Kitten 2 months care and feeding. Proper care of a kitten. Mode and nutrition

And those who already had domestic cats, and people who first decided to have a tailed friend, need to know how to care for a kitten. This is essentially a child, which means that he has special needs that need to be met.

Even before you take a new tenant into the house, you should carefully prepare for his meeting. The kitten needs a lot of things that you need to stock up in advance.

You will definitely need:

tray and cat litter;
dishes (at least two bowls for food and water);
bedding, house or other device where the cat will sleep;
toys;
scratching post;
care items: combs, slickers (they should be selected based on the breed of the kitten), toothbrushes and pastes, nail clippers, shampoos (taking into account the type and length of wool);
food (be sure to think in advance how and what to feed the cat);
carrying (even if joint travel is not planned, it will be required for trips to the veterinary clinic).

Tray

First of all, the new tenant will need their own individual toilet. It is impossible to do without this thing, since no one canceled natural needs.

There are three types of trays on the market today:

closed;
open with grating (filler is not required);
open, intended for the use of a filler.

Closed trays are expensive, but very hygienic. For such a toilet, you will need a special filler, thanks to which there will be no smell in the apartment. These trays are comfortable, look good, but are quite large. If the apartment is not very large, then there may not be a place.

Open litter boxes are the most common sources of cat odor. Such a toilet can only be purchased if there is someone at home all the time, since after each trip the kitten “to the potty”, it must be rinsed immediately.

Periodically, such a tray must be thoroughly washed and cleaned using chlorine-based disinfectants.

The most popular among cat owners are open trays in which the filler is poured. Today, special fillers of various structures are produced, as a rule, absorbing most of the odor. Such cat litter can be purchased at a very affordable price, which is also important for most cat owners.

For a kitten, you can immediately purchase a large, adult tray. A small animal can easily get there through the sides, and it will be possible not to spend money on a small tray, but immediately purchase a toilet, as they say, “for growth”.

Toilet filler

Cat litter differs in principle of action and material. They can be clumping (liquid absorbs and forms a lump) or absorbent (does not change appearance, but retain moisture and odor).

According to the material, fillers are:

silica gel;
woody;
made on the basis of paper or grain waste;
mineral or clay.

Each of the types has its own advantages and disadvantages in terms of price, safety, absorbent and odor-retaining properties. However, the main criterion when choosing a filler should be the preferences of the four-legged owner of the toilet. The instinct to "dig" is present in all cats, and a small pet should enjoy digging to its heart's content.

Tableware

The cat should also have its own dishes, individual. Ideally, there should be three bowls: for water, for dry food and for wet canned food.

It depends on what kind of diet is intended for the kitten.

It is best to choose bowls made of glass, ceramics, faience, porcelain, metal for the animal. Pets may not like plastic utensils.

scratching post

This item must be purchased in advance if you do not want to change the furniture in the apartment later. Claws sharpen all breeds of cats, this is also an instinct.

The kitten tears up the furniture in the absence of a scratching post not because he wants to annoy the owner. This is for him and charging, and the realization of instinct. A small animal should be immediately accustomed to a scratching post, show him what to do with it. Many products are already impregnated with special compounds that attract cats.

If you buy an odorless scratching post or make it yourself, then you can spray it with liquid catnip, this will attract the cat to the object.

Care and hygiene items

Pedigree or outbred, but the baby needs to take care of the coat, teeth, eyes, ears and claws. Only carefully taking care of your pet, you can save his health.

A small pet must be taught hygiene procedures from a very early age, as soon as he is in the house, then there will be no problems in the future: the animal will get used to washing, combing, caring for teeth, eyes and ears.

Every cat needs to be washed. Doing this too often is not worth it, because under the coat it accumulates sebum, the presence of which is necessary for proper thermoregulation. Some owners wash their pets once a month, others once every three or six months. You need to choose the frequency of washing depending on the length of the coat and the pet's attitude to the bathing process.

The pet should be combed once a week, long-haired kittens can have the procedure more often. During the molting period, the cat must be combed daily.

You need to use special combs, best with metal teeth or natural bristles. Plastic ones strongly electrify wool.

Most kittens are complacent about the combing procedure, enjoy it and run to the person when they see the comb. If mats appear in a long-haired pet, then they should be carefully untangled with your fingers, trying not to hurt the kitten.

The ear cleaning procedure is carried out monthly. Cats need to brush their teeth daily. It is necessary to accustom to this from a very early age, otherwise the procedure will cause discomfort to the animal. Regular cleanings will help avoid tooth and gum disease, which is common in various breeds. Nail clipping should also be done regularly, as needed.

Toys

All children love to play - this is a necessary element of education and development. During the game, animals teach their heirs to hunt, take care of themselves, and get their own food. To become a mentor for a kitten is his owner. Today you can buy a variety of toys for your little pet, but you can also make them yourself.

All kids love to chase rubber balls, run after candy wrappers on a string, wag soft toys. If the cat does not have pre-prepared fun, he will find them on his own: absolutely all things left unattended can become a toy. When he drives a golden jewelry deep under the refrigerator, do not be offended, the baby is playing, but he does not understand the value of objects and will not understand in the future.

Carrying

A cat needs a carrier: it is easy to carry it to the veterinary clinic, travel to the country or to distant countries. It can also become a house for a kitten, where he can comfortably settle down for a night's rest. In this case, he will perceive this item absolutely calmly and will not resist if his owners are going to take him somewhere.

