8 Steps To Raising Your Best Kitten

With the increasing rate of adorable kittens posted on Instagram, Singaporeans might find it hard to evade the marvel of owning a cat, or even more.

Most of us Singaporeans have a clue of how cats work, predominantly in settings under our HDB or the unexpected appearance in our homes. We feed them simple cat food and a dish of water, but is that all there is to care for a cat, much less a kitten?

Tune in to learn more about the steps to raising your best kitten!

8 Steps To Raising Your Best Kitten

New kittens, be they adopted or bought, are solely dependent on you to help them stay safe and thrive at home. Follow these eight steps to ensure your fluffy furball grows up healthy and free from most bad habits.

1.When Should You Adopt A Kitten

To many new owners, you might think that getting to socialise and interact with your kitten from a young age is the right way. We tell you the opposite. Kittens should be adopted during the period of 10 to 12 weeks. Due to their feline nature, kittens are solely dependent on their mother during their first few weeks of darkness. Born with their eyes closed, they mainly crawl, sleep, and nurse with the rest of their family.

1.Prepare For Everything

Once you’ve taken the first steps to adopt your young cat, it is necessary to include the right supplies to ensure the smoothest and stress-free transition. Below is a small list of what you need to get started.

What you need:

1. Food specifically for kittens
2. A Water Bowl
3. A Litter Box
4. Clumping Cat Litter
5. Bed or Soft Blanket for sleeping
6. Scratching post to sharpen their claws
7. A Safe Spot (Usually a cat tower or carrier with the door open)

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Another thing to take note of is toys. Cat toys are an excellent addition to their playful nature. Be sure to supervise playtime when small pieces could be a choking hazard for your kitty(s) since they are children.

3.Cat-Proof Your House

Always make sure to kitty-proof your home before bringing them back. Hide or change the placements of electrical cords, plants, medications, and other items such as plates or cups. This help prevent the occasional breakage of such fragile items and keep them out of harm’s way.

The Pro-Tips

Here are some pro-tips that we’ve gathered from cat owners far and wide in Singapore. We have compiled them in the order of most important to the least.

4.Vet, Vet, Vet

Growing kittens need to visit the vet every 3-4 weeks, and this should occur till they’re about 16 weeks old (4 months). These checkups will include the standard boosters and preventions.

5.Litter Box Proficiency Test

Much like learning how to walk, your royal highness needs to learn how to poop, and more importantly, where. Although kittens have an instinctual habit of knowing how to use the litter box, you should always check the surroundings for any obstructions if any issues arise.

If they are having difficulties recognising where to conduct their private time, shift the litter box nearer to them. That might do the trick!

6.Human Interaction

Interaction with your new family is a necessary action that needs to be done daily. Pick them up, snuggle, touch their paws and ears often. This helps them get used to it, and before long, trimming nails and showering will become the norm.

7.Socialization

Introducing your kittens to the normalities of the household is also an essential aspect of training. Frequent loud noises such as cardboard boxes or door knocks will help them adjust to their surroundings better.

Even though it freaks them out of their socks the first couple of times, getting used to it is just a short period away under your tender loving care.

This adjustment prepares them for similar sounds and experiences, helping them stay cool and calm. Always remember to offer treats and extra attention and praise for anything that might be new and scary.

8.Sexual Maturity and Spaying/Neutering

Wonder why kittens like to escape from their lovely, all-encompassing staycations? They might need to mate. As kittens reach sexual maturity close to the young age of 6 months, they may demonstrate hormonally-driven behaviours such as spraying and yowling.

To prevent these symptoms, vets recommend spaying for female cats and neutering for male cats at 6 months. This action comes with benefits such as decreased health risks and undesirable breeding with stray cats out of your homes.

Conclusion

If you’re ready for the responsibility that comes with owning a cat, take these bits of advice along with you. We encourage owners never to neglect their pets, as fostering one is a huge responsibility. Care for your kittens like family.