| |
Thank you for taking the time to check out this guide. First of all,
please let us say that we don’t know everything……and that this is to be
used as a guide for the health care of your new pet. This guide that we
have prepared for you by no means should replace a vet’s knowledge. We
are happy to help you with questions that you may have as time goes on
with the care of your pet and also at the beginning of your new
relationship with your furry bundle.
The New Kitten's Home
If this kitten is your first kitten, there are things you need to do to
get your home ready for your new family member. Take some time and look
around the house for safety concerns. Go room to room and look for
hazards like:
· Broken window screens, (kittens can get out through very small areas
or holes)
· Medications that you have left out.
· Housecleaning chemicals
· Choking hazards, (small toys cords and such)
· Poisonous House Plants
· Open containers of water, (curious kittens can fall on and not be able
to climb out)
· High open areas
Bringing home a new kitten is very much like bringing home a new baby.
The main difference is that you have time before a human baby gets into
things……that’s not the case with your new kitten.
Take some time to think about where you want to have the litter box,
food, water and kitty bed. The areas should not be next to each other.
The litter box is best in a quit area. Basic equipment you will need is:
· Ceramic or glass water dish
· Ceramic or metal chow bowl
· Small bag of kitten chow, (please buy a quality chow)
· Cat Carrier, (if your kitten does not arrive in one)
· Litter and litter scoop
There are a few more items that will make things easier but not
essential to the care of your new kitten. The items are:
· Scratching post, (they may use your furniture if you don’t have one)
· Hand-held toys, (like a wand toy or even some yarn)
· Cat tree
· Grooming brush
· Nail clippers, (the same kind humans use…a hint…I use the baby styled
clippers)
· Tooth brush
· Cat shampoo
· Flea control, (make sure old enough to use don’t use the collar type)
You might want to find a nice vet if you don’t already have one. Check
with other pet owners and see what they have to say in your area. Your
kitten should be taken in for routine appointments for shots and check
ups. Your vet is a great resource to learn more about preventative care
to keep your new family member healthy for years to come.
Pet sitters should be arranged for when you are going to be away for
trips longer than 24 hours.
What Kind of Chow?
Please……….treat yourself and your kitten to quality chow. The right
choices will add years onto your cats life and the health benefits are
too numerous to even go into. Read the ingredients just like you
hopefully do for yourself. Foods with lots of fillers are not good for
your kitten. The main ingredient needs to be meat or protein. Buy a
small bag in the beginning. Kittens are just like humans there are
brands that they just don’t like and don’t want to eat. We will send you
home with a bag of chow we have been feeding the kitten.
Kittens need to be fed kitten chow, we feel like for the first 10 months
of life. We also prefer dry food. It is better for their teeth and the
wet food spoils quickly, so keep that in mind if you use wet food. Do
not feed your kitten only table scraps. This does not fill their
nutritional needs and also causes diarrhea.
Snacks and treats are up to you. Don’t over do with these in the
beginning, but they do love them. We have found our sweeties really like
tiny nibbles of cheese. Do not give cow’s milk to kittens!
We keep food available at all times for the kittens.
Kittens and the Litter Box
Your kitten will come to you box trained. Kittens are just like human
babies and explore their world using their mouths. The litter may become
a snack for your kitten. If your kitten does eat litter contact your
veterinarian for a simple home remedy.
There are many kinds of litter available:
· Natural Clay
· Scented Clay
· Wood Shavings
· Clumping Litter
· Alfalfa Litters
Don’t use clumping or perfumed litters until the kitten is at least 4
months old. The kitten playing near a litter box can get the fine
textured clumping litter into their eyes, ears, and nose. Young kittens
may also attempt to eat the scented litters.
The litter box should be one with tall sides. The tall-sided boxes help
keep the litter inside the box and stop it from getting caught in their
paws. Keep the box clean so that your kitten will want to use it. Their
sense of smell is better than ours and they think is smells bad long
before we do.
Pregnant women should not clean litter boxes. Ask someone else to help
you do that.
Every week the litter box should be dumped out. You should do this even
if you use clumping litters. Rinse with water treat with a diluted
household bleach and let sit in the sun to dry out. Do this out side if
you can to avoid fumes. Keep other pets and children away from this area
as you do this.
