With National Kitten Day around the corner, it’s time we started preparing for one of the furriest and warmest days of the year for our cute little cat babies. It’s no news how adorable these tiny creatures are. With their gorgeous eyes, big round head, and delicate and soft pinkish paws, these furry balls are just irresistible.
Dedicated to our precious kittens, July 10th is marked as a significant day on our pet calendar. However, the date is not just about celebration. It’s more of a token of reminder and awareness. According to the National Kitten Coalition, approximately 1.4 million cats are euthanized every year in America alone! So this day is a reminder that instead of buying a cat, it would be so much better if the potential pet parent went to their local pet shelter and adopted one.
The year 2012 witnessed the launch of the first National Kitten Day in America, by a pet and family lifestyle expert and animal advocate, Colleen Paige. For two years following 2012, it was celebrated in December but was then shifted to July. It was created with two basic agendas:
- To celebrate the existence, aura, and magic of kittens and show how much joy they bring to people’s lives.
- To spread awareness about the plight of several homeless kittens in search of their forever home.
Ways to Celebrate National Kitten Day [Infographic]
First Six Months: To-Do’s
One of the most common queries of a feline pet parent is how can we effectively take care of our kitten. We have tried to come up with some basic tips to take care of these babies for the first six months.
0 to 4 Weeks:
Kittens ranging from 0 to 4 weeks of age are considered as newborns. They develop their motor skills and coordination during this time. They also learn to regulate their body temperature at this time. It is crucial that you keep them warm and cozy during these weeks, especially if they are not with their mother or siblings. They need the utmost attention and care during this time.
5 to 11 Weeks:
By this time, you wean the kittens off bottle-feeding and subject them to a high-protein, energy-based diet. As their motor and coordination skills further develop in this period, they need proper supervision at this time. Their newfound sense of adventure and bravado makes them prone to getting themselves in a dangerous situation.
2 to 4 Months:
This period of rapid kitten development is marked by very high energy and you might have to wake up in the middle of the night just because your little feline buddy wants some playtime. During these weeks you must feed them 3 to 4 protein-rich meals a day, and concentrate more on bonding-based playtimes.
4 to 6 Months:
By this time, your kitten starts reaching the age of adolescence. Similar to humans reaching puberty, these felines will be going through various behavioral changes and will be filled with energy. During this time, you should plan for spaying or neutering your kitten. Also, continue with the bonding-based playtime, along with additional behavioral modifications, if needed. Enrich the environment of your kitten during this time, especially if they are indoor kittens.
Preventive Care for Kittens
Schedule for timely vaccinations:
First and the most important preventive step is to make sure that your kitten is timely vaccinated as per the AAFP guidelines.
Spay/Neuter Your Kitten on Time:
By the time your kitten reaches 4 to 6 months of age, they are reaching the point of mature adolescence. At this stage, you must take your kitten to be spayed or neutered. By doing this, you can avoid unpleasant habits like territorial scent spraying, in-heat females, and aggressive attitudes. It also helps reduce unplanned litter. To add to it, the risk of mammary or testicular cancer in their later life reduces significantly.
Protection from Parasites:
Protection from all types of parasites is extremely important for your kitten or cats. You must regularly give them doses of the deworming program that includes killing and removal of most intestinal worms. Use Panacur Oral Suspension For cats. Regular stool checks of your kitten are also important to check for more uncommon and potentially dangerous parasites.
Prevention of heartworms is another essential step. Apart from this you also need proper and regular flea and tick treatments and preventions for your kitten. Revolution Plus For Cats is one of the best choices for pet parent who needs an all-in-one protection for their felines.
Take Care of Your Kitten’s Nutrition
Modifying kitten food as per the nutrition they need in each stage of growth is a must!
- For the 1st 4 weeks, mother’s milk, or the special commercial milk replacement formula at an interval of 2 to 4 hours serves best for kittens.
- For kittens aging 3-5 weeks, warm formula mixed with high-quality canned or dried kitten food in a shallow dish is ideal. (4 to 6 times a day)
- By 5 to 8 weeks of age, start giving a protein-rich, energy-filled diet that they need to chew. (3 to 4 times a day)
- After six months, you must feed them 2 to 3 times a day.
Social Training of Kittens
Helping your kitten interact and socialize with human and animal members of your household is just as important. Focus on proper interspecies interaction and overall behavioral training including:
- Litter box training
- Introducing toys
- Exploration with boxes, paper bags, etc.
- Redirection from biting or scratching
- Frequent petting and cuddling
- Weekly combing, grooming, and handling
- Nail trimming
- Rewarding good behavior with treats
Conclusion
This National Kitten Day, make a difference by adopting a kitten from the nearby rescue center, volunteering for some of these centers, or donating to one of them. Post on social media or choose whichever platform you see fit to raise awareness about the plight of several abandoned kittens and cats, and urge people around you to adopt from these shelters, instead of buying.
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