Kitten Care 101

Have you recently adopted a kitten? Congratulations! Your tiny ball of fur is bound to keep you smiling with her adorable antics. However, your baby feline will probably also keep you on your toes! Kittens may be small, but they certainly have a knack for mischief. Read on as a Las Vegas, NV vet discusses kitten care.

Little Fluffy has a lot of growing to do! While good nutrition will be important at every stage of your cat’s life, it’s especially crucial during the first year. Offer your pet a high-quality, premium kitten-formula food.

Your pint-sized pal will need to visit us a few times during that first year. We recommend that all cats be spayed or neutered and microchipped while they are still young. Your kitten will also need her initial exams, vaccinations, and parasite control products. We also like to offer free purr checks, which we do using cuddles and ear scritches. Ask your vet to recommend an appointment schedule.

Cats are very playful when they are little. Take time to play with your feline buddy every day. Use toys that you can control, such as a laser pointer or wand toy. This will help you bond with your pet, and will also teach her how to burn off her excess energy in a positive, appropriate way. Plus, what can be cuter than a kitten pouncing and jumping?

Never underestimate little Fluffy’s ability to get into trouble. You’ll need to do some kittenproofing to make your home safe for her. Remove or secure toxic plants; plastic bags, wrappers, and ties; wires and cords; medicines; household, automotive, and lawn/garden chemicals; pesticides; and small or sharp objects. Also, keep larger household appliances, like washers and dryers, closed when they aren’t in use.

Make sure to nip bad habits in the bud. It’s much easier to teach a kitten good manners than it is to try and correct bad habits in an adult cat. Rough play, for instance, may be cute in kittens, but it can be very problematic in a full-grown cat. Never punish your pet for misbehaving: this may only scare her. Instead, if your cat does something naughty, clap your hands, stamp your feet, or make a loud noise.

Please contact us, your Las Vegas, NV pet clinic, for your kitten’s veterinary care needs. We are here to help!