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

A good start will avoid complications in later life. Common conditions caused by poor diet include diabetes which will result in expensive treatments not all pet insurance policies cover.

Healthy regime
Commercial cat foods
Supplements
Milk
Treats and fat cats
Dealing with a fussy eaters

Healthy regime
Kittens should be feed small amounts regularly - around three to four small meals a day. This can be reduced this to two or three meals a day when she reaches six months old. Keep meal time regular and make a bowl of fresh water available.

Commercial cat foods
The main categories are:

• wet (come in cans, sachets, tubs)
• semi-moist complete meals
• dry

Some companies now offer an organic range.

Dry food is generally recommended by vets because it keeps teeth in good condition.

Most major food brands have kitten specific formulations which are designed to support the kitten during periods of growth. Cats are hunters, even well fed ones! Watch your pet's weight and feed accordingly

Supplements
Unless specifically recommended by your vet, these should be avoided. A balanced diet will provide everything a healthy kitten needs.

Milk
Special kitten milk is only useful to kittens who have been taken form their mothers too early. Cow' milk should certainly be avoided as it can cause stomach upsets.

Treats and fat cats
These can be given occasionally and should be specifically designed for kittens. Never feed human foods as a treat! Obesity is an increasing problem that can lead to debilitating conditions.

Dealing with a fussy eater
Some can be very fussy, don't pander and chop and change the food on offer. Simply leave the food dish for 30 minutes and then pick it up even if she hasn't touched it. She'll soon catch on and learn to eat.