Feed

Under normal conditions, breastfeeding lasts about a month, up to 5-6 weeks. After this, the child should be transferred to a normal diet, gradually introducing complementary foods. The first teeth appear, and the cat can already eat food on its own.

Take care of the issue of feeding should be in advance. Felinologists do not adhere to a single point of view on the issue of diet: you can feed an animal with natural food, but it is not forbidden to purchase industrially manufactured feed.

The only thing that all experts agree on is that feeding a cat with food from a human table is by no means worth it. Her gastrointestinal tract is not adapted to such food.

In addition, having made a decision once, you do not need to transfer your pet from natural food to store-bought food and back without special need. From an early age, his digestion is adjusted to a certain diet, and by changing it, you can cause serious discomfort to your pet.

If you decide to feed your pet with natural products, then it should be borne in mind that the lion's share of the diet (80%) should be meat products (lean meats, offal). Also, cats can eat eggs, vegetables, cereals with milk, cottage cheese.

It is not recommended to give fish, but occasionally you can pamper your pet with a boiled boneless fish. With a natural diet, it is recommended that you give the animal vitamin and mineral complexes so that its body is provided with all the necessary substances.

High-quality industrial feed contains all the necessary compounds. In addition, they are developed taking into account the breeds and individual characteristics of cats, so choosing the right food for a kitten is easy.

The basis of the diet should be dry food, once a day you can give the cat canned food. For kittens, special feeds have been developed: they contain smaller pieces, and the needs of a growing body are also taken into account.

Little kittens quickly adapt to a new environment, but this period should be made as easy as possible for your pet. At first, he will miss his mother, look for her, but after a few days he will start exploring the expanses of the apartment.

If you do not plan to let the tailed pet into your bed, then it is necessary from the first days to accustom him to the house or bedding.

The animal will choose a place for sleeping by itself, and there you should put a house or lay a special bedding.

Moving and separation from mom is stressful for a small animal. At first, he may refuse to eat and drink. You need to accustom him gradually, over time he will begin to eat normally.

The pet will also choose a place for going to the toilet for himself. He may begin to meow loudly, circling in one place. This happens if in the nursery or the breeder he has already been accustomed to the tray. Where he has marked a place for himself, a pot is placed. Sometimes a kitten can quietly pee in some corner, and the owner simply does not notice it.

In any case, it is almost useless to accustom a kitten to a tray placed in the place chosen by the owner: he will go to the place where he did it for the first time.

In this matter, a person will have to adapt to a small pet. If the cat is not accustomed to the tray, then he needs to be shown several times what this item is intended for: as soon as the animal begins to “dig” a hole for its business, you need to place it in the tray.

Newborn Kitten Care

If it so happened that you have to take care of a kitten from birth, then you need to take into account several points. A cat can give her child everything she needs, the task of the owner is to create comfortable conditions for the woman in labor and her offspring.

Newborn blind kittens should be placed in a warm place, without drafts. It is necessary to ensure the absence of bright lights, loud sounds and other irritants. The rest of the cat will handle itself. It is not necessary to take kittens while they are breastfeeding: depending on the nature of the cat, the cat may refuse to feed them further, smelling extraneous odors.

Features of care

Gradually, children grow up, their eyes open, they begin to explore this new world. They really need care and proper care so that they grow up healthy and happy.

Per month

A monthly kitten needs a lot of care: he is weak, helpless and cannot provide for himself.

If the cat does not have enough milk or the kitten is left without a mother, it must be fed with milk food using a syringe without a needle.

You can purchase special milk formulas and baby food for kittens. Cow's milk will not be digested in their stomach. A week-old kitten needs to be fed only with special mixtures, and from 1 month you can start feeding. If a natural diet is planned, then you can gradually teach your pet to eat from a bowl, chopping food as much as possible.

When it is planned to feed the cat with ready-made food, you can slowly introduce dry food into the diet, after soaking it in water.

In cases where the kitten does not have a mother, then he needs to be massaged in the abdomen to help normal intestinal motility. The cat licks the kitten, massaging the stomach, but if the baby has lost his mother, then his digestion must be helped. Such artificial licking procedures should be carried out from birth until the moment the digestive tract works on its own.

Rinse your eyes with a cotton swab dipped in water or a special solution every day. In the same period, it is already necessary to accustom the kitten to the tray.

When a homeless baby appears in the house, then he definitely needs to be given drugs against worms.

At two months

Nutrition should be continued in the same way as at the age of one month. You can slowly diversify the diet with new products that you plan to feed your pet.

A two-month-old kitten is shown the first. At this age, the first vaccination against the most common viral diseases of cats is done.

Rinse eyes with furatsilin or chamomile decoction, brush your teeth daily, and ears once a month. It also needs weekly brushing. Claws are trimmed as needed.

At 2 months, you can carry out the first wash. You should carefully monitor the temperature of the water, it should not exceed 38 degrees. Bathe the baby carefully so that the water does not flood into the ears. Better not to wet your head at all.

At three months

By the age of three months, the kitten is already quite independent, all systems have been formed in it. If he is brought up correctly, he is able to eat adult food himself, play, and is accustomed to the tray.

It is necessary to provide him with maintenance: make the necessary vaccinations, protect him from injuries, properly feed, care for the skin, coat, eyes, ears and claws.

At 3 months, you should continue to educate, accustom the cat to order in the house.

