Félicitations pour l'adoption d'un chaton ! Maintenant que vous êtes un nouveau parent d'animal de compagnie, il y a plusieurs choses que vous devrez considérer. Des soins de qualité pour chatons doivent viser à aider l'animal à s'adapter à sa nouvelle maison et à assurer son bien-être pour favoriser un développement sain.
Il y a plusieurs étapes dans le développement d'un chaton, et il est crucial de comprendre comment les besoins de votre animal évolueront à mesure qu'il grandit.
Nous avons compilé quelques conseils pour chatons utiles qui couvre tous les aspects de base des soins pour chatons que vous devez connaître, notamment :
- Comment se préparer à un nouveau chaton
- Comment prendre soin d'un chaton à chaque étape de son développement
- Jalons de soins du chaton pour la première année de vie
- Satisfaire les besoins fondamentaux d'un chaton
- Comment élever un chaton social
- Comment prendre soin de l'hygiène d'un chaton
- Derniers conseils de soin des chatons que tous les propriétaires d'animaux devraient connaître
- FAQ sur les soins aux chatons
Comment se préparer pour un nouveau chaton
Sécurité des chatons dans la maison
Les chatons sont joueurs et curieux, ce qui peut leur causer des ennuis à moins que vous ne preniez des mesures préventives adéquates. Ainsi, avant de ramener un chaton à la maison, vous devrez mettre votre maison à l'épreuve des chatons et surveiller de près votre nouvel animal de compagnie pour éviter que votre chaton ne détruise vos affaires ou, pire encore, ne se blesse.
Cela inclut :
- Inspecter votre maison du point de vue d'un chaton pour identifier d'éventuels cagibis, hauts lieux, objets cassables, etc.
- Protégez vos meubles et tapis contre les rayures des chatons
- Protéger les câbles et les fils contre la mastication des chatons
- Sécuriser les armoires et autres espaces dangereux
- Rangez tous les ingrédients toxiques et les produits de nettoyage
- Balayer votre maison pour tout petit objet nocif
- Retirer tous les produits chimiques et outils dangereux du garage
- Gardez votre chaton hors de la cour et utilisez les engrais avec précaution et parcimonie
Liste de contrôle de l'approvisionnement essentiel pour chatons
Lorsque vous ramenez votre chaton à la maison pour la première fois, vous devez vous assurer que tous les éléments de votre liste de contrôle d'approvisionnement pour chaton sont en place.
Vous devrez penser aux articles essentiels tels que la nourriture, l'eau, les bols, la litière et un lit pour chat, ainsi qu'aux articles non essentiels comme un collier et une étiquette d'identification, un peigne à puces, une brosse de toilettage, un coupe-ongles, un griffoir et jouets.
Ramenez un chaton à la maison avec soin
Pour un jeune chaton, une nouvelle maison avec des bruits forts, des odeurs inconnues et des vues étranges peut être un endroit effrayant. Voici ce que vous pouvez faire pour rendre l'ajustement plus fluide.
Conduire en voiture
Le trajet jusqu'à votre domicile doit être aussi confortable que possible. Placer une serviette vous aviez l'habitude de frotter les membres de la famille du chaton ou même l'intérieur de la niche dans une cage de transport pour chat et de déposer soigneusement votre chaton à l'intérieur. Retirez le haut du porte-bébé plutôt que de pousser le chaton à travers la porte s'il refuse d'entrer.
Arriver à la maison
Une fois de retour à la maison, placez le chaton et sa cage dans une petite pièce calme dans la maison (par exemple la salle de bain ou la buanderie). Laissez le temps au chaton de sortir de la cage en ouvrant la porte. Gardez de l'eau fraîche, de la nourriture et un bac à litière près de l'entrée du transporteur et permettez au chat d'explorer la pièce à sa guise .
Présentations initiales
Une fois que votre chaton s'est habitué à la pièce calme, présentez-lui le reste des pièces de la maison une à la fois . Si vous avez d'autres animaux de compagnie, assurez-vous de les présenter lentement et en toute sécurité . Lors de l'introduction du nouveau chaton, tenez votre chien ou votre chat en laisse ou demandez à quelqu'un de le tenir. Autorisez les animaux à enquêter les uns sur les autres et n'intervenez que si des signes d'hostilité imminente sont détectés.