Refill the box with 3 inches of natural clay or 4 inches if you are
using clumping litter. Layer some newspaper on the bottom of the box
before you put the litter in. This helps you with clean up on the next
litter change.
Now…..do take time to check what’s in the box. I can hear the moans….but
what you find in the box can give you a heads up about your cats health.
Kitten Nail Care
We suggest that you clip your kitten or cats claws every two weeks. You
should start this as soon as your bring the kitten home. The kitten will
come to you with the nails clipped. If you start doing this when they
are a kitten, it is easier to manage as they grow up.
The only item you need for this is clippers. We prefer the ones used for
babies. You need to clip only the tip or pointed part of the claw. You
do NOT have to remove any more than that. Clipping the claw too short
can cause bleeding and soreness. You are only removing the needle like
points of the claws. You want them to look blunt when you get done with
this. You are not trying to de-claw your kitten……and please think
carefully about de-clawing your kitten. We do not condone this practice.
If the claws are poorly removed this will change the temperament of your
kitten. There are many cats alive today that are in constant pain and
can hardly walk from this procedure. Please, please, please don’t do
this. (I guess I should put my soap box away now!)
As you clip your kitten’s claws, place your kitten on a well-lit, sturdy
surface with the paw gently between your thumb and forefinger. Gently
apply pressure to spread and extend each individual claw. Practice this
before you have the clippers in your hand. Then take the nail clipper
and nip the end of the pointed nail. Talk softly and praise your kitten.
Rub and scratch its head after each claw is cut. Repeat until all of the
claws have been done. At first this may feel awkward but start with this
when they are young and by the time your kitten is grown, they will be
accustomed to the clipping. Don’t give up just because you feel awkward
or the kitten doesn’t like it being done. If you have to start with
doing just one paw at a time, then that is at least a start. The Owyhee
Bob Cats are very gentle and once they see that you are not going to
hurt them, they decide that it is okay for you to do this.
Grooming
Kittens and cats loved to be brushed. They spend a lot of time grooming
and the brush helps their coats and removes hair that can cause
hairballs. The longer the hair, the more important it is for you to
brush your cat. Owyhee Bob Cats shed less than many other breeds, but
they do shed some.
Be very gentle and start with the easy areas first. Do a small area in
the beginning, just to get your kitten used to it. It also builds your
relationship with them. Finish each grooming time with positive pets
before you let the kitten down.
Hairballs
When cats groom themselves, they accumulate hair in their stomachs and
often regurgitate it. This can be accompanied by gagging, retching and
other noises that are very alarming. It can even get to the point of
causing them potty troubles if they are trying to pass it that way. An
occasional small hairball isn’t much of a problem, but in long-haired
cats, hairballs sometimes can become quite large and cause trouble.
Minimize the problem by grooming the loose hair out before it can be
swallowed and by using a hairball lubricant. There is even chow that has
taken this into consideration and has something added to help with this
problem. The Owyhee Bob Cats shed less than other breeds and even our
longest haired Queen has not had a hairball, but we have had this happen
a few times in the past and it is best to address it in the beginning
and not let it go.
Indoors? Yes!
There are many dangers outdoors no matter where you live. The Owyhee Bob
Cats have a very gentle disposition and that makes them vulnerable to
the risks of being outside. Roaming outdoors also adds to the exposure
of diseases that your cat can bring home.
Discouraging Bad Behavior
When “no” doesn’t work, the best alternative is a squirt bottle. Chasing
your kitten and spanking or throwing things and yelling does not promote
a good relationship with your kitten. A sudden spray from the squirt
bottle provides immediate and effective discouragement without being
associated directly with you.
Play and have fun………this is the beginning of a beautiful loving
relationship for you and your new kitten! Enjoy.
Vaccinations and Worming
Your kitten will come to you with its first vaccinations and worming
done. Please consult with your vet about keeping up to date with all of
the health care. This kitten is depending on you to provide it with what
it needs to have a healthy and happy life. Please put a lot of thought
into what shots you get in the future. Some of the vaccinations may not
be needed if you have an indoor only cat. There are some risks involved
with some of the vaccinations that are available for your cat.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
