Enjoy A Happy & Healthy New Year With Your New Kitten!
Make your kitty's first year a great one with food and supplies made just for them.
by Cat Connection
http://www.thecatconnection.com/miva...

So you made the big decision to bring home a new kitten over the Christmas holidays and now you’re eager to give your new companion everything she needs to make sure your first weeks together are as comfortable as possible.

Visit Cat Connection's Kitten Corner to find premium kitten food, grooming supplies, litter, and an assortment of toys that will make her feel as though she’s always been part of the family.

Kitten Food for Kittens
Even though your kitten needs twice the nutrients of an adult cat, at this tender age, his tummy cannot hold the quantity you would feed an adult. At six weeks of age, he should receive at least four small feedings a day, then around twelve weeks three times a day until six months. After that he can be fed twice daily.

Dos & Don'ts
Don't feed your kitten dog food. Cats require taurine which is not contained in dog food. Without it, they can develop heart disease or go blind.

Don't feed your kitten table scraps, nor supplement his diet with milk (causes indigestion and diarrhea). You will encourage begging habits, and your kitten will fill up on foods which don't contain the nutrients he needs.

Don't feed your kitten liver, canned tuna or other canned fish intended for humans. These foods can create an imbalance of vitamins A, D, and E, which can lead to serious conditions.

Do feed your kitten a well-balanced premium food specifically designed for kittens. These youngsters need more proteins for building strong bones and muscles, and more calories to keep up with their high energy levels, than older cats. You can supplement with a high quality dry kitten food later, but in the early days he will need the extra calories of canned food for energy and growth.

Socializing & Playing
The first few weeks in a kitten's life are the most important ones in terms of socializing and bonding with a human, and should be treated as a very precious time in your relationship. This is the time for cuddling and holding, playing gently, and talking to your kitten. Properly handled, he will associate these happy times with you, dear human, and be a friend to you for life. Like clay in your hands, you can mold his personality, while at the same time, strengthening your own commitment to him to cherish him and care for him the rest of his life.

Kittens in their early weeks will play with almost anything. You may be tempted to buy a bunch of toys, but remember, their attention spans are much like those of children, and they might be just as happy playing with a crumpled up ball of paper as with a motorized mouse.

One important caution at this age: don't let your kitten start to associate your hands with a play toy. Doing so can develop into bad habits of scratching and biting fingers. Hands are for holding, stroking and gentle hugs; toys are for rough play.

Good Grooming Starts Early
You can use grooming time as an occasion to practice your bonding. Most cats love to be combed and brushed, once they realize how good it feels. (Have you ever turned down a good back-rub or back-scratching, or a "do" and manicure?)

Brushing
For shorthaired kittens, a slicker brush will do, but be gentle with your strokes. Very young cats or fragile-haired cats such as Rex or Sphynx breeds can be gently groomed with a glove made for that purpose, which usually consists of short rubber nubs. A pin brush or fine-toothed comb is more appropriate for longhaired cats, and very fine-toothed combs are useful for checking for fleas in cats of any coat length. You may need to use a bit of trial and error to find the most appropriate grooming tool for your kitten. Most feline aficionados have a whole array of brushes and combs to fit every cat and every occasion.

Bathing
Most kittens do not need bathing, unless you are seriously preparing a kitten for showing at a cat show. NOTE: Young kittens can chill easily, so great care is necessary to keep them warm until thoroughly dried.

Teeth Cleaning
If you've regularly practiced the exercises in "How to Gentle a Kitten," dental care will be a breeze. "Finger brushes" are available at veterinary offices and pet stores, and should be used with a dentifrice made for cats at least twice a week. Some kitty toothpaste even comes in fish flavors.

Nail Trimming
Properly socialized kittens will be amenable to nail trimming, if you approach it casually. Be sure to use very sharp trimmers. You can buy these at a pet store, although human nail clippers work just as well. You only need to clip the tiny tip of the nail. Be very careful not to cut into the pink "quick", as it will cause bleeding. Keep a styptic pencil handy in this event.

Training & Discipline
Kittens have a tremendous job of developing adult skills in their first year, a year in which they will attain the physical development comparable to a human child of 15 years. These skills all have to do with the business of survival: how to stalk and kill prey; protect food and home from predators; and how to defend himself from attack.

Much of the "misbehavior" that we perceive is only the result of cats following their normal instincts, and it is up to us to redirect these behaviors to a more socially-acceptable level.

Litterbox Training
Most kittens will quickly learn to use a litterbox, as their instinct will tell them to hide their waste from predators. The trick is to give them a small one with low sides so they can get in and out easily. For the first few days, put the kitten in the litterbox right after he eats. Scratch the litter a bit with your finger so he gets the idea. If he doesn't go right away, watch him. If he starts to go on the floor, pick him up and gently place him back in the box. It is never necessary to throw the kitten in the litterbox - it will only teach him to fear it if you make it an adversarial issue. Make sure the box is not right next to his feeding station. Even young kittens instinctively know not to do their elimination near their food. Above all, keep the litterbox immaculately clean.

Note: Clumping clay litter is hazardous to young kittens. Since kittens are curious, and will test interesting substances they find by eating them, their chances of ingesting the clay litter put them at risk for serious (even fatal) intestinal problems. There are a number of kitten-safe alternatives available.

Scratching
Kittens will scratch furniture and carpeting. It's a natural instinct, as they are learning to "sharpen" their claws, which are their first form of defense. Fortunately, they can be deterred from ruining your furniture and drapes by giving them their very own scratching post. Buy (or build) a sturdy one, preferably bound with sisal, rather than carpet. Show your kitten how to scratch on it, and if you find him scratching forbidden territory, gently pick him up and place him at the post. He'll quickly get the message. Be sure to praise him profusely for being a good kitten.

Biting & Rough Play
Biting and other rough play is just a form of practicing to stalk and kill prey. If your kitten wants to attack your ankles or hands, a sharp ,"NO!" and walking away, will teach him that biting and scratching only results in losing his playmate. Don't pull your hand away; this will only encourage him that you are returning his playful aggression. Push your hand toward him, then gently disengage. If he continues to play rough, another "NO!" combined with a spray of water with a plant mister will get his attention. It isn't necessary to drench your cat with water, ever. They intensely dislike the feeling of spray, and just a quick one will usually do the job. Again, walk away from him. He'll probably look at you like, "What am I doing wrong?" but he'll eventually get the message.

Blessed Sleep
If you've ever raised children, you probably know that being awakened at 2:00 a.m. is inevitable, and not a lot of fun. Kittens, being full of boundless energy (twice the amount of adults, remember), aren't always willing to sleep eight hours, according to your schedule. Although it may be tempting to let the little kitten sleep in your room, as he grows older, and more playful, you may regret it. You have two choices:

1. Accustom him from the start to sleeping in his own bed in another area of the house. Make sure his litterbox is convenient and accessible.

2. Be prepared to wear him out with play before going to bed. This may eliminate the "night terrors" with a kitten wildly racing across your face at three in the morning, but it is not a guarantee. If that happens, you'll probably want to either get him a playmate, or revert to plan "A".

By now, you are well on your way to having a happy, well-adjusted kitten, who all of a sudden is not just a "pet", but has become a very important member of your family. Expect your bonds to strengthen and grow, and enjoy this first year. Like children, they grow up entirely too soon.