Your New Kitten!
The cute and adorable kitten that will soon become a member of your family, will require more than simply your affection and attention. Making the necessary provisions for your kitten is crucial to ensuring the health, safety and overall well-being of your kitten. Having a kitten though could be a costly affair, with the purchasing of a litter box, proper dietary requirements, kitten toys, collar and ID tags. Further expenses will include surgery options, consultations or check-ups, veterinary medicine, deworming, vaccination, microchipping and other services provided by vets for your kitten.
Kitten care and training
Once you have made the decision of getting a kitten, training and socializing your kitten should be one of your top priorities. Litter box training, reinforcing boundaries and household rules are some of the training that both you and your kitten can benefit from. The sooner your kitten begins training the more well-mannered it will become as it grows older, making the pet and owner relation better. Your vet can offer some valuable advise on training and socialising your kitten.
Nutritional needs
Emphasis is often placed on the importance of getting proper nutrition for all phases in your kitten’s life cycle. Vets are equipped with detailed information on the best diet for your kitten during their life, the ideal health snacks and importantly what to avoid feeding your cat. However, you will often also be advised on what to remove from your house such as poisonous plants to avoid your kitten biting or eating anything that could pose a risk to its health. Fortunately, some vets may also take the initiative of creating a custom nutritional program that will take into consideration things like the size, weight, previous medical conditions and overall well-being of your kitten. A well-balanced diet for your kitten will aid in growth and development, especially during the first few months of life. However, a proper nutritional diet should also provide energy, strengthen the immune system and be easily digestible for your cat.
Emergency care and surgery
Although this is something we don’t generally like to think about, there may be times you kitten may need emergency care or surgery. It is important to choose your vet by ensuring they have the facilities to assist in a time of dire need. A vet will generally have a thorough and detailed plan for dealing with situations such as these where your kitten may need to be attended to outside of normal consultation hours
Your kitten’s well-being
Taking care of your kitten is more than just ensuring they have food to eat and toys to play with. You need to ensure they are free of parasites internally and externally as well as being checked regularly for other issues. Your vet can assist with de-worming schedules, tick and flea control and annual check-ups. Much like people, kittens may need dental care which can help in preventing your kitten from getting oral diseases. Taking care of these issues will help in the longevity and health of your kitten while also protecting you from being beset by niggling bug bites.
Vaccinations and micro-chipping
Depending on the age of your kitten, vets will often recommend vaccination protocols you need to adhere to. The option of microchipping your kitten can also be a consideration should you have concerns that your kitten may get lost or wander away. Speak to your vet about a vaccination regime to ensure your kitten is adequately protected against potential contagious diseases in the area you live in as well as on-going boosters to maintain their immunity.
The joy and love you will experience from having a kitten will be incomparable. Undoubtably you will want to hold and play with your kitten and enjoy the cuddles. Just remember that you are responsible for all the needs of your kitten. Therefore, to ensure that you enjoy the furry companionship of your kitten for a long time prioritise its health and visit your local vet.