Kitten Care – Fact Sheet
This is what I usually print out and give to people who buy kittens from me. I thought it beneficial to all those who are thinking of having a Siamese kitten. It is only my opinion of how things should and shouldn’t be done but I am sure you will agree with most of it………. I hope. Please spend a few minutes reading it. If you agree or disagree I will gladly receive comments that you wish to make by email.
Your new kitten(s)
Lintama Khensu and Lintama Kamiko Siamese are wonderful cats. They make loving , loyal companions and will provide you with much enjoyment and amusement over the coming years. The following notes are to help you with the settling in period. Please read them carefully and keep them for future reference. When you get your kitten(s) home for the first time they will be more than likely nervous and unsure of their surroundings. It would be best to place them in a warm quiet room on their own for an hour or so with a litter tray, so that they get used to the smells and noises that are strange to them. Offer a little food and water later. Gradually introduce them to the other members of the family and then any other cats or dogs. They must have a place to retreat to. They need to feel safe. They will come around in their own time and get curious. Do not force anything on them. This can cause them to be timid and frightened. Please do not leave kittens alone with other animals in the house until you are sure they will come to no harm. Feeding RoutineYour kitten is on three meals a day at present. Cut back to two meals a day when fully grown. A good varied diet is best to avoid boredom on the part of the kitten and to suit your own available time and finance. The amounts required for healthy growth will vary from kitten to kitten, so allow your kitten to eat as much as it wants. Only the exceptional kitten is so greedy that it overeats. Fresh water must be available at all times and must be changed every day. Food SupplementsIf your kitten is receiving a balanced diet of good quality kitten food, these are not strictly necessary, however, if you are feeding home cooked foods to your kitten, they MUST be supplemented with a general vitamin / mineral supplement such as Sherley’s Vionate. Directions on amounts to be used will be on the container. Food GivenI give my kittens and cats the best quality food I can find. There is a product called Natures Menu made by Anglian Meat Products. This can be obtained from your local pet shop although they may have to order it in. Please visit www.naturesmenu.co.uk Their food does not have any additives, preservatives or colourants which I try to avoid at great length. I also give dried food and I can recommend, Royal Canin kitten and Arden Grange kitten. These are of very good quality. Once again if going for a different one, please check the additives, preservatives and colourants. These really aren’t necessary with exception of the natural Vitamin preservatives. Different brands of food should be introduced gradually to avoid upset tummies. Your cat should be healthier and should shine with health if given a good diet. N.B. It is unlikely you will be able to buy Arden Grange from pet shops or the Vet but you can buy direct from them, mail order. I get mine via their web site. Freshly cooked chicken, turkey, rabbit or fish makes a nice change. (Please be careful with fish. All bones must be removed). A little tinned tuna is OK as a treat but not good to give it too often as it will upset the vitamin balance in the kitten’s diet. Tinned pilchards or sardines are also nice for a treat. In the case of white fish, it needs only light cooking but never serve up raw fish. Occasionally I give scrambled egg and a little bit of cheese. Do not forget the vitamin and mineral supplements with fresh food. When giving dried food only, make sure that your kitten drinks enough water. Dried food can be left down at all times so they can nibble and is especially good if you are going out for a few hours. When kittens are about 9 months they can go on to adult food. Nature’s Menu is once again excellent. There are various flavours. I also feed kittens and mums on Hill’s Tender Chunks in Gravy which you can get from most pet shops. A word of warning – please do not try out things like curry or smoked food or chocolate with you cats. All can do damage to their stomachs or intestines. Chocolate is a poison to cats and kittens. If you are unsure about what to give them it would be best to stick to food designed for the job. Summary of foods given at present
Also these are good quality but not presently given
WormingKittens need worming for roundworms about twice a year. Tapeworm should not be a problem in kittens unless there have been fleas on the kitten. Treat accordingly where necessary. Your kitten will have been adequately wormed for roundworms when you collect him. You will need to worm again when your kitten is six months old with a preparation from your vet. Drontal is usually given. FleasA product called ‘Frontline’ is available and having used it on all my cats, I have found it to be excellent. You can obtain ‘Frontline’ from your vet. ‘Stronghold’ is also available from your vet. It will treat worms, tick and fleas with a monthly simple spot on application. There is also ‘Advantage’. If you experience an invasion of fleas, you must also treat your carpets and cats bedding with a spray. Ask your vet’s advice on what to use. I find that most products bought from pet shops and supermarkets are not as effective. Litter TrayYour kitten has been used to open and plastic hooded litter trays and clay type litter. If you experience a breakdown in litter tray habits, try changing to a finer clumping type litter. It is a matter of trial and error sometimes. If your kitten should toilet in a corner of the room, clean the area thoroughly with biological washing powder dissolved in warm water (don’t use bleach) and place a dish of food on the area. They will seldom mess where food is placed. Lime or lemon peel are other useful deterrents. Scratching PostAll cats need somewhere to scratch. To save your furniture from being the focus of attention, it is a good idea to provide a suitable scratching post for your kitten. There are many suitable ones readily available from pet shops. Whenever your kitten decides to sharpen his claws on your favourite chair, gently pick him up and place him on the scratching post. It won’t be long before he understands what to do. Never scold your kitten or cat. This will only confuse him and if done on a regular basis he will become frightened of you. Sleeping QuartersWhether you will be able to leave your kitten alone on his first night is doubtful! Most cats will ultimately find their own favourite places, (mine sleep on the bed usually). Nevertheless, provide somewhere for him to sleep where he can feel secure and warm and can be easily accessed by a small kitten. This can be in its simplest form of a cut down cardboard box, open at the front or a more elaborate basket or pet bed. Line it with something that can easily be washed. Vetbed is a good choice or there are some very distinctive designs of duvet beds available on the market which are also very good. Another option is the lined igloo type which offer the cat security and are also cosy, being open at the front only. Also good are the radiator or wall-mounted cradles. re the radiator or wall-mounted cradles.
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