Basic kitten care tips

It is hard to ignore the sight of a small furry and cuddly kitten. They look at you with soulful eyes and you are lost in their bewitching spell. Well, if not you atleast your children are! You are finally bulldozed into accepting it as the latest addition to the family.

Cats are good company for both adults and children. They make good playmates and companion. Merryl Streep has claimed that she rehearses all her lines with her pet tabby! If she delivers her line well her pet purrs loudly and if she delivers poorly her furry pal has been known to exit the room!

Here are some quick tips on how to handle a kitten:

• Make a room ready: Before bringing your kitten home make sure you allot a room or a little space in your house for your furry buddy. It must be a quiet place with comfortable bedding. Do not forget to keep her water and food containers in this room and ensure that you install a litter box a little away from the food containers. Make sure you clean the litter box regularly to avoid the spreading of infection.
• Take an appointment with the vet: A vet will ensure that your kitten is thoroughly checked and is administered regular vaccinations. You can ask his advice on how to control parasites both internal and external.  He will also be able to guide you on how to train your pet to use the litter box. You can also ask his recommendation on the type of diet which is best suited to your pet.
• Socialize: Take your cat out for long car rides. Make sure she is exposed to people by having friends over to play with her thereby ensuring she becomes social. Teach her some tricks. Expose her to toys and do not encourage her to scratch on any surface. Instead, get her a scratching post. As a pet parent you have to be patient and reward good behavior with treats and praise and must learn not to scold but to ignore negative behavior.
• Preventive measures: As a pet parent you must watch out for early signs of illness and must ensure she gets immediate professional help. Look out for signs such as ; vomiting, diarrhea, tiredness, lack of appetite, weight loss or weight gain, difficulty breathing, wheezing or coughing, nasal discharge, inability to pass motion or urine or eye discharge.    

Happy parenting!

Petcare tip by Harshitha
Inspiration : petfinder and vetstreet