HH Feeds caught up with Nicole Ham, one of our Pet Reps, who has over 10 years of experience in the Pet Industry and is an avid animal lover. Below are some tips Nicole shared with us to help you on this new adventure!
Cat Carrier
Keep it cosy by choosing a carrier that doubles as a bed or find one with a “lid” to ease stress getting in and out during a veterinarian exam. Let your kitten explore the carrier long before the appointment, and reward them with treats for spending time inside.
Vet Visits & Vaccinations
The veterinarian can make sure your kitten is healthy and free of parasites like fleas and intestinal parasites that can be passed on to people. Be sure to get to the veterinarian within the first week of getting your new kitten.
Microchip to Prevent Heartbreak
Cats like to roam, so microchip them so that if they lose their collar or get picked up and taken to a shelter or vet, they can scan them for your details.
Kitten-Proof your Home
Check you have no toxic plants that they might want to chew on, especially lilies.
Ensure not to leave loose earbuds, headphones or strings around as kittens can get tangled in them
Scratching Surfaces
Provide scratching posts or surfaces near resting areas to avoid them scratching up your furniture. One study revealed that kittens and younger cats preferred rope over other substances such as carpet or cardboard.
Why they scratch:
- Sharpens the claw by dislodging the old nail
- Marks surfaces with pheromones in order to communicate the cat’s presence
- Shows visual markers of the cat’s territory
Litter boxes and Litter
Rule of thumb is one litter box per cat. When starting out, make sure the edges aren’t too high for the kitten to get in and out and once they are big enough, you can move them into a bigger litter box.
The litter box needs to be easily accessible; you should scoop out urine and stools daily and if you are not using a clumping litter ensure you clean it weekly. Avoid that stink! Kittens like a soft feel under their paws so avoid hard litter.
Feeding your kitten
Cats prefer to eat in a quiet location where they won’t be startled. They need a balanced diet to meet their high energy requirements and to help growing kittens with brain and coordination development. Wet food is a treat, always give them wet food before kibble as the kibble will help with cleaning their teeth if you cannot manage brushing them.
Play with your kitten
Cats love to play and often will find the simplest object to play with so when looking at toys, look at light feathery wands, balls that jingle, bounce or move easily. Try find light objects that they can pick up or toss with their claws and most of all let them have fun
We at the HH Feeds team hope that these suggested steps and products have been helpful in your new adventure! We hope those kitten paws keep bringing you back 😉
If you are still in need of additional advice, head over to our Contact page, pop us an email and someone from our dedicated team will get back to you shortly!
