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comment by user-inactivated
user-inactivated  ·  3405 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Pubski: July 29, 2015

I too am getting a kitten, next week possibly - my roommate has been going to the adoption center looking at the same one for like 5 days now, so I think he's going to get it whether he asks me about it or not, haha

Kitten tips would be quite nice, please and thank





user-inactivated  ·  3405 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Always use the same litter, preferably the same litter the adoption center used. You can change it up once the kitten gets used to living with you, but in the mean time you want it to recognize the litter box.

Give it somewhere to hide.

Cats really like to eat plants. If you have plants, ensure they aren't poisonous.

This is completely true

_refugee_  ·  3405 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Kidden tips.

tla  ·  3405 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Speaking from the past year with my first cat since I was a kid:

Adding to the others points, never leave kitten alone with something that can fit inside kitty mouth. Keep shoelaces tucked and stash string toys somewhere after playtime. Get rid of anything that kitty breaks or you might end up needing a vet to get pieces out of kitty.

If kitty can reach your counters, pretend you have a toddler and keep things away from the edge. Try train kitty to not go on counters.

We use timeout in the cat carrier (10-15minutes) for punishment. This usually calms our kitty down. Sometimes he goes right back to being naughty and earns another stint. Be persistent.

If you have to peel an aggro kitty off you, peel kitty straight off into timeout.

Expect that kitty will absolutely pwn furnishings of all kinds, including curtains and blinds. Budget for moving out accordingly. Cardboard scratchers help but kitty will learn that wrecking other shit gets attention whether you like it or not.

Kittiens teethe between about 5 and 8 months. Ours teethed late. Finding kitty teeth on the ground or in the food bowl is normal.

It's been a terrible few years regarding fleas. You may never be 100% flea free if there are other cats around. Fleas also give kitties worms, so if there are fleas around, worm regularly. Use the brand name flea treatments, not the cheap shit. Ask the vet or shelter what they recommend for your area.

Blue cheese is the best way to disguise a pill.

Vacuum regularly, and get a real vacuum, not one of those silly handheld ones disguised as a big one.

Rescue kitties can come with all kinds of hangups. Abandoned kitties might have food issues and need discipline from the two-legs regarding feeding and treats. You might have to ration for them rather than freefeeding. We have to for ours.

Small kittens under about 6 months should be given small portions of food regularly if they're asking, up to like 5 times. Make sure kittens are fed kitten or "all life stages" food. Fast growing kittens can have up to like 400 calories per day.

Cats are supposed to get their water from their food, so try give at least one wet food a day for kidney health (and always have water available). For dry food slimcat ball feeders are fantastic for keeping kitty busy and entertained.

Don't listen to the feeding recommendations on the food packaging, they're trying to sell food. If we listened, we'd be feeding our 15lb big boy 8 (3oz) cans a day. Just, no. He needs like 270/day calories so we give ours 2 wet 3oz feeds and 1 dry 1/4cup feed.

arguewithatree  ·  3404 days ago  ·  link  ·  

another good feeder is one like this where they can use their "natural scooping instinct" (which is a thing apparently) and it keeps them from wolfing food down too fast and barfing it back up. this is good for cats with food issues (like rescue cats) who will binge until they get sick because they're worried about when the next meal will appear

arguewithatree  ·  3405 days ago  ·  link  ·  

babyproof your house. kittens have the remarkable ability to get into EVERYTHING. anything that could be a choke hazard (small items and loose strings like pull cords for blinds), fall hazard (keep your toilet lids closed), or poison hazard (plants as mentioned)