Sterilization or castration is carried out in the period from 8 months to a year, until the animal has awakened the instinct of reproduction.

Kittens without mother

If the kitten is left without a mother, he will have to be fed on his own. This will require a special mixture and a bottle with a nipple. After each feeding, as in small children, kittens must be provoked to burp. This is also done: the cat is placed on the shoulder, placing a hand under the tummy, and stroking and rubbing the back.

Feed should be scheduled: every two or three hours. After reaching the age of two weeks, feeding can be arranged less frequently: every three or four hours, and take a break at night (no longer than 6 hours).

To stimulate intestinal peristalsis, kittens are given a light massage, imitating licking. After dinner, the cat should be kept over the tray, wiping its crotch with a damp cloth (it is better not to use cotton pads, the fibers remain on the coat and skin). Movements should be done carefully, in one direction, so as not to damage the delicate skin.

After the kitten has emptied the bladder and intestines, you should pay attention to the color and consistency of the excrement. Urine should have a light yellow color.

If it is dark, this indicates a lack of moisture in the baby's body.

The feces should be light brown or yellowish in color, with a dense consistency.

If the feces are green, this indicates excess nutrition, white ones indicate serious problems with digestion and absorption of nutrient compounds.

In this case, the baby should be shown to the veterinarian. You should also see a doctor if the kitten does not defecate at all, and as soon as possible.

Before the age of two weeks, the mechanisms of thermoregulation in a kitten do not work, so it should be warmed. The place for the cat must be determined as the warmest in the house, without drafts; in addition, you can use an electric heating pad. Over time, the baby's body will begin to regulate the temperature, and he himself will approach or move away from the heating pad.

To determine that the kitten is cold, you can touch the ears, pads on the paws or put your finger in your mouth. If these places are cold, the animal must be immediately warmed up: wrapped in a warm, dense cloth and pressed against its own body.

Shelter kitten

Kittens are usually taken from a cattery or shelter at the age of two months. To make it easier for the baby to adapt to a new place, you should take a blanket or bedding where the smell of mother and other kittens remains. A blind kitten can only navigate by smell so far, and in a new home he will be calmer if he can smell familiar smells.

By the time the baby gets to a new home, all the necessary things should be prepared for him: food, dishes, a tray, toys. At first, a small beast will require a lot of attention, declaring itself with a squeak. At first, you need to pay as much attention to the new tenant as possible. Introduce him to the new space should be gradually the same as with the rest of the family. Lots of people, loud noises, and lots of new and strong smells can cause a pet to be seriously stressed.

The kitten is not able to contact other animals for up to two weeks, so if there are still pets in the house, then you need to introduce them to the new inhabitant gradually and only after two weeks of age.

For kittens of different breeds

Some breeds of cats require supplementation from a very young age. Scots, both long-haired and short-haired, as well as all cats with long or semi-long hair (Siberian, Persian, Norwegian) require regular combing and washing.

This is important to prevent the wool from matting into clumps and tangles.

Britons, who have short coats, may not be combed often, but simply run wet hands over their coats.
Canadian, Don and other Sphynxes do not have hair, so the skin requires additional care. Such cats need to be washed regularly, wipe the skin with special solutions. Be sure to provide the sphinx with a warm bed.

In childhood, the foundation for good kitten health is laid. During this period of a baby’s life, mistakes should not be made, because many of them cannot be corrected in the future. The owner must know how to feed the kitten, how to care for the future thunderstorm of mice and how to provide the baby with comfortable conditions for full development.

The main care of newborn kittens is carried out by their mother. The cat not only feeds the babies, but also “baths” them, licking them with her tongue. She helps the children relieve themselves by massaging the tummy with her tongue. The same massage a cat uses to stimulate blood circulation and keep tiny muscles in good shape. The owner only has to watch the growth of the litter and change the litter regularly.

If the care of kittens from birth falls on the shoulders of the owner, it is his responsibility to feed, massage to facilitate defecation and maintain hygiene. Orphaned kittens are fed with a milk replacer from a special bottle. In extreme cases, a self-prepared mixture is used: goat's milk, a couple of drops of vegetable oil, a drop of glucose, a drop of multivitamins for newborn kittens every three days. For the first two weeks, babies are fed every three hours, then the number of nightly feedings is gradually reduced. Read more in the article “Proper feeding of kittens”.

After feeding, care for kittens is aimed at stimulating the intestines and urinary system. In order for the baby to pee, you need to gently massage the tummy using a slightly damp gauze swab. Then you should massage the anus in a circular motion so that the kitten can empty the intestines. Caring for a small kitten for hygienic purposes is as follows: with a slightly damp gauze swab, we clean the muzzle of adhering milk, wipe the genitals and anus. Repeat the procedure with a dry swab to remove excess moisture. During such a "bathing" it is important that the windows and doors are closed in the room: babies need warmth and comfort.

Three to seven weeks

By the end of the third week, kittens begin to stand up on their paws and learn to walk. If the babies are being fed by their mother, caring for newborn kittens includes regular nail clipping (otherwise the babies will scratch the nipples badly). If the owner did not care about the manicure of the kittens before, it's time to teach the kids to the procedure: the kitten has stood on its paws, now it can harm itself by catching its claw on the bedding. You need to cut only the very tip of the claw, trying not to touch the blood vessels.

