Getting A Kitten – A Vet’s Advice
Welcoming a kitten into your home can be incredibly exciting and even have benefits for your health (see this week’s My Weekly!). But it should also be a carefully considered decision.
From choosing the best breed for you, to finding a healthy diet for your cat and navigating the required vaccinations, there is a lot to get to grips with.
To help, we asked Dr Jessica May, UK lead veterinarian at the video vet service FirstVet, to share her advice on what you need to know before getting a new cat.
Choosing a cat breed
Maine Coon kittens, Pic: Shutterstock
One of the first things to consider before getting a cat is what kind of breed you are looking for. Knowing the characteristics of different breeds of cat can help you to choose a pet to fit your lifestyle, as well as making sure that you can give the cat the home environment they need.
A cat’s breed is often a good indicator of how much independence they will want. Ragdoll or Maine Coon breeds tend to be gentler in nature, so are great family cats. Meanwhile La Perms or American Wirehairs are very sociable, so make good companions. You may also want to decide in advance whether you want an indoor cat, which will be happy to lounge around the house, or a more adventurous, outdoor cat.
Breeds like the Scottish Fold or Sphynx are suited to life indoors, while Bengali or Somali breeds prefer to have the freedom to roam.
How to find a reputable breeder
Lucy’s Law has recently come into force, meaning that anyone wanting to get a new kitten or puppy in England must now buy direct from a breeder or adopt from a rescue centre. The animal’s parent should also be available for prospective owners to see when they go to adopt their new family member from a breeder.
Breeders should also be able to answer any questions you might have about a cat’s breed. They should be happy to give you their vet’s details, so that you can check on the health of their kittens and cats.
Before going straight to a breeder, you may want to check with your local rescue charity, to see whether they have a suitable cat or kitten in their care, waiting for a loving home.
When to give vaccinations
Pic: Shutterstock
Cats should receive vaccinations for Feline Infectious Enteritis Virus, and Cat Flu (Calicivirus and Herpes virus). The first vaccination should take place when a kitten is 9 weeks old and then a second at 12 weeks. You should wait until 7 days after vaccination before cats are allowed outside. They should be neutered when they are four months old. Ideally they should have reached 2kg in weight before they venture outside the house.
As cats get older, they should have annual booster vaccinations, to make sure that they are still fully protected. Make sure you register with your local vet when getting a kitten, to set up a schedule for their vaccinations and to check their overall health.
Equipment you will need
Among the first items on your shopping list for a new cat should be litter trays. You will need more litter trays than you have cats, and they should have enough space for a fully grown cat to turn around in. They should be tucked away, out of sight as cats like to be private.
Make sure that the tray is big enough for your kitten (and eventually your cat) to turn round in and use more than once without getting contaminated with their own waste. Some cats might still not use the litter tray again until it has been cleaned.
Another essential for new cat owners is a shallow feeding dish, so that their whiskers do not touch the sides of the bowl as this can feel unpleasant for cats. The bowl should be made out of glass or ceramic, as plastic can absorb smells. Metal bowls can make loud and startling noises, which can make eating an unsettling experience for your new kitten.
Feeding your kitten
Pic: Shutterstock
To help ease your kitten’s transition to their new home, it is best to keep them on the same diet they had at the breeder, or the rescue charity they came from, for the first week. Later, you can wean them on to the diet of your choice.
Cats have very specific dietary needs, which are hard to meet with home-made food, so scientifically formulated complete cat food is the best option. Smaller stomachs mean that kittens aged 8-12 weeks will need four meals a day. At three months, this can be reduced to 3 meals a day, and then 2 meals a day after 6 months.
Some cats may prefer to graze throughout the day, as would be more natural for cats hunting in the wild, but make sure not to lose track of how much they eat, as this can lead to overfeeding.
Finally, contrary to popular belief, most cats lack the enzyme needed to digest cow’s milk, meaning it can cause diarrhoea if consumed in large quantities. If you do want to give your cat milk, make sure that it is a specialist cat milk, or very small amounts of cow’s milk.
Introduce changes slowly and always check with your vet before introducing new things into your pet’s diet.
In this week’s My Weekly magazine, we explain all the amazing health benefits that come with owning a pet. Pick up your copy today or subscribe for a great money-saving offer.
Do you have a gorgeous cat or kitten? Email or post a photo of them to us at the address in My Weekly. You could win £25 if we publish it on our All About You page!
