(Last part)
As the furparent, you are now the kitten’s guide in a world which you can show the kitten as wonderful and awesome.
You can indeed make her/his world such a wondrous place with a lot of love, patience, kindness, training, and socialization.
Sellers enumerated the following training and socialization methods:
• A kitten will use a litter box by instinct but do help the kitten by placing her in the box after every meal and play session.
“Make sure the litter box is always available to your kitten and cleaned frequently,” Sellers said.
• Pet her as often as you can.
• Comb and groom the kitten weekly.
• Give the kitten a lot of toys
• Let the kitten walk on different walking surfaces like a carpet or linoleum, among others.
• You can bring her outside on a lead or in a carrier. “It can be very dangerous to allow a kitten outside without one. However, before providing any outdoor exposure, be sure your veterinarian has administered the proper vaccines and enough time has passed for your kitten to build immunity,” Sellers stressed.
• Provide boxes, paper bags, and other stuff to explore.
• It is good to play loud music and make noise so the kitten will get used to this.
• Ask friends to visit and to play with the kitten and give treats.
• Make sure there is a scratching alternative like scratching posts or carton boxes.
Do reward the kitten with praise, treats, and toys when she uses the scratching post.
• Never allow the kitten to bite or scratch during play. When she does, you can distract her or redirect her attention to a toy.
• It is best to expose her to other cats and kittens once their vaccination is complete. “There are even kitten socialization classes; do an internet search to see if any are available in your area, “ Sellers said.
• Kittens enjoy car rides. Give her treats the whole time and let her get used to her carrier.
• Always reward friendly behavior with treats or praise.
• Ignore her when she displays inappropriate behavior. Do not reprimand bad behavior.
• Teach her tricks to challenge your kitten to think.
• Be patient. Always.
3) Preventive care should be a priority
A kitten can enjoy good health for a lifetime if you provide preventive care. Here are tips from Sellers:
*Schedule an appointment. Bring your kitten to the vet within the first week of getting her. “Early and frequent vet visits will help socialize your kitten with the vet and help the vet establish a baseline for your kitten’s health,” Sellers said.
*Ask the vet about intestinal parasites, fleas, and heartworm. “Have a veterinarian check your kitten for worms and intestinal parasites, and have her de-wormed, if necessary. And while heartworms aren’t as much of a problem for cats as they are for dogs, some kittens may be susceptible, so also ask your vet if he or she recommends a heartworm preventative. The biggest parasitic threat to your kitten, however, is fleas. You can start administering topical flea preventatives when your kitten is around 8 to 12 weeks of age — although some brands are formulated for kittens as young as 4 weeks old," Sellers shared.
*Ask about vaccinations. “ Preventive care for kittens may include vaccines for feline leukemia, rabies, and distemper. These shots are usually first administered when a kitten is around 8 weeks of age, with boosters given every few weeks until she reaches 16 weeks of age. After that, your veterinarian can set her up on an adult vaccination schedule. He or she may also recommend additional vaccinations.
These building blocks will give your kitten the best possible start in life, but don’t forget that she’ll still need plenty of attention and care when she gets older, Sellers stressed. DC