It's time to decide what. If ready-made food is chosen, you need to diversify the dairy menu with canned foods. If preference is given to natural products, low-fat chicken, rabbit or lamb, quail eggs, children's cottage cheese without dyes are added to the diet. In addition, it is time to carry out the first deworming by giving the baby a remedy for worms for kittens.

After the introduction of complementary foods, the mother cat stops removing excrement. Kitten care now includes litter box training. The container for toilet cases should be of a suitable size and with low sides. The filler is preferably one that says on the packaging: "safe when swallowed." The tray must be placed near the bed in order to have time to take the kitten there, which begins to “attach”. Even small kittens are distinguished by cleanliness, therefore, in the vast majority of cases, it is enough just to show the baby a couple of times where to go when certain urges arise.

Read also: How to remove the smell of cat urine?

One month

Kitten care for 1 month: cleaning the ears, washing the eyes and monitoring the condition of the oral cavity. Newly opened ears should be inspected daily. If there is an excessive accumulation of sulfur, you need to remove it with a damp swab. Do not overdo it! It is not necessary to achieve sterility, because a small amount of sulfur protects the ears from litter and hairs. Eye care for kittens should be regular, but also not excessive. The eyes are wiped with a gauze swab dipped in special drops or boiled water.

Caring for a kitten for 1 month can be very difficult, because at this age, growing predators have teeth: kittens are naughty, they don’t let them touch their faces, some babies don’t eat well. However, the oral cavity still needs to be examined in order to notice signs of possible inflammation in time. If the gum is very reddened and swollen, the veterinarian will recommend a special gel that relieves pain.

Insufficient care of a monthly kitten can lead to serious consequences. The baby must be kept warm and clean. You should not enter the room in street clothes, and before communicating with the crumbs, be sure to wash your hands.

Two months

The kid got stronger, grew up, plays a lot and shows curiosity. Now the kitten happily explores everything in its path, tasting slippers, forgotten socks and even a corner of the carpet. Innocent fun plays an important role in the development of the baby, but curiosity increases the risk of contracting infectious diseases. For this reason, caring for a kitten for 2 months necessarily includes vaccination with a complex vaccine. For ten days - deworming means for kittens. After three weeks, during which it is important to observe quarantine, revaccination is carried out. By the way, it's time to switch to kitten food or add vegetables, fish and cereals to meat, eggs and cottage cheese if the kitten eats natural products.

After a small funny fluffy ball has appeared in the house, all responsibility for its life lies entirely with its owners. Particular attention should be paid to the regimen and diet. Therefore, we will consider how to feed a kitten at 2 months, what foods are useful and what can be given to fluffy with a natural diet.

Many veterinarians and breeders agree that it is best to keep kittens, adult animals on natural products, since the diet has many advantages over ready-made feeds.

Benefits of a natural diet for kittens:

you can make a varied and healthy menu for a fluffy pet. A large selection and variety of products will help you choose the best nutrition for even picky kittens.
freshly prepared food does not contain chemical compounds harmful to the growing body of additives.
a natural diet is not addictive and, if necessary, without harm to health, a kitten can be transferred to ready-made feeds.

If you plan to feed a kitten with homemade food so as not to weaken its resistance, immune potential, it is very important that the food, the diet can replace cat's milk, ready-made mixtures for newborn animals.

Advice! As soon as the kitten is four to five weeks old, its main diet can be gradually supplemented with new foods, giving them in small quantities. During this period, the body is able to absorb other food, in addition to mother's milk.

For complementary foods, easily digestible food rich in protein, minerals and vitamins is used. For example, you can give a kitten meat, semi-meat puree. At the initial stage, you can add kefir, low-fat milk, calcined cottage cheese to food. A smooth transition to an adult diet will not become stressful and will not cause a disturbance in the digestive tract in an animal. Add new products to your pet menu gradually. Watch the chair, the state of the little kitten.

To avoid disturbances in the functioning of internal organs, to raise an active healthy pet, the natural type of nutrition of the British, Scottish Fold, Persian, Sphynx, kittens of other breeds must be approached with all responsibility.

Homemade food for 2 month old kittens

Given that cats are carnivores, the basis of their diet should be animal products. But this does not mean that with a natural type of feeding, a small pet should receive exclusively meat and offal.

A growing body also needs plant foods rich in fiber and vitamins, essential amino acids, minerals, fats contained in sour-milk and other foods.

Products for the natural diet of a 2-month-old kitten:

Meat, poultry. In the diet of kittens, the basis should be meat products, poultry. At the same time, you can give the baby only lean meats (veal, rabbit) or poultry meat (chicken, turkey), which have undergone mechanical or heat treatment (cooking, stewing). After weaning from the mother cat, you can give beef mustache, minced chicken, finely chopped boiled chicken fillet, rabbit meat or veal.

Offal. Liver, heart, spleen, veal, chicken stomachs contain iron, phosphorus, magnesium B vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B6, B9), which are necessary for normal digestion, metabolism, development. Therefore, by-products can be given to a 2-month-old kitten, but not more than once a week and only after heat treatment. Unlike meat, they have a lower nutritional value and calorie content.

Sour-milk. They are the main source of calcium, phosphorus, essential amino acids, and other trace elements to strengthen the backbone, skeleton, and teeth. Cottage cheese, kefir, natural yoghurts without any additives, reverse, whey, low-fat, low-fat sour cream, cream should be present daily in the diet of two-month-old kittens. At the same time, their fat content should not exceed 8-10%. You can also feed kittens with cottage cheese mixtures for babies, small children.

