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Here is some information and advice on cat care, which might be helpful if you have never had a cat or have not had a young kitten in awhile. I’ve also added some Internet links to information that I have found invaluable. CAT CARRIER Whether you use an inexpensive
cardboard carrier or a fiberglass transport
carrier, be sure to keep your cat in a carrier while transporting
it.
When startled or afraid, a cat can run out the door or jump from your
arms
and be lost forever. NEW ENVIRONMENT When you first bring your kitten home, be sure to create a safe environment in a low traffic area of the house out of any drafts. I don’t recommend letting your cat outdoors at all (once an outdoor cat, it is impossible to make the cat happy inside), but particularly keep any pet inside for several months while it gets used to a new environment. Teach your children patience in developing a relationship with a new kitten. The quieter and more gentle they are with the kitten, the more trust the kitten will have. In general, cats do not like fast movements or loud noises. If you have other pets, be sure to keep kitten separate for awhile, and then supervise brief visits with your other pets. LITTER BOX Cats are very intelligent, and even a small kitten will use the litter box if you provide one in a safe place and keep it clean. Some people believe that clumping litter is not safe for small kittens, as some amount is always ingested, and the new litter Crystals are a choking hazard. . For young kittens, you may want to use cedar, paper, or clay litter. When you first bring your kitten home, put it in the litter box. Later, if the kitten appears to be looking around, you’ll want to gently lift the kitten and place it in the box. After that, any normal kitten will always use the litter box. Be sure to scoop out and clean the box regularly. Cats are fastidious and will not use a dirty box. If your male or female cat ever
begins to urinate in other places other
than in the litter box, don’t assume this is a behavioral
problem.
It could be a urinary tract infection, or a symptom of diabetes or
kidney
failure. Take him/her to your vet for a urinalysis and checkup,
as
it can be due to a potentially life threatening condition. If
there
are multiple cats in the household, sometimes even a neutered male cat
will spray in an attempt to establish territory. SAFETY Generally, baby proof your kittens environment, removing any items which might be hazardous for choking, strangling, or drowning. Kittens are VERY curious and adventurous, so expect them to get into anything that is accessible. When I moved into my home, I promptly cut the tie on all my window blinds, so they would not present a hazard to the cats. Kittens can drown in a bucket of water, a toilet bowl, or bathtub. They can choke on small objects, or fall from high places. BEDDING A fleece lined bed or “igloo” (available at pet supply stores), or a small box or basket lined with soft cloth are great for kittens when they first leave mom. Don’t encourage your kitten to sleep with you unless you want to continue this for the rest of the cat’s life. I sleep with three big cats every night! MILK Most cats are sensitive or allergic to cow milk, so it's not a good idea to encourage them to drink it. WATER All cats and kittens need access to fresh drinking water every day. For safety with young kittens, be sure you drain bathtubs and cover toilet bowls. Kittens are curious and easily can drown in a tub, toilet, or bucket of water! FOOD Whether you choose dry or canned cat food, several feedings a day of kitten food is recommended for the first year. Unless your cat has a weight problem, and particularly if you work long hours, you’ll probably want to leave dry food out for your cat all day. Unlike dogs, cats rarely overeat. I leave dry food out all the time for my cats, and feed them canned food in the evening when it’s most convenient for me. VACCINATIONS Call your vet and make an appointment for a check up and vaccinations as soon as your kitten is old enough. Your vet will treat for round worms and test for Feline Leukemia and Feline Aids, and probably will start the vaccinations for Feline Enteritis, Feline Leukemia, and Rabies on the first visit. After the first round of shots, you’ll only need to bring the cat in for an annual check up and booster shots. Unfortunately, there is no vaccine for many viruses that cats can contract from other cats. The most deadly of these is Feline Aids. These are not transferable to or from humans, but they can spread quickly through a cat population. For this reason, it’s always best to keep your cat indoors. If you must let your cat outside, spaying or neutering will reduce the chance your cat will wander or get into a deadly fight. However, cats will always fight for territory. SPAYING & NEUTERING PLEASE spay and
neuter your
kitten as soon as the vet says it is safe!!!!! Cats can go
into heat as young as five months. The kitten you are
adopting
today is the result of an unspayed female cat and unneutered male cat
mating. The Gwinnett County Humane Society and other animal rescue groups do not get any support from the government, and the only shelter in Gwinnett County is Animal Control where most cats and dogs are euthanized because there are not enough homes for them! There is an organization that offers discount certificates for spaying and neutering through participating vets: Spay Georgia CLAWS & SCRATCHING It is absolutely normal for cats to climb and scratch furniture. Providing a scratching post or cat tree is a good way to encourage them to climb and scratch on something besides your sofa. To discourage them from scratching furniture, you may want to keep a small water pistol handy. Cats don’t like to get wet! The A.S.P.C.A. (Humane Society) opposes the practice of declawing cats, and most veterinarians agree. Some vets will refuse to perform the surgery. My furniture shows some wear from generations of cats, but my cats are more important to me. Declawing is painful and I believe it is inhumane. If you decide you must declaw, make sure your cat is NEVER allowed outside, as it will be defenseless to fight back or even climb a tree or board fence to get away from a predator. If your cat ever sustains a BITE from another cat, take it to the vet immediately! Cat bites are puncture wounds (unlike a dog bite, which is more of a tearing wound). The wound quickly seals over and traps all the bacteria inside. You may not be able to see the wound, but if you observe any tenderness or swelling, it probably means an abscess is present. FLEAS Unfortunately, in Georgia
you may end up treating fleas even on an inside
cat. Talk to your vet about available flea treatments and at what
age to start. Personally, I prefer non-toxic solutions and have
found
Flea Stoppers carpet powder to be a great long-term solution for
killing
eggs and preventing infestation. I also use a flea comb on my
cats
regularly. They love the grooming time, and it will remove fleas
without harming the cat (I enjoy drowning them in a bowl of water and
dishwashing
liquid). My vet has advised that I not buy over the counter flea
treatments as some are known to have caused seizures and death. GREAT CAT LINKS ON THE INTERNET Cat
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