The first steps in a new home
You have just become the proud owner of a small creature that requires your full attention and meticulous care, especially the one that just arrived in its new environment. Try to help him or her to adapt to their new living conditions.
I would like to give you the following recommendations:
Putting the kitten together with other cats / animals
In the first 3-4 weeks it’s not recommended to introduce a kitten to other animals, in order to prevent possible infections. If you already have a cat, I suggest that you first let the vet give it a general check-up before you take another cat.
A kitten is often not used to rodents or birds, because they rarely get along. Letting the kitten get acquainted with other animals must be done in your presence.
Dogs
Well-trained and well balanced dog, regardless of breed or size, are very tolerant towards a cat in the house. An exception is hunting dogs, especially if they are not exclusively held in the house as pets, and regularly go hunting. These dogs see a kitten as a "toy". But again, we are talking about exceptions.
Other cats
An adult cat will probably not like it when another cat or kitten appears in its territory. Since these habits are not going to change, it will probably show its displeasure. It is necessary to take into account that hierarchical relationships are established between the cats. Before they are completely used to each other several days to several months may pass, depending on the nature and temperament of the first inhabitant. If kittens are about the same age when they come into contact with each other they get used to each other much easier and faster. So if you want to buy a kitten and you are planning to get another cat in the future, you should not delay this decision.
Litter box
We give you a kitten that is already housebroken. To keep a kitten housebroken en clean, take note of the following.
The litter box must be large enough for a kitten, not with a door and filled with a layer of fresh cat grid. You can use any cat grid that you want, but we recommend for the first time to use the cat grid that the kitten is used to.
We recommend that you keep the kitten for the first few days in one room where he or she can get used to new things and the smell of the new house. Place the litter box in a room and put a toy there. If a kitten does not immediately know where his litter box is, he should in no way be punished. He will look up the litter box and after his first time he will know the smell. When the kitten is accustomed to the smell and the room, you can open the door and the kitten can explore the rest of the house.
Water
The kitten should always have fresh drinking water, whether he wants to drink at the moment or not. The drinking water should be changed daily, because the cats hate dirty water and will not drink it. Remember that the kitten that eats dry food needs a lot more moisture. On warm days, the cats also will drink much more water.
Food
The main sign of good health of your cat is his or her good appetite. A kitten eats about 3 times a day. Breakfast for a kitten is very important. We recommend you put away all the food in the evening and put it down in the morning. The kitten will eat the food with great appetite. If he is listless and refuses to eat breakfast, you should call the vet.
Kitten may eat:
- Finely chopped cooked chicken
- Finely chopped and cooked meats
- Raw meat
- Yogurt, kefir, cottage cheese
- Good quality canned food (Sheba, Gourmet, Gimpet, Porta etc.). Do not give the cheap stuff
- Premium dry food for kittens (Royal Canin, Sanabelle, Animonda, Hills, Nutro)
What you should not give to the kitten:
- Raw meat, raw chicken and turkey meat, eggs
- Lamb or pork, in any form whatsoever
- Dried sausage and canned food for the people, caviar
- Milk, cream, sour cream, butter
- Low quality canned food, like Whiskas, Kitekat, Felix etc.
- Salty, sour, sweet or fatty foods, products which have a negative impact on the functioning of the liver.
Click here for more detailed information and to get tips on how you can let your new kitten get used to his new surroundings.
Dangerous plants
Many cats (especially cats that don’t go outside) are accustomed to chewing the leaves of the plants at home.
Many ornamental plants are poisonous to cats and irritate the gastrointestinal tract of cats.
To minimize the potential risk of poisoning, you must provide your cat with an alternative - such as a special "cat grass".
There is relatively little data on the toxicology of specific types of plants, but below are the most common potentially dangerous houseplants:
- Monstera sp
- Dieffenbachia sp
- Hedera sp
- Aloe sp
- Kalancoe sp
- Rhododendron (Azalea sp)
- Yucca sp
- Primrose (Primula sp)
- Cyclamen sp
- Begonia sp
- Oleander (Nerium sp)
In addition, ornamental flowers, especially of the aster family, are very toxic.
Symptoms of toxicity include vomiting, weakness and neurological disorders.
Open windows
According to statistics, the most common cause of death of cats under 5 years is a shock due to trauma after a fall from height.
All tragedies have the same story - carelessly leaving a window open, the absence of safety nets and blind faith in the proverb "Cats always fall on their feet" - unfortunately this is not always the case.
Even if at first sight the cat has suffered no external damage, it still is left with internal injuries, which can lead to serious consequences in the future.
The most common injuries after falling from a high altitude are fractures of the forearm, head, broken back, pneumothorax (accumulation of air in the pleural space due to injury of the lungs) and rupture of internal organs (spleen, urinary tract ). Without a visit to the vet, these injuries can be life threatening.
The animal must then be carefully borne on a hard surface (board or box), the body temperature must be controlled (usually in animals in shock) and quickly brought to a clinic or veterinarian.
Medication
Many drugs, often used in medicine and usually sold without prescription, may be toxic to cats. For example, medications for headaches and colds that contain acetaminophen.
Chemicals
Several household chemicals contain toxic compounds for cats. Normally cats are very careful about unknown chemicals and odors. Small quantities of spilled laundry detergent or detergent which the cat has accidentally come into contact with and then swallowed, can cause severe poisoning.