Rester seul à la maison
Créez un environnement sûr et sécurisé où vous pouvez laisser votre chaton lorsque vous ne pouvez pas le surveiller . Un bol de nourriture, un bol d'eau, un bac à litière, des jouets et un lieu de repos doivent être disponibles dans cette zone.
Accueillir votre chaton avec amour
S'installer
Évitez de forcer le chaton à sortir de sa cachette pendant les premiers jours dans votre maison. Au lieu de cela, passez du temps sur le sol au niveau du chaton si vous voulez faire appel à votre nouvel animal de compagnie. De plus, plutôt que de se presser dans la pièce tous en même temps, permettez aux membres de la famille de vous rendre visite individuellement.
Toute manipulation devrait idéalement avoir lieu lorsque le chaton l'initie pendant les deux premiers jours. Après les 48 premières heures, manipulez le chaton pendant de petites périodes tout au long de la journée au lieu de lui fournir un contact physique constant. N'autorisez qu'une interaction supervisée minimale avec le chaton au début si vous avez de jeunes enfants pour éviter que le chat ne soit trop manipulé.
Prévenir les problèmes avant qu'ils ne surviennent
Identifier et fournir des débouchés adaptés à tous les besoins d'un chaton est la clé de la prévention des problèmes de comportement. Dès le premier jour dans votre maison, encouragez des activités de jeu sûres et acceptables rendra la vie beaucoup plus facile pour vous et votre chat.
Envisagez d'offrir des séances de jeu prédateur avec des jouets mobiles, des lumières miniatures ou des baguettes, ainsi que de servir de la nourriture dans des jouets de recherche de nourriture et de cacher des friandises dans des boîtes ou des sacs en papier pour encourager l'intérêt de votre chaton pour l'investigation.
Les alternatives d'escalade et les poteaux à gratter aideront à prévenir la destruction des meubles . Les chats très sociables et joueurs peuvent également bénéficier d'avoir un deuxième chat social et joueur dans la maison, tant qu'une hiérarchie sûre a été créée.
Corriger les comportements inappropriés
Parce que les chats peuvent être des créatures exigeantes, il est essentiel de développer leurs bonnes manières dès leur plus jeune âge. Les morsures, les tapes et les vocalisations excessives sont tous des exemples de conduite inappropriée qui ne doivent pas être tolérées.
Si votre chaton commence à afficher ces comportements, quittez la pièce immédiatement et silencieusement, arrêtant toutes les interactions. Redémarrez les interactions une fois que le chaton s'est calmé et calmé.
Si le comportement d'un chaton envers les personnes ou les biens est inacceptable, la discipline peut être nécessaire, mais la punition doit être évitée. Un ferme "Non !" peut être tout ce qui est nécessaire pour arrêter votre chaton. Vous pouvez applaudir dans vos mains ou faire un autre bruit fort pour rediriger leur attention.
Comment prendre soin d'un chaton à chaque stade de développement
Les premières semaines d'un chaton sont un tourbillon de changements de développement. Accueillir un nouveau chaton dans votre famille est amusant mais aussi très responsable. Votre nouveau bébé animal de compagnie aura des besoins différents chaque semaine en termes de nourriture, de chaleur, d'assistance médicale et d'aide aux toilettes. Il est essentiel de déterminer le type de soins dont votre chaton a besoin et comment l'aider à devenir un chat adulte en bonne santé et heureux.
Comment prendre soin d'un chaton nouveau-né
Les chatons nouveau-nés dépendent entièrement de leur mère pour la nourriture, la chaleur, le soutien de la salle de bain et le nettoyage. You can handle the newborn kittens for a few minutes at a time if the mother is okay with it. Early engagement with newborn cats can help lay the groundwork for a future companion that is happy and well-adjusted.