Fish. Since fish is a source of fatty acids and phosphorus, it should also be on the menu of small pets. Two-month-old kittens are given stewed, boiled low-fat sea, boneless ocean fish, but not more than three times in seven to eight days. It is better to introduce river fish into the diet of cats only after five to six months.

, cereals. Feed kittens only well-cooked buckwheat, oatmeal, rice groats in meat, vegetable, fish broth. You can offer a mix of several cereals. For better absorption, add a few drops of vegetable oil or a small amount of low-fat sour cream to the porridge.

Vegetables fruits. Without fail, boiled, raw, stewed vegetables, greens are added to the diet of kittens. You can give zucchini, beets, pumpkins, carrots. Before you add them to the porridge, rub them on a grater or cut them into strips, small cubes. You can also feed the kittens with vegetable, fruit mixtures for babies.

Eggs. Kittens at the age of two months can be fed with raw quail or boiled chicken eggs. A whole, boiled into a hard-boiled chicken egg, should not be immediately given to a pet. Add the crushed, pureed yolk of one egg to the porridge. Mix the quail egg with vegetables, cereals, minced meat. It is permissible to give kittens three quail eggs, two chicken eggs per week.

Sprouted cereals (oats, wheat) are also useful for a growing organism, since they contain fiber, organic acids, vitamins, and macro-microelements. Cat grass can be grown from seed.

Supplement your pet's diet with brewer's yeast and fish oil two or three times in seven to nine days. Once every three days, the kitten should receive 15-20 g of vegetable oil, which contains saturated fatty acids (omega-6, omega-3), and other useful components.

Food should always be fresh, at room temperature. Make sure that there is always drinking water in the bowl. The animal should not be thirsty, and even more so drink some water from the sink, other places. Use non-carbonated drinking bottled or filtered water. After each feeding, do not forget to wash the bowls well with running water.

What not to feed kittens

Regardless of the type of food that the owner chooses for his little pet (natural, ready-made food), in order to grow a healthy, energetic cat, the diet must be completely balanced, nutritious, varied, healthy, fortified.

Poor quality products, an unbalanced diet will provoke stunting. Perhaps the manifestation of allergies, disruption of the digestive tract, other serious complications that may occur in the animal at an early or older age.

Two-month-old kittens, as well as older pets, adult cats are prohibited from:

It is strictly forbidden to give kittens salty, peppery, spicy foods, marinades, fatty cheeses, smoked meats, flour, any other products from our table that are seasoned with spices or have a high percentage of fat content.

Do not feed chocolate to kittens. It contains theobromine, a substance highly toxic to the cat's body. Even a piece of dark chocolate can cause severe poisoning, coma and death.

Mode and norms of feeding

In order not to provoke malfunctions in the digestive tract, it is equally important to monitor the feeding regimen. Two-month-old kittens should be fed in small portions at the same time. Kittens in two months should receive food 5-7 times a day. As they grow older, the number of daily feedings is gradually reduced and from the age of four months it is possible to transfer the animal to three to four meals a day.

Up to 3-4 months, it is necessary to develop a diet and a stable meal schedule, observing it in the future. Kittens in two months should receive food 5-8 times a day.

The daily norm for 2-month-old kittens, depending on the breed, is 120-135 g. When compiling a natural diet, take into account the level of activity, breed, individual characteristics of the kitten, and his state of health.

If it seems to you that you know everything about kittens, nevertheless, the basic recommendations on how to care for a kitten will be useful to those who have already dealt with the cat tribe, and those who have got a kitten for the first time.

What to meet with a kitten

English folk wisdom says that, according to the cat, all things belong to cats. There is a grain of truth in this statement. But still, before you bring a kitten, you need to purchase a few things that will belong exclusively to your future "relative". So - a small reminder "How to care for a cat or a cat and what should be bought by the time a kitten appears in the house."

Tray

Natural needs have not been canceled and hardly anyone wants a kitten to relieve himself in an apartment, in a secret corner. Of course, comfort is unknown to street cats, but domestic kittens (and especially their owners) need the right cat tray in the first place.

In short, there are three types of trays:

closed (the so-called eurotoilet);
open with filler;
open without filler with grating;

The first (closed) are aesthetic, but expensive. For this type of tray, you need a gel or silica gel filler that locks in odor. The advantages of this type of tray are obvious - it is behind the scenes, neatness and pleasant appearance. Of the minuses, it should be noted the large size of the toilet, for which there simply may not be a place in the house!

The open type of tray with filler is the most common and, perhaps, convenient for apartments and for a four-legged baby. The recommendations of the "experienced" are unanimous that you do not need to buy a small tray for a kitten. Regardless of age, the baby will overcome the high sides and you will save on the constant change of toilets. So immediately buy a tray "for growth", especially since any fillers are suitable for this type and they are very easy to disinfect.

Tips for purchasing a tray without filler with a grate are addressed to those who are constantly at home and can often rinse the net and the tray itself. Flush the toilet from time to time with special products containing chlorine, and may the absence of smell and a happy kitten arrive with you!

There are also special trays for accustoming a kitten to a human toilet.

In the video, you can learn the general rules for those who do not mind sharing a “white friend” with their animal:

Toilet filler

combs

Yes, a decent kitten should lie on the dressing table, or rather several at once - the rule for caring for kittens. Of course, if your pet is not a sphinx or a charming levkoy. Human hair care products are absolutely not suitable for babies! Plastic combs are also not suitable for them, as they strongly electrify the coat.

