Raising Kitten

How to Raise Kittens

Whether you are adopting a new kitten as a pet or your pet cat is waiting to give birth to kittens, the feeling you have can be a mixture of excitement and anxiety. On one hand, raising kittens can be fun and enjoyable, but on the other hand, it may not be as easy as it sounds without prior knowledge of how to take care of them. Being a responsible owner, you should at the very least acquire the basic knowledge of how to raise kittens so that they can grow up healthily.

You are not an expert so it is difficult for you to tell when exactly your cat is giving birth, so chances are your feline would already be nursing her newborn kittens before you even realized that it has given birth. Move your cat and the newborn kittens to somewhere quieter and cleaner as the old den would have become dirty. Hygiene is important for the kittens. Make sure you give your cat and the kittens a darkened den by covering a cloth over the box as mother cats like darker place to nurse their kittens. On top of that, provide them with a very clean bedding to make the den as comfortable as possible so as the mother cat can take good care of its kittens.

Your pet cat will be accompanying its kittens for the first week as they are still greatly in need of warmth and milk, so there are actually less time for them to socialize. When it comes to the second week only will their need for warmth start to reduce. And it is during this time that the mother cat will begin to leave its kittens for a longer time. You may take a look into the den and if you see the kittens huddle together and sleeping soundly, don’t be alarmed for they are just trying to keep themselves warm.

Like babies, kittens spent a lot of time slumbering, so don’t worry if you see them sleeping too much. Keep an eye on them for these two weeks as their immune systems have not fully developed yet. A kitten which is constantly crying might required your attention immediately. The crying kittens may either be hungry or sick. Consult your vet at once if necessary because sickness and extreme hunger can be life threatening.

Usually a kitten will have its eyes opened in the first week or latest the second week. Any time later than that, you need to consult your vet. A kitten’s eyes may be slightly infected at times and the infections may prevent its eyes from opening. Gently dab the kitten’s eyes with a piece of warm and damp cotton wool and this should do the trick. If the eyes of the kitten are still closely shut, get your vet’s help immediately to avoid the infections from infecting the eyeballs which may cause blindness.

If everything is going fine, you do not have to do much during the first four weeks. Be rest assured that the kittens are under good care by their mother. It is the nature of a mother cat to provide great care for its young.

When your kittens are one month old, they should be starting frolicking around and would prefer to be fed with solid food. Kitten must be fed with food appropriate for them to ensure proper nutrition. Kittens which are not correctly fed will not grow up healthily due to the lack of nutrition. You can get the appropriate kitten’s food from any pet shop, but if you are still unsure, ask for a recommendation from your vet.

The first vaccinations should be by the age of two months. The vet will be able to advise you on the necessary shots to be given and when they should be given. The above mentioned guidelines should be able to show you the required areas you must not overlook. Kittens need more attention than adults cat since they are at the growing stage. By the third month, your kittens will become more independent and can take care of themselves.

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Author: Jeff Boo

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeff_Boo

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