Wondering how to help a cat weaned too early? Kittens should ideally stay with their mothers for at least eight weeks so that they can get the full benefit of the mothers' milk, which contains important antibodies.
If a newborn kitten is orphaned, they will need to be bottle-fed with kitten formula every two hours, kept at an appropriate temperature, and stimulated to go to the bathroom.
How to take care of a 2-week-old kitten
2-week-old kittens may begin taking a dewormer . Talk with your veterinarian about a kitten deworming schedule. Your kitten’s eyes should be open by this point. If they are not open by day 10, try gently wiping the lids clean with a wash cloth.
How to take care of a 3-week-old kitten
At this age, you can place a kitten-safe litter box in their environment. 3-week-old kittens start controlling their own potty breaks, so there’s no need to specifically "train" them. If you are bottle-feeding the kittens, you can scale back to four to six hours between meals .
How to take care of a 4-week-old kitten
4-week-old kittens should become used to being around and handled by people . At this stage, you may also try introducing them to new sounds and toys . Orphan kittens of this age should be bottle-fed every five hours , including overnight.
How to take care of a 5-week-old kitten
5-week-old kittens may begin the weaning process . At this age, kittens should be offered a mix of solid kitten food mixed with kitten formula or kitten food soaked in water until soft in addition to access to their mother’s milk or a bottle if orphaned. If the kitten is weaned, food and water should be provided at all times.
How to take care of a 6-week-old kitten
If they are weaned, 6-weeks old kittens should be given plenty of wet kitten food. Ensure that they have constant access to food, water, and a suitable litter box . To protect kittens against viruses, they should receive their first FVRCP vaccine at the age of six weeks (rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia).
How to care for a kitten from 2 to 3-months-old
At 2 to 3 months of age, your kitten should get their initial vaccines . They should also be eating solid canned food or kibble about 4 times a day . 8-week-old kittens can be slowly introduced to other pets .
Gently play with your kitten at least once a day so they’ll bond with you but don’t take it personally if they are not interested in playing with you. After your kitten is about 12 weeks old, they will probably be more interested in playing with objects even more than other cats. Use food and treats to teach and reward good behavior .
How to care for a kitten from 4 to 6-months-old
At 4 to 6 months of age, your kitten should eat a combination of wet and dry formulas three times per day . By the time they’re six months old, female kittens should be spayed and male kittens neutered , provided they are healthy and weigh two lb. Like humans, a kitten's first set of teeth is replaced by their adult teeth, so it is important to start and keep up with dental care regularly at home.
Kitten care milestones for the first year of life
First vet visit
During the first vet visit, the vet will ensure that your kitten is healthy and clear of parasites that can be transmitted to humans, such as intestinal parasites and fleas. Detecting viral illnesses like feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus might help you plan how they will interact with your other cats.
The vet will also check for congenital abnormalities and health issues in cat breeds like a heart murmur, hernia, or cleft palate during the physical exam, and will give your kitten a full round of immunizations and boosters, which will need to be repeated at least once a year after that.
Pet insurance enrollment
Consider enrolling in cat insurance while your feline friend is still young and healthy. Pet insurance helps you save on unexpected veterinary bills by reimbursing you for the cost of covered services.
Most insurance plans for treatments related to illnesses and/or accidents, but you can also purchase a wellness add-on to reimburse preventive care costs.
Core kitten vaccinations
Even indoor cats and kittens require protection from pathogens that can be carried in on your shoes or by other pets in your household. Core kitten vaccines include feline panleukopenia (a parvovirus, also known as feline distemper), feline herpesvirus, feline calicivirus, and rabies.
Vaccinations should begin at 6–8 weeks of age and be repeated every 3–4 weeks until the kitten reaches the age of 16 weeks. In a year's time, this initial course will need to be boosted again, and then at intervals after that (as recommended by your veterinarian).
Microchipping
Microchipping is an essential way to identify your pet if they escape or get lost. The microchip can be inserted under the skin during vaccinations or while your kitten is sedated for spaying/neutering.