Sprays

Caring for a kitten for 1 month will be quite difficult. Until your patience and love develop the acquired instincts in the baby. This can help ... special sprays! They are intimidating or instructive.

You will need the first to protect those places that the cat can damage or to wean her from going to the toilet in the wrong place.

Attractive sprays are good for carrier or house training.

These sprays are completely safe for the animal and very effective!

Carrying

Newborn kittens were initially handled by a breeder. From the moment he gave you the banner of responsibility, you will have to visit the veterinarian regularly. Therefore, carrying is a must. It can be fabric or plastic (depending on the size, temperament of the cat and the geography of transportation). For those who are going on a journey by train or plane, a hard plastic carrier is needed, while traveling in a car is comfortable with a soft carrier.

By the way, while the first trip is still only looming in the future, it is convenient to use the carrier as a house for the baby. Put in it a diaper that smells like his first home and the kitten will feel safe in the carrier.

Toothbrush and paste

Problems with teeth and gums in cats often lead to serious diseases. Your baby's oral cavity needs to be taken care of from a young age. Otherwise, then this procedure will be painful for everyone.

Beef or salmon flavored toothpastes, comfortable brushes should stop possible dental problems. Caring for a cat that has been accustomed to procedures from infancy is very easy.

The video below is a short dental course:

Kitten nutrition

Everything that is not forbidden is allowed. In fact, this is the basic rule for compiling a cat menu. But centuries of coexistence of people and cats have given rise to a lot of gastronomic myths. Care and feeding (and especially feeding) is an area of special responsibility. The approach to nutrition must be scientific - this is the main rule for caring for kittens. Thoroughbred kittens or their not so aristocratic counterparts are equally important to the correct menu!

What should not be fed to a kitten?

We warn you right away - there are many prohibitions and some of them will surprise you very much. So, for example, we recommend forgetting about such a "popular" milk. The cat's body simply does not digest it and you will often have to remove the products of indigestion from the tray.

In addition to milk, kittens should not:

bones (chicken, fish);
pork, goose, duck;
sausages, smoked meats, salinity;
sweets in any form;
potato;
legumes;
fish;
egg white;
salt, spices.

What should a kitten be fed? natural nutrition

And again we warn you right away - the food from your table is not suitable for a kitten. Be prepared for the baby to cook separately. So, what can and should be included in the diet of a kitten:

raw frozen beef;
boiled chicken meat;
beef or chicken offal;
egg yolk;
milk porridge (only for babies up to 3 months);
dairy products;
cereals;
raw or cooked vegetables.

And all this is not salty, warm and, of course, fresh!

Ready feed

Experts believe that ready-made industrial feeds significantly save time on preparing breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner for a kitten. In addition, they are well balanced and with such nutrition it is not necessary to give the kitten additional vitamins.

Small animals are fed only dry ready-made food (canned food - only for adults!)

clean kitten ears

brushing teeth

We wrote about this procedure above. We only add that too often the baby does not need to brush his teeth. Once a month is enough.

Combing wool

Wool (if any) is needed regularly, once or twice a week.

These breeds do not require complex care. Regular cleaning of the ears, teeth and eyes, gentle combing and cleaning of the oral cavity - and the kitten is in order!

How to care for a cat so that its coat is of high quality? You will have to run with a tambourine, that is, to observe a certain complex ritual. Firstly, arm yourself with an arsenal of combs, and secondly, remember the instructions for caring for a long-haired pet:

we collect the fallen hairs with a brush-mitt;
with a rare comb, comb the wool in the direction of growth;
with a frequent brush we go through problem areas (stomach, panties);
powder the wool. Voila - a kitten can be sent to a beauty contest!

Kitten adaptation

The optimal age to pick up a kitten is 3 months. His immune system has already strengthened, his intelligence is developing, his appearance is also visible.

How can you make your child accept your home as their own? Be prepared to help him with this for the first 3-4 weeks.

On the first day of the kitten's stay in the house, limit his space to one room. , sniff and only then introduce him to the rest of the territory.

Kitten game

In games, kittens develop better, they perceive their playmate as their friend, so do not be lazy to spend 15-30 minutes daily playing with the baby. Some kittens are even better trained after. Toddlers who have been played with as children are more cheerful than those gathered who have not been paid attention to.

Friendship with a dog or another adult cat

To begin with, animals need to be introduced. The advantage of a kitten is that it smells like childhood and an adult animal will sooner or later accept it anyway. During the first meeting, avoid direct contact. Lock the animals in different rooms, and then swap places. So they get used to each other's smells.

Then once again arrange a "confrontation". If there is no conflict, then consider that friendship will definitely take place.

Kitten and baby

Too small a child can inadvertently hurt a kitten. Therefore, contact should take place under the supervision of an adult. Grown up children need to explain the rules of playing with a kitten. By the way, the latter should also feel the limits of what is acceptable.

Conan the Barbarian or the Destroyer Kitten

"The cat can purr out forgiveness for anything." However, the destruction that the baby arranges is not at all small. To prevent damage, you can paste over the furniture with double-sided adhesive tape, put valuable items at a height inaccessible to the baby, remove flowers and frames with photographs higher.

