of kittens when they grow up is switching their food. Cats need more nutrition and vital elements that keep its body strong and healthy. It is advisable to switch to premium cat food while transitioning your kitten to adult cat food.
Impact On The Kitten If Care Is Not Taken:
If your cat is neglected and does not receive proper care, attention, and nutrition, it may become depressed and weak. Your cat may also contract diseases if it is not kept clean.
What Are Some Of The Preventive Care Measures That Could Be Taken Up For Kittens?
While in the kitten stage, it is advisable to schedule frequent visits to the vet to check on the overall health of your kitten. It is advisable to keep a tab on their allergies while it is in the kitten stage.
Tips For 1st-time Cat Owners
Here are a few tips for first-time cat owners:
- It is advisable to familiarize your kitten with its litter box right from the moment it is brought home.
- You may also show your kitten around its crate so that it understands that this is its own space.
- If, at times, your kitten bites you, sternly say ‘no’ to it. By doing this, your kitten will learn that these actions are not acceptable.
- You may also reward your kitten every time it obeys your instructions. This will condition them to inculcate good habits as well.
