TIPS for bringing your kitten home

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Your kitten has been brought up on Royal Canin Mother and Babycat food in both wet and dry. (See below left) At 4 months of age you can upgrade them to Royal Canin Kitten food in wet and dry. (See below right) They have also been exposed to raw meat such as chicken, beef and kangaroo.  Avoid giving cow’s milk to kittens but always ensure they have access to fresh, clean water at all times.

As kittens they have been fed wet food morning and night. Dry food is available at all times.

Your kitten has been litter trained using the “Breeders Choice” brand. Make sure you place the litter tray in a quiet and private area for your kitten to use. A full or unclean litter tray will cause your kitten to go elsewhere.

Some breeders will vaccinate their kittens with the F3 vaccination. Your kitten has been vaccinated with the F5 vaccination at 8 weeks. This covers 5 diseases as opposed to 3. |This includes Cat Flu, Feline Panleucopaenia virus, Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV), Chlamydophila Felis and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). A current vaccination certificate will be provided. 

As they have been desexed at 12 weeks their next F5 vaccination will be due at 14 weeks . 

At 12 weeks of age your kitten was protected with “Advocate”, which covers flea, heartworm and worms. This is due monthly. 

Bear in mind that kittens are incredibly curious and will try to explore everywhere. Kittens will get themselves into the tightest of spaces and places you won’t expect.  Block access to potential escape routes or dangers such as toxic cleaning products, exposed electrical cables or potted plants that are poisonous to cats (e.g. lilies). 

Cats instinctively need to scratch things to keep their nails in good condition and to express natural behaviours. It’s important to provide a scratching pole or several scratching poles around the house. This will help to prevent your cat scratching other objects such as furniture etc. 

Your kitten has been brought up in a family environment which includes the family dog. This has assisted with their initial socialisation. It will be important to continue play time which is important for bonding between you and your kitten. Young kittens need a place to feel safe—something reminiscent of being surrounded by their mother and siblings. A blanket-lined cardboard box or cat bed can be a great replacement. 

It can be helpful to initially place the kitten in a quiet room, along with a bed, litterbox and food, until he gets adjusted. Introduce family members one at a time, providing extra oversight with children.

Regular grooming (gentle brushing) is important particularly for medium-haired and long-haired cats. Start grooming your kitten early on so that it becomes an enjoyable bonding activity and part of routine care. Positively reward your cat with a tasty cat food treat, verbal praise and patting for allowing you to groom them. This way your cat will associate grooming with positive things, making it easier for both of you.

Kittens spend a lot of time sleeping, up to 16 hours a day on average. Starting from their very first night, your kitten will need a lot of rest in order to grow into a healthy cat, so before bringing your kitten home it’s essential that you choose a comfortable bed they can snuggle in that’s warm, cosy, and safe.

Before bringing a new kitten home, get your hands on a good quality cat carrier to make transport easier. It’s essential to get your kitten used to travelling in a carrier inside the car when they’re young. You will need regular vet trips, especially in the early stages, and you want to ensure your kitten is comfortable with the experience.