Everything You Need To Know About Your New Kitten – The First Year
Congrats on your new member of the family! But, what’s next? Adapting with a new pet can take some time, especially if you are a new pet parent. There’s no doubt that you’ll enjoy raising this new little bundle of kitty love. The first year is definitely the most challenging but this is also the year that your kitty will give you loads of attention. Consulting with your vet is most important in the first year to ensure your kitten’s future health.
The First 7 Weeks
Kittens should remain in their mother’s care within the litter for at least six to eight weeks. This is how they gain basic social skills. Between two to five weeks, kittens start to open their eyes, their teeth start to come in and they begin to use their sences of smell and sight. They start to walk, run, develop regular sleep patterns and begin to socially interact with each other. It is during this period that they begin to learn about their surroundings.
7 Weeks To 3 Months
After week 8, kittens can leave their mothers and become members of their new families. Right from the start, your kitty’s social behaviour will include hugs, licks and cuddles, which is what they learned from their mother and littermates. During this period, your kitty will become more and more independent but will still need a lot of attention and tenderness. It is now time for your first visits to the vet. This is how you will be certain that your new furry family member is healthy and that their development is on track.
3 To 6 Months
Once your kitten reaches the age of 3-4 months, they will begin to lose their baby teeth. During this period they will have a need to chew more. There is also the possibility that they will eat less. Their new teeth irritate the gums, so don’t worry about your furry baby, this will subside as soon as their new teeth are in. Socializing is very very important at this stage. They will test their relationships now, wanting to know their place in the family. This also includes other cats, other pets as well as the other members of the family, including you. They will play a bit rougher with toys and people alike, and a toy will be considered everything that moves!
6 To 12 Months
In this period, both male and female cats become sexually active. It is best then to decide whether or not to have your kitten spayed or neutered now. There is the possibility that your kitten will run away from home during this period in search of other cats. They may mate, mark their territory or even get into fights with other cats during this period. Your kitten may display ’macho’ behaviour in this period, refusing to listen to your commands. They will definitely pay more attention to their environment than listen to you at this time. Don’t be discouraged, this period is just a phase. Once your cat is fully grown, he/she will want to play with you again.
Due to potential issues with other cats, more frequent excursions outside the family home, it is best to get a Pet Protector within the first six months. Why take the risk of your cat becoming infected with ticks, fleas or a dangerous contageous disease from an insect or another cat. With the Pet Protector Disc you will be sure that your cat will not be posioned by the various chemicals found in traditional external parasite products. Especially if your cat is allergic to any of these. In the event of an allergy, chemcial products used to protect pets from insects can be fatal.
This information is more than you need to help you with your new member of the family. With regular care and lots of love, your kitten will be the ideal member of the family who will bring countless joy to the whole family!