Limit the kitten's passage in hard-to-reach places and, as an alternative to trimming the claws, put special tips on the claws.

Kitten health

Kitten deworming

Flea control

Vaccination

IMPORTANT! you need both animals that live in the yard, and those who do not leave the apartment. Both the first and second can equally get sick, so it's better to play it safe.

Kittens are vaccinated at the age of 8-9 weeks. In this case, vaccinations that do not contain the rabies virus are used.

Revaccination is carried out when the kitten is 12 weeks old. This complex vaccine already contains the rabies virus.

The next revaccination takes place already in a year and then once a year.

The scheme may vary slightly. Your veterinarian will suggest the best one.

Sterilization / castration of an animal

If you are ready for the fact that the kitten, growing up, will begin to "mark" the territory, demand a cat (cat) and regularly "bring it in the hem", then you can not read further. If this prospect does not please you, then let sterilization / castration be the most humane way to solve many future problems.

Best at 9-10 months of age.

It is necessary before the first estrus, this is about 8 months of age.

At the end of this chapter, we will tell you about the signs that mean that the cat has started. So, what should you always pay attention to? Reasons to visit a veterinarian are: poor appetite, poor weight gain in a kitten, vomiting, abdominal distension, diarrhea, “leaky” eyes, pale gums, cough or shortness of breath, nasal discharge, difficulty urinating.

At first glance, it seems that keeping a kitten is very, very difficult. In fact, this is a very pleasant thing, because the word "content", with the regular implementation of all our recommendations, will disappear from your diet and they will become just a way of life. And, believe me, when the fluffy ball settles on its knees and starts its endless: “Murrrrr”, you will say that it was worth it!

Lyudmila Antonova "Care for domestic cats";
Elena Filipova "From the point of view of a cat."

Still have questions about how to care for a kitten? Write them in the comments.

The appearance of a kitten in the house is a great joy for the whole family. A fluffy four-legged pet, like a soft toy, will not let anyone get bored! Children can play active outdoor games with a new family member, and adults have an additional responsibility to take care of a tiny pet. How to care for a kitten? What items need to be purchased to care for him? We will talk about this in our article.

Necessary attributes for care

When a child appears in the house, parents purchase the necessary items for caring for the baby. A similar rule applies to pets, who also need not only a cozy place to sleep, but also some personal hygiene items.

What you need to buy when a kitten appears in the house:

Tray, where he can cope with natural needs. This accessory is necessary for animals living in the apartment and in the house, without free access to the street.
Toilet filler. Cats love to go to the tray filled with special capsules that absorb urine and unpleasant odors. Some use regular sand, which is much cheaper, but there are some drawbacks. The sand does not fully absorb the smell of urine, so a very unpleasant odor will prevail in the house. To eliminate it, you will need to change the sand after each trip to the toilet. Simply put, modern fillers are more convenient to use, both for the pet itself and for its owner, whose task will be to clean the cat litter.
A new family member will need individual utensils: a bowl for natural food or feed, as well as a bowl for drinking water. Experts recommend buying a double bowl for eating: one part for liquid food, the second for thick food.
Comb, nail cutter, toothbrush, special shampoo and other personal care products (all this can be bought at a specialized pet store).
Toys - because he is a baby, he will also want to have his own items for entertainment and outdoor games.
A cat carrier is a must if the owner plans to take long walks or trips with their beloved animal.
A scratching post is a special accessory for animals that provides for convenient grinding of growing claws. Kittens are very fond of scratching furniture, and if you do not want to see your own sofa in a very unpresentable form, do not spare money for this convenient and practical thing. Your furry friend is sure to love this setup, so he won't be pointing his sharp claws at your couch anymore.

Types of cat litter

There are three types of cat litter:

Euro is a closed model. Aesthetic toilet, easy to use, but quite expensive. For filling it is necessary to purchase a special composition of the helium type. Benefits: Effectively absorbs urine odor. Disadvantage: too large size of the structure.
An open tray is the most common version of a cat litter box. Any type of composition is suitable for filling. Very comfortable for a small kitten (low sides). Can be used throughout the growth. Cleaning and disinfecting the toilet is also easy. No hassle + affordable price.
An open tray with a grid that does not require the use of fillers. Advantages: saving money on the purchase of absorbent formulations. Disadvantage: it is necessary to carry out regular cleaning of the toilet, which will also prevent the spread of an unpleasant smell of urine throughout the apartment.

New models of cat litter: special toilet attachments for animals that allow you to accustom a four-legged family member to a full-fledged accessory for natural needs.

Types of fillers for the tray:

Locking is a budget option. The composition is poured into the tray in large quantities. Moisture descends to the lowest layer and is evenly absorbed, while the upper layer remains dry and clean. The smell does not spread until the filler is filled with contents. It is not difficult to determine the need for replacement, the color of the capsules will turn yellow.
The clumping filler dissolves quickly under a moist environment, leaving small round lumps. To remove them, a special spatula is used. Add filler as needed.
Absorbent compositions are inexpensive and practical to use. Advantages: environmentally friendly material, safe for the animal. As a rule, they are made from ordinary paper or sawdust. The toilet is cleaned as it gets dirty.

For example, your furry pet has started going to the toilet behind the sofa. Treat this place with such a spray, and your kitten will no longer shit in this area of \u200b\u200bthe room. The second option, on the contrary, allows you to accustom the baby to a particular place in the house.

