How to train kittens to use the litter boxDo you have kittens that need to learn to use the litter box? Did you adopt a kitten who occasionally has litterbox accidents? Did you find a stray kitten and now need to introduce him to the concept of using a litter box?
If the answer to any of the...
With kitten season in full force, too many people come across abandoned pregnant cats and orphaned kittens, sometimes even newborns. The unexpected rescue mission can be overwhelming. There's so much to do, and there's often a steep learning curve, too.
Fortunately, many rescuers end up in our...
...for describing your kitten - regardless of her biological age.
1. Newborns to four weeks old
During the first weeks of their lives, kittens are passive and delicate things. Newborns are blind, deaf and have very limited mobility.
If you rescued a newborn kitten, keep her separate from...
...important?
Cats are curious by nature and tend to explore. That's why you should cat proof your home when adopting a cat of any age. However, kittens do pose a special challenge in the safety department. If you're adopting a kitten, consider the following implications.
Kittens are very...
...move to the new place is as pleasant as possible. Cats are territorial animals that really hate unknown environments – and that applies to kittens as well. Their space is important to them, and they don’t like to be moved around.
The good news is that younger kittens are able to adapt...
...feline, you are making sure that they are living their most active and healthiest life.
The abundance of energy that’s characteristic of kittens and young adult cats can become quite destructive if they are not given a proper physical outlet. Choosing the right toy could mean the difference...
...Neutered cats live longer and healthier lives. But that’s not all.
By spaying and neutering cats you’ll be preventing the birth of new kittens. And yes, kittens are the most adorable thing in the world, but with not enough good homes to take them in, most kittens either end up in shelters or...
...period of their lives when they have positive social interactions with other members of the species. First and foremost, a mother with her kittens, but also mating couples.
But what about domestic cats?
If you own more than one cat, there's a good chance that you witness mutual grooming...
If you're caring for a mother cat and her kindle of kittens you should start looking for good homes for them as soon as possible. Once you have good homes waiting, comes the question:
When can the kittens leave their mom?
Is it ok for you to give the kittens away once they start eating solid...
Watching a litter of tiny kittens suckling voraciously, you may be wondering how they will ever switch over to eating on their own?
The transition from nursing to independent eating is called weaning. It is a process and does not happen over night, but the good news is yes, every kitten...
As every rescuer knows, you must carefully monitor the progress of tiny newborn kittens. Weighing the kittens is an imperative preventive measure in making sure all kittens thrive and make it to adulthood. Kittens grow fast during those first few weeks, doubling their own body weight every few...
...recommend checkups twice a year to catch age-related diseases early on. Consult with your veterinarian about the best schedule for your cat.
Kittens also require more frequent vet visits - we'll cover the time needed to care for a kitten later in this article.
How long does it take to groom...
Veterans of the Pregnant Cat & Kitten Care forum are familiar with springtime posts that read -
"I came across 4 kittens hiding under my front porch!"
"Last night, I found these three kittens."
"We found two kittens that are about 1 day old."
Come kitten season, cat lovers across the globe are...
...they’re feeling friendly.
Claws
Two cats that are playing don’t want to hurt each other. So, if they learned properly from their mothers as kittens, they’ll keep their claws in while playing. Again, this is hard to see for sure but is one of the ways you can tell if a cat is just playing or...
Whether a mother cat gave birth in your home or you came across orphaned kittens under your porch - you never know when and where you may be faced with the challenge of rescuing newborn kittens. Take this quiz to see how much you know about this lifesaving topic and please share it so others can...
...you should be.
Fading Kitten Syndrome: 11 Things You Need To Know
There is no gentle way to put this: During the first weeks of their lives kittens are at an increased risk of dying.
Some estimates put the survival rates of newborn kittens at an average of 75%, and as every experienced...
...cats. It is a very demanding process to boost a newborn’s health and weight, but it can be done.
Check out our guide to hand-rearing newborn kittens.
B0718ZXR97During the first few weeks of the newborn’s life, you want to make sure that they are putting on enough weight to double their body...
...your cat is going through - and what to do about it.
Some changes in behavior are normal.
Cats adjust their behavior as they grow up. Kittens act differently from adults, and senior cats often display a different temperament than that of younger cats.
Then again, some changes in behavior...
...the eyes. This is especially common in cats that were born "on the streets" or come from shelters. The Herpes virus typically affects young kittens and shows itself as an upper respiratory infection. I am sure you have seen kittens that are sneezing and have watery eyes? That is often the...
...the shelter, or even when browsing through lists of cats for adoption, you may be wondering, "Should I adopt one of these adorable little kittens, or should I take in one of the sweet adult cats?"
That's a good question. Living with a kitten is different than living with an adult cat. It can...