3 Kitten Care Tips

Cats have the reputation of being one of the "easier" pets to care for. But there are certain things you need to know in advance before bringing home a kitten.

They're Energetic

Whoever first came up with the expression "bouncing off of the walls" most likely lived with a kitten. Kittens are almost sparkling with energy until they are about eight months old, where they start to settle down and behave in a more cat-like dignified manner.

Although kittens are usually weaned by eight weeks old, in the wild they would still hang about the mother learning how and what to hunt. They originally needed all of that energy to build up their muscles for survival. It's good to get into the habit of playing with the kitten and continue this even when the kitten becomes an adult cat. Cats need to be active in order to be healthy.

Don't let kittens play with yarn, string, or anything they can swallow. These things may not pass through the kitten's digestive system and cause a blockage which may require surgery to remove.

They Get Into Everything

Of course, your kitten is already in your heart, but they also will wind up in the laundry, the cabinets and inside of a swath of destruction if you leave them alone unsupervised in the house for too long. If you have a small kitten, get in the habit of shaking out each piece of laundry as you put it inside of the washer or dryer, because kittens think piles of laundry are great places to nap. Also, check inside any appliance before turning it on and double check the refrigerator before going out.

Kittens are smart enough and wriggly enough to get into any cracks of the home. If you have any pathways to the inner workings of the house, they need to be secured or you will discover the kitten caterwauling inside of the walls of the house and may need to rip a wall down in order to get her out.

Kittens are also smart enough to figure out how to open cabinets. If you don't want them doing that, install child-proof locks on the cabinet doors.

They Eat Almost Anything

Kittens are not born knowing what foods are good for them and what aren't. For example, cats generally like the taste of antifreeze, but just a swell swallows are enough to kill a full-grown cat, let alone a kitten. Don't leave any of your medication or your candy or small objects lying about because the kitten will bat it about and then eat it.

When kittens get older and stop growing (and stop bouncing off of the walls) their appetites will dramatically slow down. But until then, do not get into the habit of giving the kitten a lot of human food treats like dairy products, lunchmeat or fried meats. The kitten will start to expect this food all of the time. Kitten food and the occasional treat of baked or broiled unbreaded chicken or boneless fish will be more than enough.