Kitten Guide

• • Kitten - 10 key facts
  • A brief breed guide
  • Cattery guide
  • Dealing with an emergency
  • Essential equipment
  • Feline ailments
  • House or outdoor cat?
  • Housetraining your kitten
  • How vets can help
  • Keeping your kitten healthy
  • Looking out for signs of illness
  • Nursing a sick kitten
  • Playing with your kitten
  • Preventing parasites
  • Responsible ownership
  • Starting a healthy diet
  • Successful grooming
  • Travel advice

Be prepared to deal with an emergency and have your pet insurance details handy should you need them quickly.

Accidents and shock
Breaks
Burns
Collapse
Cuts
Drowning
Fits
Heat exhaustion
Poison
Swallowing foreign bodies

Accidents and shock
If serious, keep your kitten comfortable and warm, take to the vet immediately.

Breaks
Carry with care and avoid bending the joint. Take to the vet immediately.

Burns
If caused by a caustic substance wash the area immediately, apply petroleum jelly or a cold compress. Take kitten to the vet.

Collapse
Clear all airways and pull the tongue forward. Keep the kitten warm with a blanket to reduce shock and take her to the vet.

Cuts
Superficial and shallow cuts can be treated with a pet antiseptic cream. Deeper wounds should have a pressure bandage placed on them - never use a tourniquet. Take to the vet immediately.

Drowning
Gently pump her chest to remove water. Alternatively, if she is still very young hold her upside down while opening her mouth. Take to the vet immediately.

Fits
Turn off lights, remove anything she could hurt herself on and avoid touching her until she has settled down. After a period of rest take her to the vet.

Heat exhaustion
Lower your kitten's body temperature by giving cool water and applying ice packs to the head and neck. Take to the vet immediately.

Poison
Remove the source away immediately and take to the vet. Try to take information on the poison with you to help the vet decide on appropriate action.

Swallowing foreign bodies
Remove with fingers or tweezers and go straight to the vet. Objects lodged in the throat can sometime be dislodged by holding her upside down and gently patting her back.