Spay or neuter procedure
Sterilization, i.e. spaying or neutering should be done before the kitten matures into an adult capable of having kittens. Female cats can become sexually mature from just four months of age, whereas males reach sexual maturity at about seven to nine months.
Preventive kitten care
Flea and tick prevention
Fleas and ticks are one of the most common parasitic dangers for cats. If left untreated, these external parasites can cause infestation, discomfort, skin issues, and disease.
There are many different safe and effective flea and tick treatment solutions for kittens available, both prescription and over-the-counter. Talk to your vet about your feline friend's lifestyle and proper flea and tick prevention .
Heartworm prevention
In addition to worms/intestinal parasites, your kitten can contract heartworms. If a cat develops heartworm disease, there’s no treatment. Therefore, we recommend consistent heartworm prevention for cats and kittens, even those living indoors .
Annual wellness exam
All cats should visit their veterinarian for a routine wellness exam at least once a year . This annual wellness exam for pets establishes a baseline of the cat's optimal physical state, allowing the primary care vet to quickly notice changes in the cat's health status during an emergency or illness.
Caring for a kitten’s basic needs
Quality nutrition
Kittens under one year should be fed high-quality commercial kitten food to make sure that a balanced diet is provided. Avoid giving unsafe food for cats and cow’s milk and instead provide access to clean, fresh water at all times.
Wet vs dry cat food
Whether you feed your kitted dry or wet cat food is a personal decision that should be based on which one best suits your kittens and your lifestyle. Both dry and wet food designed especially for kittens has extra minerals, vitamins, protein, and extra fat to help them grow big and strong.
Litter box and toileting
If possible, start out using a litter your kitten is already used to . Place the litter box in a quiet corner, away from water and food , and where your pet won’t be disturbed when they need to use the toilet. Be sure to keep the litter box clean by pooper scooping every day.
Sleep and safety
Provide a quiet and cozy area for your kitten to snuggle down safely. You can use a cardboard box lined with fleece or a comfortable bed with bedding that’s safe and can be easily washed.
Little kittens need to sleep a lot because they have a lot of growing to do. Don't wake your kitten up and wait for them to come out to play. For their own safety, consider keeping your cat indoors and away from any outdoor hazards .
Scratch posts and scratching
Scratching is normal behavior for cats to keep their nails healthy and to exhibit natural behaviors. A scratching pole (or several scratching poles) should be placed throughout the house to keep your kitten from scratching and damaging your furniture . Cover the furniture with protective material if your kitten begins to scratch it, and provide lots of appropriate alternatives to divert their scratching behavior.
Climbing and perching
You’re probably already aware that cats love to climb, so be sure to provide your kitten with a tall cat tree , preferably one with numerous raised levels for them to perch on. This will prevent your feline friend from climbing the drapes while at the same time satisfying their natural desire to be high up.
Toys and play
Another thing that kittens love is playing because it allows them to practice their hunting skills . Give your kitten a variety of safe toys to chase, toss, swat, and pounce and play with them for several minutes at a time throughout the day. This will provide your kitten with necessary activity, keep them from becoming bored, and allow them to bond with you.
Socialization
Kitten socialization is essential when it comes to raising a kitten who will become a well-behaved, healthy adult cat. However, keep in mind that cats have a very short socialization phase, which means that the first 4-16 weeks of life are a critical time for social and behavioral development .
The training and socialization your feline friend receives during kittenhood will influence how well they will interact with people and other pets when they grow up, so do everything you can to get your kitten exposed to as much as possible – strangers, loud noises, walking on leashes, other animals, children, etc. to help them become a better-adjusted adult cat. Just ensure that your kitten has a positive experience out of any socialization exposure you provide.
How to raise a social kitten
Kittens require a lot of love and interaction from their parents. The more gentle petting they receive from you, the friendlier and more social they’ll become . Every day, devote two or three sessions to petting and handling your kitten. When the veterinarian needs to inspect them, this will make them feel more at ease. Rubbing their paws and toes will help them relax when it's time to cut their claws.
