How to Care for a Kitten
Seal the windows
If you don’t have a free-range kitten, please remember to seal the windows, especially in the city. Because the kitten is likely to jump out of the window and get injured or even die, or get lost.
Some cats are very naughty and jump around the windows, which is very dangerous. At the same time, sealing the windows can also prevent the kitten from jumping out and being lost.
Of course, you need to prepare various cat supplies!
You'll need a litter box, a bowl for food, and a bowl for water. Many kittens do not like having their water near the food; see how your kitten does. You'll want to try, if possible, to keep the little one on the same food.
And You'll also want some toys and a scratcher of some kind. Kitties differ in terms of the type of toys and scratcher that they like. You may like to buy a small size cat tree and a cardboard scratcher. A cat tree provides a nice comfy place to sit or sleep, and they're usually covered in carpet or twine so they can also be scratched.
Kittens need time to adapt
It may take a few days for kittens to settle in. This is normal. When you first bring them home, show them the litter box first. This way they will know where it is and can learn their way around using it as a reference point. We like to take our new kitties out of their box or carrier and place them right in the litter box.
After that, let them explore. It's quite common for them to find a hiding place for the first couple of days - under or behind a bed or couch, for example. I'd recommend just leaving them be. When they do come out, don't acknowledge them until they come to you - this way they won't get overwhelmed. When they come to you, provide lots of attention and maybe a couple of treats. This way they learn that being around you is a positive thing.
Learn the facial expressions of kittens
Cats have a strong tolerance for pain. They can't talk, so they can't tell you that there is something wrong with their bodies. So if it's not a disease that shows symptoms directly, it's likely that it's already very serious when it shows up.
For example, if the blood vessels in the hind legs are blocked, the kitten was normal before, but suddenly became paralyzed and couldn't walk. The owner should remember to pay attention to the kitten and observe the kitten's expression.
Accept the shortcomings of kittens
Kittens are very cute animals, but just like humans have shortcomings, every kitten has its own shortcomings, such as love to urinate randomly, love parkour, and like to cry. Some kittens may suddenly urinate randomly because of something that happened. I hope you can patiently figure out why this happens. Accept its shortcomings and still love it. Because it loves you no matter who you are.
Kittens should eat kitten food
Kittens (especially when young) require 2-3 times the number of calories per pound as adult cats. Kitten food also contains a different nutrient profile than regular cat food that is essential to healthy bone and tooth development for little kittens.
The risk of obesity in an otherwise healthy kitten is virtually non-existant before 4 months of age because their stomachs can just barely hold enough food to meet their calorie demand. For this reason, it’s usually recommended to allow your kitten to free-feed or give 4-3 smaller meals per day, until about 4 months, when you can begin meal-feeding twice a day to avoid weight gain.
Growth may also start to slow around 5-6 months old, but it really depends on the cat. Their energy needs also drop slightly after being spayed/neutered (which typically happens around 6 months), so you can start monitoring for weight gain and discuss food with your vet then.
If you’re worried about obesity, you can look up the cat body weight chart! As long as you can feel (but not see) ribs and can see an “hourglass” shape when looking at the cat from above you’re good (this is a 4-5 on the scale - ideal physique).