These compositions are easy to use, allow you to quickly teach or wean from unnecessary places, and at the same time completely harmless to animals.

Proper care of a kitten 1 month of life

To care for newborn kittens, it is better to be near a cat mother who will happily feed her babies and take proper care of them. Natural feeding with breast milk will strengthen the immunity of the animal and nourish the body with all the necessary trace elements for full development and growth.

If, for any reason, a 1-month-old kitten is forced to grow up without a mother, the owners of a tiny pet need to create the most favorable conditions in the house. It is necessary to feed the baby with a special mixture - a substitute for cat's milk.

After feeding, the mother cat licks the kitten, which improves intestinal motility. This procedure can be replaced in this way: a cotton pad is moistened with warm water, after which the muzzle is gently wiped. Further, in a circular motion without pressure, the abdomen, back and sides are processed. This will improve the functioning of the digestive system and improve the stool of a small pet.

Newborn animals have a relatively low body temperature, so at night, provide a sleeping place for him with a warming device. You can use a small infrared lamp to maintain the optimum temperature. You need to install it so that in case of strong heating the kitten can move and lie down in another, cooler place.

A small 1-month-old fluffy cat is the same child who needs warmth and love. Place your baby on your chest often so he can hear your heartbeat. It calms and gives strength to the growing pet.

Of course, every owner wants it as soon as possible, but it’s not even worth experimenting with a one-month-old kitten. A pet of this age is not even able to control the process of urination, so he will not be able to perceive the “place for the toilet” correctly. Wait a little, everything has its time!

Caring for newborn kittens is somewhat complicated, but this period flies by unnoticed and soon the tiny animal will gain strength and new knowledge, which will allow it to fulfill all the necessary needs without the help of outsiders.

Caring for a 2 and 3 month old kitten

At two months, the kitten becomes more mature, care becomes somewhat easier. The kid is already beginning to gradually try "adult" food, carry out independent self-care and actively explore the territory of the house. He is interested in outdoor games and, of course, the care of the people around him.

A two-month-old baby needs to be washed, but massage procedures can already be excluded. Now is the time to toilet train your pet. To begin with, it is recommended to install a small tray without sides, so that it is easy for him to climb into this unusual accessory.

It will not be possible to quickly teach to the toilet if there is no older cat in the house, setting a good example for the younger generation. But, you should not despair, sooner or later he will understand the requirement of the owners and become an obedient resident of a large family.

From the age of three months, a kitten can be fed with chopped pieces of meat, wet food and pate. He is already becoming quite mobile and curious. The main care is love and attention. Play with him, caress the baby and teach him the right manners of education. It is during this period that the basic knowledge of the independent life of the animal is laid.

From 3 to 6 months, the stage of "knowledge of the world around" begins. The kitten will explore the world, listen to various sounds, sniff out and look for something. Watching a curious furry friend is very interesting and fun!

Raising and caring for a kitten from 6 months to a year

Puberty begins at 6 months of age. The owner already needs to decide on his future. If it is not intended to breed purebred kittens, it is recommended to castrate the cat or sterilize the cat.

These procedures are very important for the animal, they relieve him of natural needs, and the owner - from the aggressive behavior of the animal during the period of hormonal surge.

Some owners who do not want to take their pet to the veterinarian for castration or sterilization find another, easier way to keep the animal from natural needs: they do not let it go outside. Such measures are unacceptable! This will harm him and entail very adverse consequences for physical and psychological health!

A kitten of 6-9 months old can already diversify the diet, gradually bringing its menu to a full-fledged adult table. It is not recommended to feed a thoroughbred pet with products from a common table. The animal needs to cook food individually, without salt and other harmful spices. It is also important to calculate the dosage of servings in order to prevent overfeeding. If you do not pay attention to these restrictions, there is a high probability of developing obesity.

From 9 months, the kitten becomes quite an adult, he already has a complete diet and a formed body. Character, appearance and other individual traits will be preserved throughout the subsequent life. The upbringing that was laid in the pet at an early age will continue to manifest itself. The main thing is not to cause aggression in the animal. This often happens if the owner scolds a four-legged friend and applies force to him. This kind of upbringing is simply unacceptable!

Healthy diet for a kitten

https://youtu.be/isQFkoADTS4

starting from two months, you can accustom yourself to freshly prepared pate in a small dosage;
gradually finely chopped meat of dietary varieties (boiled) is introduced into the diet;
chicken offal;
raw beef, but only frozen;
milk porridge;
vegetables (raw, boiled);
chicken yolk;
low-fat dairy products;
cereals;
And be sure to have free access to clean drinking water!

The main rule when preparing food for a four-legged baby is that the food served must be fresh, safe and warm (room temperature).

If the owner chooses a more simplified option for feeding a pet - food, it is recommended to buy premium varieties in accordance with the age of the animal. These data are published on the packaging of the product for cats.

How many times a day should a kitten be fed:

A 2-month-old baby is fed 5-6 times during the day;
from 6 months the number of feedings is reduced to three times;
starting from eight months, it is transferred to an adult diet, providing for two meals a day.

Mandatory care procedures:

Trim growing nails.
Gentle ear cleaning.
Teeth cleaning with a special toothpaste and brush for animals.
Combing and combing wool.
Bathing an animal.
Flea treatment for wool.
Vaccination.
worming.
Joint games with a kitten.
Love and good care!

We wrote about the correct procedure for caring for cats in other articles, we recommend that you read it!