Shoes
If the cat has not been vaccinated, keep the shoes preferably in the hallway, where they have a large factor in the transmission of infectious diseases. The belief that a cat cannot become sick by a viral infection when it doesn’t go outside is a large misconception.
Timing of vaccination in cats
Below is a vaccination schedule that I have used for many years, which minimizes the risk of infections.
First vaccination - a complete antiviral vaccination - Age 8-9 weeks (2 months)
Second vaccination (booster) - including a complete antiviral vaccination against rabies - Age 11-12 weeks (3 months)
Then the cat must be vaccinated annually: comprehensive antiviral vaccination.
Fixed supplies for your kitten
These are my personal recommendations for things you can buy for your new family member. All the things mentioned here I use for my cats and have had good experiences with. My kittens and cats are raised with this food. They are also used for the cat’s grid we use. We also recommend continuing to use it. Of course you are free to use other types of grid. Here are just my personal preferences and recommendations.
I wish you much fun shopping. Your cat will thank you.
Most of the things I recommend, you will find here:
Clumping cat grid Cats Best Öko Plus
This is the best cat grid I have used in recent years.
This is 100% organic decomposable and therefore can be thrown directly into the toilet or a bio-box.
This cat grid is made of natural fibers, does not stink, it attaches well and is very economical. Cost 10L - 7 EUR 20L - 12 EUR 40L - 22 EUR.
Types of dry food
Royal Canin Kitten 36
High quality premium food for kittens 4 to 12 months old. My kittens grow up with this food, they are very fond of it. This food has all the necessary vitamins and minerals needed for the little feline body. I would strongly recommend exactly this kind of food to buy - your kitten will be very grateful!
The cost of 2 kg at Zooplus: 20.50 EUR. 10 kg is 56.50 Euros.
Sanabelle Kitten
This food also belongs to the premium class. It has everything you need for optimal growth and development of the kitten.
At the age of 2 months I start giving Royal Canin Kitten 36 Kitten and Sanabelle Kitten.
The cost of 2 kg at Zooplus: 13.99 Euros. 10 kg is 37.99 Euros.
Animonda vom Feinsten Deluxe Kitten
This food also belongs to the premium class. Specially designed for young kittens, giving them a soft, shiny coat and provides them with all the nutrients needed for optimal growth.
At the age of 2 months I start Royal Canin Kitten 36, Sanabelle Kitten or Kitten Deluxe Animondo.
Cost of 1.75 kg at Zooplus: 12.50 EUR. 10 kg is 39.95 Euros.
Fresh vet food
Animonda Carny Kitten
This cat food is made exclusively from fresh meat, which the main feature and is strongly differs from other canned goods. Carny Kitten can be given, starting at 2 months.
Available online in cans of 200 and 400 g, in different varieties.
Animonda vom Feinsten Kitten
This food is made from selected meats and is available in different variants. It is a good complementary food for the above Carny Kitten.
Drink Amenities
If you don’t have more than 1-2 cats, then I advise you to buy a water fountain. Cats like it when the water is moving, this water is also circulated through a charcoal filter and cleaned, and enriched with oxygen. The water is fresh and the cat will drink more, which is very good for them.
Vitamin Paste from Gimpet
Paste Company Gipmet
This vitamin paste contains 12 different vitamins and taurine, which is very useful for the growth and development of a small kitten. Kittens eat this paste straight from the tube with great pleasure
Gimpet Mout-Soft Extra Katzenpaste
This paste will not only help remove the lumps and stomach hairballs, but also gives the kitten the necessary energy.
This paste contains natural aromatic malt, special vegetable oils and milk sugar.
Internal parasites and how to get rid of them
The presence of worms in cats and dogs is a widespread phenomenon.
Owners should be aware that the absence of worms in the feces of the animal is not an indication of their absence in the body. Parasites can be located in various organs and tissues, even laboratory investigations of excrement cannot always detect them. Even if your cat walked around outside, you should still do the regular treatment. There are many ways of contamination.
Signs that may indicate the presence of parasites:
- Gastrointestinal disturbances and alternating constipation and blockages
- A stool with a lot of mucus, sometimes mixed with blood
- Increased appetite or loss of appetite
- A good appetite without weight gain or increase in length
- A bloated abdomen
- Vomiting
- Yellowness and / or pale mucous membranes
- The animal "rides" with his butt on the floor
It should be noted that some of these symptoms may be signs of an annoying disease. If you are worried that your pet has one or more of these symptoms, do not attempt to treat it yourself, but contact the vet.
How often should you deworm a cat?
For prevention worms, the cat should be dewormed once every 3-4 months. It is also recommended to deworm the animal prior to the annual vaccination or a planned mating of the cat. For animals that already have worms a renewed vaccination is useless and dangerous.
Which deworm medicine should I use?
There are pet shops that sell many different types of safe and effective medicines. There are tablets, suspensions, sugar lumps, paste or drops. If you do not get specific recommendations from your veterinarian, than there is a preference for drugs with a wide spectrum (for all types of worms). Here are some of them:
For adult cats:
Profender (Bayer) - drops in the neck
Drontal - Tablets
MILBEMAX for adult animals (Novartis) - Tablets
for kittens
Profender for kittens (Bayer) – drop for in the neck - can be used from the age of 2 months
Panacur PetPaste – Pasta, helpt ook tegen eencellige parasieten
MILBEMAX for kittens (Novartis) - Tablets - may be given from with a weight of 500 grams or more.
