The decision to start a cat is quite a serious act. It should be remembered that we are responsible for those who have tamed. Therefore, from the day the animal crossed the threshold of our house, we are responsible for it. Especially important are the first months of a kitten's life.
Development features
At a time when the kitten reaches the age of 1 or 2 months, the cat begins to pay less attention to its child. During this period, the size of the animal is quite small. Monthly (and sometimes two months) kitten looks pretty defenseless. The age of 1-2 months is the period when the active development and growth of the animal begins. The kitten can begin to lure, to accustom him to the toilet and carry out other activities in the framework of the educational process.
At the same time, it is worth remembering that at the moment the animal is not fully developed, so you shouldn’t demand that you immediately learn commands or fulfill your requests - the little four-legged friend is just beginning to learn.
What is needed for content?
On the first day, when the pet appeared in your home, you need to take care of arranging his personal place. So, first you need to organize a toilet. Today, in the zoological markets and pet stores you can buy a tray of any color and size.
The ideal choice for the first time is a tray with low sides. The small size of a kitten will not allow him to overcome any obstacles. Therefore, this design will be the most comfortable and convenient for a small animal. Care must be taken to ensure that the tray is made of environmentally friendly material. Information on this can be found on the packaging or consult with the seller.
In addition to the material of the tray itself, it is necessary to carefully choose cat litter. The kitten can play with it at first and even taste it. Therefore, it must be safe. The most suitable in this plan - woody, eliminates the smell, is sold at an affordable price, convenient for a kitten. And you can choose the one to which the kitten is used in the cat's house.
In addition, the animal needs its own place to sleep and rest. They can be lounger, which can be purchased at any zoological store. In the absence of such, you can arrange a comfortable sleeping place for your four-legged friend yourself - for this you can use old rugs, blankets, pillows, etc. However, often at the beginning of her life, the kitten does not perceive its place. So, he can independently choose for himself a cozy corner for himself or he will sleep next to you.
If you have sufficient financial resources, and there is free space in your apartment, then it is a good decision to purchase a special house. Such designs are quite popular among pet owners. Arrangement of the so-called "dining area" is also necessary. A cat needs two bowls: for food and water.
So that the kitten does not spoil the furniture with its claws, it immediately needs to acquire a claw stick - vertical or horizontal. It can be made with your own hands, a regular piece of old carpet or felt will do.
You just need to fix it on a vertical surface, so that the kitten was comfortable.
How to care at home?
As for the care procedures that a kitten needs, then, first of all, it is necessary to include hygienic procedures.
It should be remembered that bathing animals that have not yet reached two months, is not recommended by experts. The fact is that the body of a kitten in this period is not strong, and therefore a change in temperature may adversely affect its health. During this period, care in terms of hygiene should be limited to cleaning the ears and eye treatment (it is recommended to use cotton swabs and cotton pads), and also to monitor the condition of the oral cavity and teeth.
Do not forget about medical procedures. So, for example, if your new pet is a yard animal (you took it from the street or from a shelter), then you should start with all the necessary procedures: de-worming, treatment from fleas. Vaccination is mandatory for all kittens, the necessary vaccinations will help the baby to develop immunity and protect against various diseases. If you notice any suspicious symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor.
Do not forget about the fact that small animals, like small children, need a lot of attention. In the first days after you brought the kitten into the house, it should be given increased attention, to show affection and care. You need to stroke the kitten, hold it in your arms, and also play outdoor games with it in order to activate it.
Feeding rules
Particular attention in the care of a newborn kitten deserves its diet. So, in the first days of his life, he does not need additional feeding - all the necessary trace elements and vitamins he receives from breast milk. If we talk about additional nutrition, it should be started from the 4th week of your pet's life. The first products that are allowed to be introduced into the kitten's diet should be dairy products. And you should choose only those that have a small fat content. After a few days, you can also enter cereals and finely chopped meat in the diet.
Portions should be small. Watch what volume your little pet eats in order not to harm its digestive system.
In addition, already during this period of growth and development of the animal, it is necessary to make a final choice as to what type of food you will feed the cat in the future. There are two options: dry food and natural products. If you choose the first option, then it will be useful to consult a specialist veterinary clinic. It will help determine the specific brand of food, which largely depends on the breed and the physiological characteristics of the animal. If you decide to feed the kitten with natural food, then remember that you should give him only fresh and high-quality products. In no case do not feed your pet with leftovers from the master's table.
Be prepared for the fact that the first time you have to feed your pet yourself, using a syringe or pipette. However, you should not abuse such excessive care - gradually accustom the animal to self-feeding.
How to bring up?
Very much depends on the first months of life. It is at this time recommended to instill good habits cat.
- One of the first and most important habits that you need to teach your pet is to go to the toilet in the tray. In order to realize this, you can use a simple technique. For example, experienced breeders recommend planting a cat in a tray with a filler after he eats or drinks.
- In addition, the behavior of the animal during games and entertainment should be monitored: do not let it bite and scratch you.
- Teach him to scratching, show how to sharpen claws, hanging the toy from above. The baby will reach for it, and at the same time scratch the surface of the scraper.
Do not show aggression towards the kitten, even if he did something wrong.The animal can remember this behavior and later experience negative emotions for you.
How to teach a kitten to go to the tray, see the next video.
