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

Grooming is not just caring for the coat, but it's the best time to get your kitten used to being handled. Check for a whole range of things including fleas, lumps, teeth and nails. Remember routine treatments such as nail clipping are not covered by pet insurance policies.

Grooming
Claws
Fur balls
Teeth
Ears and eyes
Bathing

Grooming
Begin with gentle stroking and only comb your kitten once she is purring and happy.

After combing, use a brush to remove dead hair. Attention must be paid to legs and the areas between the toes. Domestic British cats only require a weekly groom. Longhaired cats need grooming daily. 

Claws
Most active kittens do not need their claws trimmed, but check they are not flaking or broken.

If claws do require trimming, use cat clippers or sharp scissors. Hold your kitten putting pressure on the foot to expose the claws. Only cut the white tip. If you don't feel confident about doing this yourself take your kitten to a professional groomer or vets.

Fur balls
Caused by cats swallowing loose hair when grooming themselves with their tongue. These can be avoided by regular brushing, although they are generally vomited out. If this becomes persistent problem consult your vet who may prescribe medication to help.

Teeth
Clean your kitten's teeth regularly using a cat toothbrush and toothpaste. Check with your vet for advice.

Eyes and ears
Check for inflammation and dark-coloured ear-wax, a sign of mites. This will require treatment. Do not clean the inner ear.  Concentrate on the outer ear using baby oil on a cotton wool ball. Eyes can be cleaned with damp cotton wool.

Bathing
Cats rarely need a bath. But, in exceptional circumstances you can bath your kitten in the sink by following these steps:

• shallow fill with warm water
• use diluted cat shampoo and avoid eyes or ears
• rinse using warm water
• wrap her in a towel and rub dry
• wipe eyes, ears and nose with wet cloth
• try a low-heat dryer if possible
• comb and brush coat