NEW OWNERS INFORMATION

Its a good idea to have a collection of the basics before your new kitten arrives. All these items are available at specialty pet stores, eBay, through your vet online. The right food is vital, as is somewhere to eat and drink, and a place to sleep, things to play with and a litter box.

Safety first:

Kittens are curious creatures and that curiosity can sometimes get them into trouble. Here are a few simple tips to help keep them safe.

• Kittens will chew on anything when teething. Keep electric wires wrapped or hidden away to keep your kitten safe.

• Restrict access to upper floors and outdoor areas like balconies.

• Check if any of your plants are poisonous. Certain plants, such a lilies are highly toxic to cats. Be sure to ask your vet or google for a list of poisonous plants.

• Put away all small objects that could be swallowed such as elastic bands, hair ties and drawing pins.

• Use covered rubbish bins and keep toilet lids down.

Separate food and water dishes:

Its worth paying a little more for stainless steel bowls. You will find they are more durable and easier to clean. Ensure there are two bowls and make sure one has clean water and the other dry food available for your kitten at all times.

Toys:

Play is the way a lot of young animals learn and kittens are no exception. There are plenty of toys you can buy to encourage this behaviour. Only use toys specifically designed for kittens and cats as these will be more durable and safe.

Bedding:

Kittens need a lot of sleep when they are young - its essential for their development. Ensure your new kitten has plenty of comfortable bedding around the house to sleep in, with a few beds up high.

Scratching Post:

Cats love to scratch. Its a good idea to give them a purpose built scratching post or indoor cat tree if you want to keep your curtains and furniture safe. You can encourage them t use the scratching post by spraying it with Catnip. Ensure you don't get a huge tree to start of with or only half build the tree until your kitten becomes accustomed to the height. Always place trees on a carpeted surface not a hard surface which can cause injuries if the kitten falls.

Litter box:

Make sure your litter box is the right size for your kitten, so they can use it without making a mess. Cats are naturally clean animal and prefer to have their litter at least 2 meters away form food and water dish>

Its essential to have a scoop on hand t remove mess at the start and end of each day, and replace the litter every 1_2 days. If yo want to reduce odour and litter being kicked out to the box, consider a covered litter box by start with the lid off until your kitten is used to using the box. If you have multiple cats, you will need separate trays in the separate areas for each cat.

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When your kitten first arrives:

**Be patient - kittens need a few days to settle

**Always supervise all introductions to other pets and children

**Be gentle - kittens require gentle handling at all times

When your kitten first arrives, it is important to get the details right to help them settle into your home. Your kitten will be experiencing a multitude of new sights, sound and smell. Remember to be patient and let them explore their new environment and adjust gradually. Don't forget, they've left their litter mates and the only home they know. Its normal they'll be a bit frightened at first.

Things to remember:

• Choose a quiet room for your kitten to spends its first few days in. This allows them to adjust to their new environment gradually. Set up their litter tray, food and water in this room to make adjusting easier.

• Supervise your kitten when you allow them access to other areas of your home. Kittens are inquisitive and it is amazing what hazards they can quickly uncover.

• Be mindful your new kitten may be stressed and cry a little their first few nights as they adjust to their new environment.

• Handle kittens with care - sudden movement or rough handling can be frightening. The best way to pick up your kitten is to slide an open hand under their tummy as you other hand supports their rear end.

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Introducing your kitten to the family:

**Ensure children respect the kitten and are always supervised

**Keep your dog calm and on a lead when they meet your kitten

**Expect it to take time for your existing cat to adjust to your new kitten

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Let your kitten meet the rest of the family in stages - all at once can be overwhelming. When you introduce your kitten to the children other pets and family members, there a few things to keep in mind.

• Always supervise young children and pets

• Teach children how to safely approach the kitten. It sis best that children don't pick up the kitten unless shown how to do so safely.

• Encourage children to use toys to play with the kitten - this keeps the play enjoyable for everyone and is great bonding experience.Always supervise interactions between your existing dog and your new kitten. Ensure the kitten is allowed to approach the dog as it feels comfortable. Don't force contact between the kitten and your dog.

• Cats are territorial creatures, so your existing cat may take some time to adjust to a new kitten. Ensure each cat has a safe area or space to escape to when the are feeling unsure.

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Cats are different:

**Cats need different food to humans and have very specific requirements

**Cats prefer to eat small portions throughout the day, averaging 16-20 small meals per day.

**Sudden dietary change can lead to digestive upsets.

Despite the close bond between humans and cats, they have different needs when it comes to nutrition. Cats are carnivores; our bodies have evolved to digest a combination of meat and vegetable matter. The nutrients they require in their diet to remain healthy therefore are very different to ours.

Another way cats differ from us is how they determine their preference for food. the perception of taste is strong in humans, however cats have approximately 95% less taste buds than we do. As their sense of taste is not as refined, cats decide whether they like a food based on it smell and texture.

Feeding your kitten:

**Always follow the feeding guidelines on you kitten food packaging

**Cows milk is not suitable to kittens

**Make sure they have fresh water at all times

**Monitor your kittens weight regularly

The first year of your kittens life is when they do most of their growing, so it is essential during this time and a good quality diet will help their development too. By feeding them properly during this time and continuing to do so throughout their adult life you can help set them up for along, healthy life.

Avoid overfeeding:

Kittens should continue to gain weight, however kittens don't grow well. Review the feeding guidelines recommended on your kittens food packaging and carefully measure these serving accordingly. as kittens prefer to eat smaller meals over the course of the day, allow your kitten access to food all day if possible.

Diet transition:

When changing your kitten or cats diet, make sure you gradually mix the food over a  day period, increasing the amount of the new food added each day so that 100% of the new food will be provided by day seven. This will avoid any digestive stress and diarrhoea. Its important to remember that food transitioning should be done with any and all diet changes your kitten or cat goes through at any stage in their life. 

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Make sure water is always available:

Your kitten must always have access to a bowl of fresh clean water, and preferably have several water bowls around your home. Circle K kittens are renowned for liking to play in water, we thoroughly recommend cat water fountains.

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The science of nutrition:

**A veterinarian or pet care professional can advise you on the best diet for your kitten.

**precise, balance nutrition is important for the entire lifetime of your cat.

A kittens diet not only has to supply them with energy, gut it also has to build and maintain the body's digestion, growth and encourage vitality as they mature.

It your kitten is not fed a balanced growth diet, they could suffer from major nutritional deficiencies or excesses, resulting in developmental issues and potentially even long term damage to their health. Be veterinarian will be able to recommend  an appropriate diet.

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The two stages of growth:

Birth to four months;

The first four months of a kittens life involves an intense growth spurt. Its also a time that they are prone to digestive upsets as they lose their capacity to digest lactose and are weaned. A mistake commonly make during this stage is to feed your kitten cows mill, which is not suitable for kittens an can cause diarrhoea.

Four to twelve months;

Between four to twelve months, the energy needs to reduce gradually as the kitten approaches its adult size. During this time kittens also shed their milk teeth which are replaced by permanent adult teeth. Their digestive system is also gradually maturing an is more able to cope with solid food.

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YOUR KITTENS CURRENT DIET:

• Morning and evening wet feed

• fresh raw human grade chicken mince mixed with tinned cat food at a ratio of 75%mince and 25% tin food.

• Quality kitten dry food available at all times

• A small amount of cooked rice, quick oats or roo mince can be added for variety and fibre.

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Behavior and training