Introduce your kitten to guests visiting. Try to expose your pet to people of various ages, ethnicities, sizes, and sexes as they grow up, as they might develop a fear of humans if they meet too few of them. If there are children in the house, all interactions should be supervised , and you should teach them how to handle your kitten in a safe, respectful, and proper manner.
How to take care of a kitten’s hygiene
Grooming
Introduce your kitten to a comb and brush from a young age and allow them to play with the tools so that they grow comfortable with them.
Begin grooming your baby pet as soon as possible so that the grooming sessions become a pleasurable bonding experience and a part of everyday maintenance.
Reward your pet with a treat, patting, or vocal praise for allowing you to groom them. This will teach your kitten that grooming is a good thing, making it easy for both of you.
Dental care
By the age of three, more than half of all cats will have dental problems. If left untreated, this can have a devastating impact on your feline companion's health and could result in early death due to severe inflammation, kidney disease, or heart problems.
Brushing a cat's teeth on a daily basis is ideal , but once a week is more realistic. Try to get your kitten accustomed to having their teeth brushed early on. Start by putting flavored gel treats on the toothbrush and letting your kitten lick it off, then gradually work your way up to brushing their teeth.
Cat baths
Many pet parents wonder if kittens need baths, and the answer is not really. In general, cats don’t need to be bathed on a regular basis and most of them actually find bathing quite stressful. Therefore, you should avoid bathing unless recommended by your veterinarian for medical reasons.
Final kitten care tips all pet parents should know
Don’t forget to set time aside to play with your kitten every day . Not only is playing fun, but it also alleviates boredom, reduces bad behavior, teaches your kitten coordination, and helps socialize them.
Think about whether you’re going to let your cat venture outside . Studies show that indoor felines have less risk of injuries, parasites, and infection compared to those allowed outdoors.
However, staying indoors also has risks , such as behavior problems and obesity. Partial outdoor access might be the best solution for better physical and mental wellbeing, but your cat should never be left without supervision.
FAQs on Kitten care
Where should kittens sleep at night?
The best place for a kitten to sleep is a warm, safe, and draught-free spot . For the first few nights, it's okay to keep the kitten near you .
How long do kittens sleep?
Young kittens tend to sleep more than adult cats. A kitten will often sleep for 16 to 20 hours per day and spend the rest in nonstop activity.
When do kittens start walking?
Most kittens begin walking when they’re about three weeks old , although coordination takes a bit longer. You can safely assume that a kitten who is walking and playing is at least four weeks old.
What does a kitten need?
According to AAHA, some of the most essential items your kitten will need include kitten food, bowls, litter box, brush, cat bed, toys, a scratching post or scratching pad, a safety cat collar with an ID tag, and a travel carrier.
How much to feed a kitten?
Young kittens typically eat 1/4 to 1/2 cup of food at a time . If your kitten is underweight, the daily calorie requirement may need to be increased. If, on the other hand, your kitten is gaining too much weight too rapidly, you'll need to reduce the amount of food they are consuming.
If you are not sure how much food is enough for your kitten, talk to your vet or use our kitten feeding chart . The vet will use a tool called a body condition score to assess your pet’s weight and recommend an adequate amount of food.
How to raise a kitten to be cuddly?
According to VCA Hospitals, “In order for the cat to learn to accept and enjoy physical contact from people, it is critical that the human hand only be associated with positive experiences and that physical punishment is not used.”
Pet your kitten, speak to them in a gentle voice, scratch them behind the ears, and give them a gentle squeeze . Every cat has certain body regions that are more sensitive than others, so try to figure out where they don't want to be touched and avoid that area. Most cats are more sensitive to their bellies. For reluctant kittens, consider using treats during the petting sessions.
How do you train a kitten?
Reward-based training is the most effective and humane way to train pets , according to the RSPCA. It involves rewarding your cat when they perform a ‘desired’ behavior. Rewards can be in the form of patting, treats, or verbal praise.
When does a kitten become a cat?
Your kitten will have grown into an adult cat after a year . They will be playful and well socialized at this age, as well as healthy, with a shiny coat, strong muscles, and great hunting instincts.
